Kappo Nagahama Ryokan

A cuisine-focused ryokan on the shore of Oku-Kawaguchiko, in business for more than 90 years

Kappo Nagahama Ryokan is an 8-room cuisine-focused ryokan on the quiet lakeshore of the Nagahama district, on the northwest side of Lake Kawaguchi. It has been in business for more than 90 years, and the interior is nostalgic, decorated with Showa-era retro pieces, with a view of the still waters of Oku-Kawaguchiko from the windows. It sits a little away from the center of the sightseeing area, about 20 minutes by Fujikyu bus from Kawaguchiko Station, and that is exactly what lets you take your time in the calm setting by the lake. Parking is free for 10 cars with no reservation needed, and if you contact the ryokan in advance they will arrange a shuttle, with pickup from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and drop-off from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Creative kaiseki trained in Ginza and Akasaka, from the restaurant that devised Fuji Mabushi

The food is what makes this ryokan special. Its signature is the creative kaiseki that the owner, who honed his craft at ryotei restaurants in Ginza and Akasaka, prepares from carefully chosen ingredients, and the ryokan has been featured in the media as the place that devised the recipe for Fuji Mabushi, a new specialty dish of Lake Kawaguchi. Meals are served in the dining room rather than as in-room dining. Guest reviews on Rakuten Travel single out the cooking for particular praise - "the sashimi and horse-meat courses at dinner were both thick-cut with no gaminess, and even the children enjoyed them," and "the portions are large, but with fish and vegetables at the center it stays delicious to the last bite" - and food accounts for a large part of the overall rating of 4.67 out of 5 (108 reviews). Rakuten's property information states that meals accommodating allergies can be arranged, so raise it when you book.

The two baths are reserved room by room for private use

The baths are filled with heated groundwater from the underflow of Mount Fuji, rich in vanadium and other minerals. The two bathrooms are reserved for private use by group: between 3:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., each room takes the bath to itself for about 90 minutes at a time (time slots are booked at check-in on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is no additional charge). Since you never share with another family, there is nothing to worry about even with a baby who is not yet out of diapers or a young child who tends to get boisterous in the bath. The next morning, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., you can use the baths freely whenever they are free. One review notes that "it is roomier than the photos, and two adults can stretch their legs out - even with children you can take your time." The changing room has a hair dryer and a scale, and the bathroom is stocked with shampoo and other toiletries.

A baby bath, a baby chair and children's tableware are available to borrow

The FAQ on the official website states that "a baby bath, a baby chair and children's tableware are available to borrow for guests who would like them," so even this small ryokan is prepared for families with babies. Children's yukata are available in small and medium sizes. The guest rooms come in two types, both purely Japanese-style tatami rooms - lakeside tatami rooms and standard tatami rooms - which makes it easy to co-sleep on futons with a baby at the crawling stage. Do note that, to keep your stay private, laying out the futons is generally something guests do themselves.

Children's rates and points to know about staying

Children's rates are 80% of the adult rate for upper-grade elementary school children and 60% for children from age 3 through the lower grades of elementary school; children under school age with no meals and no futon bedding are 1,500 yen, and only children aged 0 stay free. Children under 3 stay free if they co-sleep, with up to one child per adult. Note that if you have a child aged 0, the rule is to leave them out of the guest count when booking and contact the ryokan directly. Check-in is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; if you will arrive after 6 p.m. you need to get in touch, and the latest start time for dinner is 7 p.m. There is also a table-tennis table on site for a family match after your bath. The whole property is non-smoking, and pets are not allowed. This is a small Japanese-style ryokan with a high standard of cooking and unhurried private-hire baths - a good choice for a milestone trip for a family that loves to eat. Checkout is at 10 a.m., but for an extension fee starting at 2,000 yen per room per hour, including tax, you can stay until 11 a.m.