Kawaguchiko Station Inn

Right outside the ticket gates at Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyu Railway, a convenient base for sightseeing

Kawaguchiko Station Inn has an outstanding location by the station: come out of the ticket gates at Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyu Railway and it is just ahead on the right. As a base for touring the Fuji Five Lakes, it gives easy access to Fuji-Q Highland, the sightseeing spots around Lake Kawaguchi and the Mount Fuji area, which makes it easy to use whether your family arrives by train or by car. It is also about 5 minutes by car from the Kawaguchiko IC on the Chuo Expressway. Check-in is from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and checkout is at 10 a.m. Its Rakuten Travel rating is 4.0 out of 5 (342 reviews), with guests praising the convenience of the station-front location and the view bath looking out over Mount Fuji. It suits families who plan to spend their days out sightseeing and treat the inn as a place to look at Mount Fuji from the bath and get a good night's sleep.

The fourth-floor view bath (communal bath) looking out over Mount Fuji

The highlight is the view bath on the fourth floor, a communal bath separated for men and women. It is a large bath with a sweeping view of Mount Fuji, and on some days you can even make out the climbing routes, so you can take in the mountain while you soak. Bathing hours are 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Since the guest-room bathrooms are shared, having a spacious bath to soak in is a welcome feature on a stay with children. Whether items such as a baby bath or a baby chair are available to borrow in the bathing area is not listed in our information, so please ask the inn directly when you book if you need them. Whether children who are not yet out of diapers may use the bath is not stated either, so it is worth asking about that at the same time.

Mainly Japanese-style tatami rooms, a relaxing space for the family

Guest rooms come in Japanese-style tatami sizes of 6, 7.5, 8 and 10 mats, all with shared bathrooms. Tatami rooms let you lay out futons side by side and sleep together as a family, which is easy for families with small children. There is also one Western-style room with single beds. Every room has Wi-Fi, and the lobby has a computer that guests can use free of charge. Because the bath is shared, the rate stays low - one of the advantages of an inn right by the station. Whether cribs, baby futons or similar items are available to borrow is not listed in our information, so the surest approach is to check with the inn in advance about any equipment you need.

Breakfast in the first-floor restaurant, and an easy base right by the station

Breakfast is served in the restaurant on the first floor, where you can eat your morning meal with a view of Mount Fuji. The station-front setting also puts nearby restaurants and convenience stores within walking distance, so it is easy to keep your options open for meals with children. Parking is available for 6 cars free of charge, with advance notice required. The front desk will also hold your luggage before check-in.

Making it work with children

The inn makes it easy to build a Lake Kawaguchi stay that takes full advantage of the location: arrive at Kawaguchiko Station by train, drop your bags, head straight out to Fuji-Q Highland or sightseeing around the lake, come back to the view bath overlooking Mount Fuji, and sleep side by side in a tatami room. Bathrooms are shared and bathing is limited to set hours in the communal bath, in the style of a Japanese guesthouse, so if you are traveling with small children it is a good idea to plan your bath times with plenty of leeway. It suits families who want to enjoy the view of Mount Fuji while keeping costs down.