Fantastic Fuji
HOSHINOYA Fuji sits facing Lake Kawaguchi, one of the five lakes that surround Mt Fuji – Japan’s iconic and highest mountain at 12,388 feet, that has thousands scaling its summit in pilgrimage every summer and has inspired countless artists with its peerless beauty. It is against the backdrop of this unparalleled view that
Wan Zainal Abidin checked into HOSHINOYA Fuji for a modern glamping experience.
Ihave stayed in HOSHINOYA Tokyo before so I am quite familiar with the Japanese hotel brand, and was thoroughly excited at this opportunity to experience a different side of Japan by immersing myself into nature and mapping out a totally different holiday zeitgeist. Check-in takes place in a modern cabin at the base of the hill, nestled among homes and shops, and guests are provided with a backpack in our chosen style and colour, filled with glamping essentials such as binoculars, headlights, bird call, heat packs and even biscotti for an emergency snack! Guests are then transported to the cabins up on the hills in customised HOSHINOYA Jeeps, and this is where the glamping experience begins.
40 guest rooms nestle on natural terraced terrains with expansive glass windows affording each room a different view of Mt Fuji in all her glory. The resort was designed by Rie Azuma, who has had her hand in designing all HOSHINOYA resorts throughout the world, and in this instance, the designer focused on creating a space that places their guests amidst nature. Guests enter their cabin and are greeted with majestic views of Lake Kawaguchi and Mt Fuji – a view guests can enjoy from the inside or the outside of their cabins. Generously sized balconies are decked out with comfy cushions, a low table and a fire pit complete with heated blankets to encourage guests to spend time outdoors, even on cold winter evenings. As a matter of fact, I spent every evening catching the sunset from this vantage point before heading out to dinner.
The remaining outdoor spaces are designed to be discovered as guests climb up the resort’s premises from their cabins. The dining hall is located in the biggest structure on the property, which also houses the front desk and a souvenir shop selling a smart selection of collectibles associated with the
area and the resort, and with its high ceiling and wide windows overlooking a red cedar forest, the hall pays homage to the great outdoors. The centerpiece of the dining hall is a large grilling station clad in natural timber, and here the chef takes center stage: nightly presenting beautifully cooked game or meat depending on the season’s offering.
Just below the dining room is where I had the most delicious Dutch oven dinner on the first night of my stay. Guests at the HOSHINOYA get to prepare their own food, glamping-style, from an ample supply of traditional Japanese game like venison with the use of a Dutch oven, all served in a glamorous outdoor setting.
A short climb up from the dining room takes guests on a journey to the Cloud Terrace - a series of cleverly designed platforms where various outdoor activities take place throughout the day – right up to the Library Café at the top of the hill, which is where I spent most evenings enjoying postprandial drinks while watching live traditional music performances, vintage cinema classics, or just toasting marshmallows over the communal open fire. These fireside lounges come equipped with cushions and blankets, and attentive staff to attend to your every whim and fancy.
Some of the curated activities that take place at the Cloud Terrace that should not be missed include making your own Bread Bowl Breakfast and making local coffee over an open fire in the mornings. The complimentary afternoon tea is a hit too, with guests making their own sweet cakes in personalised skillets served with a variety of delicious toppings. The wood stove in the café burns throughout the year, warmly greeting guests who make the trek to the top of the resort. Much like the cabins, the public areas were designed to bring guests closer to nature.
Like most visitors to the resort, I took the time to visit neighbouring local villages to sightsee, sample delicious local cuisine like the Oyster Hoto (a noodle specialty of the Yamanashi region) and indulge in various outdoor adventures. My most memorable adventures must be trekking with a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and the cycling tour – a rugged bike ride through the town of Shimoyoshida and taking a trail through the snowed forests of Mt. Fuji with pit stops at the Fuji Shrine, lava tree molds and a coffee break at the cutest café truck I have ever seen.
And on days when I did not feel like venturing out at all, it was such a delight to sit in the comfort of my cabin, watching the ever-changing vista of Mt. Fuji with the billowing clouds above it, just appreciating nature at its best and enjoying my modern glamping experience, as if I’m riding on the clouds!
HOSHINOYA FUJI 1408 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minami Tsuru-gun, Yamanashi, 401-0305 JAPAN https://hoshinoya.com/fuji/