Yamanashi Wine to Kateiryori Hotel Bell Kaneyama

A homey hotel beside the mountain stream of the Katsura River

Yamanashi Wine to Kateiryori Hotel Bell Kaneyama is a casual, family-run hotel standing beside the mountain stream of the Katsura River in Fujiyoshida, at the northern foot of Mount Fuji. The owner and the whole staff look after guests together, giving the place a warm feeling of "visiting a relative's house." Outside the windows are the murmur of the Katsura River and views of Mount Fuji, and nature is close at hand: the viewpoint at the rural park is about a 1-minute walk away, and Kaneyama Falls about 5 minutes on foot.

Handmade home cooking and Yamanashi wine are the signatures

Dinner, called "okaeri-meshi," and breakfast, called "itterasshai-meshi," are entirely handmade home cooking, with the dishes changing daily. Rather than a buffet of the ready-made frozen dishes so common now, the food is warm and hand-prepared, and it has earned a good reputation. Dinner is served in the restaurant from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and after 9 p.m. it can also be brought to your room. There are also plans featuring French home cooking supervised by Brasserie CHEVAL, a French restaurant popular with locals, along with a tasting flight and pairing set of 5 Yamanashi wines. The Wine Wall FUJIYAMA on the fifth floor keeps more than 100 kinds of Yamanashi wine on hand at all times, and staying guests can enter it 24 hours a day, though eating and drinking are allowed only until 10 p.m.

Family-friendly touches

Guest rooms hold up to 3 people with the addition of an extra bed, and there are family-oriented room types that accommodate a child co-sleeping. Children's yukata and children's slippers are available to borrow, along with items such as Othello. Guests also praise the hotel's flexibility in their reviews: "They gave the children the okaeri-meshi and changed ours to the French menu," and "At breakfast they brought out side dishes the children would like."

Baths (no communal bath or onsen)

There is no communal bath or onsen at the hotel. Bathing is in the en-suite bathroom in each room, and the natural vanadium mineral water that flows from every tap throughout the building and in every room is used here too, so it feels gentle on the skin. Bath amenities are generous as well.

Access and shuttle

From the Kawaguchiko IC on the Chuo Expressway, take Route 138 toward Lake Yamanaka and turn at the traffic light by the entrance to Michi-no-Eki Fujiyoshida; the hotel is right there. Fuji-Q Highland is about 7 minutes away by car. For guests arriving by train or bus, there is a free shuttle from Mount Fuji Station and the Fuji-Q Highland Expressway Bus Terminal from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., which requires a reservation and runs for one guest or more; pickups and drop-offs somewhere other than the station can also be discussed if the spot is nearby. Parking is free for 15 cars. There are also dedicated rooms where you can stay with your dog, from small breeds to large ones.