"Beautiful views with amazing hospitality. Family run and the owner is quite involved and very kind, he chatted with us three times during our one night stay (check in/out and restaurant). Grandchildren playing and helping out gives this hotel a wonderful homey summer camp feel, as do the available amenities (table tennis, rooftop views, indoor + outdoor onsens) and watercraft rentals (saw paddleboards and kayaks). We stayed the night before climbing Fuji and found the rooms to be very spacious and the food filling. Note that restaurants/activities outside the hotel are limited as this area is remote. Bus access direct to the hotel is very convenient, although the bus ride can be long depending where you come from. We were greeted immediately upon bus arrival and helped to check in and out to catch the morning bus by wonderful staff and owners. Hotel is stair-based, not wheelchair friendly, was fine with us but important to know. Very foreigner friendly (have reasonable expectations as guests).
For foreign tourists, a few notes: Shoji Lake is a very remote, mountainous area. Bugs exist. Japan does not do pest control (killing) in the way Americans are used to--if you're not prepared for that, perhaps stick to the cities. You need to take the bus to get here, it is a long ride from Shin-Fuji etc. and you must have cash or IC card. The bus only runs a few times a day, PLAN AHEAD. This experience was wonderful for us and well worth the trip!"
