Odakyu Hotel de Yama

I travelled through Japan for four weeks and, out of all the hotels I stayed at, Hotel the Yama stands out as one of the most memorable. Unfortunately I was only there for one night, but I feel that I was able to enjoy each hour I spent there to the full. First of all, the building, which is full of character, is located right by Lake Ashi. As well as sitting on an extraordinarily large and well kept garden, which is open to the guests, the hotel features a panoramic room on the top floor with an unencumbered view of Fuji San in the distance - breathtaking in the warm glow of the early morning. My bedroom was beautiful. Large - very large. I was touched by the attention and care that was put into every detail. The loungewear was gorgeous, and there was a dainty selection of tea and biscuits that looked like a present. The room had a full view over the lake and I could also see Mount Fuji. Even at night, under a moonlit sky, I could enjoy the scenery: the fast moving mist raising from the hills and the nightlife of the creatures jumping out and in the water, each distant sound vivid and soothing in the serene surroundings. Watching the sunrise from there is a joy I won't forget. The hotel's onsen is fantastic, I especially enjoyed the outdoor one, and there's a drinking water fountain in the changing room where the water is actually delicious. The staff was warm and welcoming from the moment I arrived to the moment I left and I can say with confidence that the Japanese breakfast I ate at Hotel de Yama was the best and most memorable I had in Japan. My only regret is that I had to leave so soon.

Very nice indoor and outdoor onsen, but unfortunately some of the guests were quite loud and not respectful of onsen etiquette. The room was a bit dated, as others have mentioned, but it was comfortable. We particularly enjoyed the garden and the view of Mount Fuji from the hotel and we had a wonderful dinner at the French restaurant featuring local and seasonal produce with lovely French and Japanese wine pairings - a bit pricy but high quality. Staff at the hotel were warm and welcoming, with the exception of the bar, which unfortunately did not allow for drinks to be enjoined on the patio with a view to Fuji and generally did not feel very welcoming or cozy- this is a missed opportunity. Also, especially after the lovely dinner, breakfast seemed sad and was lacking in options and quality - we had the French breakfast so I can’t speak to the Japanese breakfast. I would be remiss not to mention the amazing spa staff and nurturing treatments we had there- the most expensive of our trip- but worth the splurge. If you do stay here I would recommend doing it correctly and enjoying the spa and French restaurant during your stay.

We loved the Odakyu Hotel de Yama – it had so much charisma with great quality wooden furniture adorning each floor. The hotel is surrounded by lush green gardens and overlooking the majestic Lake Ashinoko. The hotel ambience was calm and relaxing, the reception staff very polite and helpful. The hotel had a free daily shuttle bus taking guests back and forth into town. Our room was lovely, very large and spacious as was the bathroom. Guests could select breakfast at their two restaurants, one servicing western breakfast the other Japanese. I tried the western set breakfast served by waiters – fruit juices, coffee/tea top ups, choice of egg dish, fresh warm croissants & toast with real jam in jars! I loved it. My daughter tried the Japanese set menu which was a wonderful experience for her and she loved it.

The gardens were beautiful and lovely views of Mount. Fuji on a clear day. Onsen was great and well stocked with amenities. Really appreciated laundry facilities. Single unit washer and dryer adds soap automatically to load well for average ¥500 per load. Breakfast and dinner were both delicious and beautiful. Stayed for 2 nights and would definitely stay here again in the future.

The onsen, the location and the nature