Shuhokaku Kogetsu

The hotel is located right by Lake Kawaguchi, directly facing Mount Fuji, so you can enjoy stunning views right from your room. We booked a half-board package (dinner and breakfast included), and dinner was served directly in our room. A huge thank-you to the lovely attendant who served us dinner—she worked so hard! The food boxes were really heavy, and she came in and out multiple times to set each course down carefully, taking the time to explain all the ingredients to us. Watching her bustle around all evening, it was clear how much effort she put into it. Breakfast wasn't quite as extensive—just okay. It was raining on the day we checked in, so we thought we wouldn’t get to see Mount Fuji, but the weather really came through the next day. Once the thick fog cleared, the view was absolutely breathtaking! We didn't have time to use the hot springs this trip, but we really hope to come back next time!

We had a brief but wonderful one-day stay at Xiu Feng Ge, and truly experienced traditional Japanese hospitality. All the staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly. A special mention goes to the older female server in the restaurant during breakfast; her meticulous and attentive service was truly impressive. The dinner provided by the hotel was delicious, and the dining service and atmosphere made us feel completely at home. Overall, the dining experience was very relaxed and enjoyable. All in all, it's a very good ryokan. There were just two minor drawbacks: firstly, the disposable chopsticks used for dinner felt rough and could be of better quality; and secondly, the air conditioning was very noisy at night, which somewhat affected our sleep. Light sleepers, like myself, might find it hard to fall asleep.