Ryokan Nashimiya Onsen

A 14-room ryokan at the center of the sightseeing area, a 1-minute walk from Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge

Ryokan Nashimiya Onsen is a 14-room ryokan in the main part of Kawaguchiko, the hub of sightseeing around the foot of Mount Fuji. Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge is a 1-minute walk away, the Kawaguchiko IC on the Chuo Expressway is about 5 minutes by car, and Kawaguchiko Station is also about 5 minutes by car, so it is easy to reach whether you come by car or by bus. From Shinjuku it is about 1 hour 20 minutes on the Chuo Expressway bus. Parking for 25 cars is free and needs no reservation, which is reassuring for a family road trip. The ryokan works well as a base for Fuji-Q Highland, Lake Yamanaka and the Fujiyoshida area, with the everyday convenience of a convenience store a few minutes' walk away.

Reasonable rates that stay the same all year

What sets this ryokan apart is its reasonable pricing, advertised as the same rate all year. Accommodation prices around Lake Kawaguchi tend to jump in high season, but here the rate does not change even in the busiest periods, and the lowest rate on Rakuten Travel starts at 6,500 yen. Rakuten plans have child rates for elementary school children, split into upper and lower grades, and for children under school age, who can be booked with or without meals and futon bedding, so you can match the booking closely to the size of your family and the ages of your children. It is a price range that suits families who want to spend the day properly enjoying Fuji-Q Highland and keep the room cost down.

Mount Fuji-side rooms and a communal bath at an easy temperature

The rooms are Japanese-style tatami rooms where you sleep on futon bedding laid out on the floor, so families with small children can sleep without worrying about anyone rolling off a bed. The rooms on the Mount Fuji side give a big, full view of Mount Fuji straight ahead, so contact the ryokan in advance if you would like one; they will assign one if it is available. The communal bath is open until 10 p.m. and is set at an easy temperature, which is a welcome touch for children who do not like hot water. There are also three day-use hot spring baths within a few minutes, so you can add a round of onsen visits to your stay.

A simple ryokan, so parents should handle the packing and the planning

This is a ryokan in the old style, so it is best not to expect dedicated facilities or services for families with children. Laying out the futons is self-service, and bath towels and towels for children are not provided, so bring your own. There are no rental items such as cribs either. Breakfast and dinner are both served in the large communal hall, and no meals are served after 7 p.m., so plan your check-in and dinner times early. Credit cards are not accepted, so have cash ready. Check-in is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and checkout is at 10 a.m. This is a place for families who put location and price ahead of new facilities and want to base themselves in the Fuji Five Lakes area and make the most of their time there.