Yasuragi no Yado Hattori-so

A family-friendly minshuku in quiet woodland by Lake Yamanaka

Yasuragi no Yado Hattori-so is a 7-room minshuku (a family-run guesthouse) in the Yamanaka area of Yamanakako-mura, Yamanashi. The shore of Lake Yamanaka is a few minutes away on foot, quiet woodland surrounds the inn, and at an elevation of about 1,000 meters the cool highland air makes for an unhurried stay. The Yamanakako Tourist Association's introduction page classifies it as family-friendly, and the inn is glad to welcome families traveling with children.

Rooms and bedding

Every room is a 10-tatami Japanese-style tatami room for 1 to 4 guests. With tatami underfoot, babies at the crawling stage and children who have just started walking can spend time on the floor with peace of mind. You lay out the futon bedding yourselves, and guests praise being able to put it down early and settle a child to sleep as soon as they get drowsy. Each room has a television, an electric hot-water kettle and Wi-Fi, while the toilets and bathrooms are shared. With 7 rooms in total and only about 2 to 4 parties a day, the atmosphere is small and calm.

Baths

The inn has two baths, one larger and one smaller. Please check when booking whether a family can use a bath privately, and on what terms. Many families say things like "it was roomy and we could have it to ourselves as a family bath" and "the bath was bright and clean, and the children loved it," and being able to bathe together without worrying about other guests is reassuring when you have little ones.

Meals

Meals are home-style dishes cooked by the okami (the inn's proprietress), served in the dining room. Dinner offers plenty of variety, with sashimi, simmered dishes, fried dishes and meat, and breakfast is generous too, with grilled fish, fried eggs and simmered dishes. Some guests report that portions were shared out from the adult dishes for their young children, and food allergies can be discussed in advance by phone or in the remarks field of your booking. The freshly brewed coffee served after breakfast is popular as well.

What families will appreciate

Children who have not yet started elementary school stay free of charge; the only cost is 300 yen for sheets and a pillowcase if they use bedding. The game room has table tennis and a DVD player, and one guest wrote that "there were games, toys and wire puzzles for children, and our child loved them." Outdoors, a barbecue set is available to borrow for 2,000 yen including charcoal, so in summer the family can also enjoy time in the garden.

The area and getting there

The shore of Lake Yamanaka, the cycling path and Hana no Miyako Park are all close by, summer brings lake play and hiking, and the day-use onsen Beni-Fuji no Yu is nearby. It is about 30 minutes by local bus from Mount Fuji Station, or about 3 minutes by car from the Yamanakako IC. Parking is free for 5 cars, with no reservation needed.

Points to note

The building is a traditional minshuku, so soundproofing is not especially good. Families staying alongside other families are unlikely to mind, but keep it in mind if quiet matters to you. Bringing your own toothbrush and a few other amenities is a good idea. The inn also closes for the winter, from mid-December to late March.