If “luxury in nature” had a scenic postcard, it might well look like Hoshinoya Fuji. Perched on a forested slope just 100 meters above Lake Kawaguchi, this glamping resort manages something quite rare: it lets you live amid sweeping views of Mount Fuji without giving up creature comforts. Rustic escape? Yes — but elevated, intentional, and quietly refined.
You arrive through whispering pines and hush of altitude. A short forest walk leads to reception, itself a forest cabin, where trees filter sunlight and hush replaces city buzz. From there, all paths aim upward, to one of 40 cabins, each a minimalist concrete cube carefully set into the hillside so it doesn’t feel forced but grown. These cabins face Fuji and the lake, with terraces about one‑third the footprint of the room — generous enough to sit, breathe, stare.
Step inside and you feel the balance. Floor-to-ceiling windows pull in forest, lake, sky; interiors lean Japanese minimal — soft tones, clean lines, natural textures. Beds are positioned to frame views. Heated floors keep winter nights gentle. Bathrooms feel indulgent: deep soaking tubs, modern fixtures, privacy yet connection to the natural light beyond. In some cabins, fireplaces or kotatsu (heated tables) warm a corner of balcony in the cold seasons — a quiet ritual of comfort and pause.
Yet Hoshinoya Fuji is not just about lounging. It’s about becoming part of the place. They offer forest walks, foraging, workshops like smoking food, wood fire cooking, even letting you chop wood for dinner. A terrace called Cloud Terrace arcs above the site, with fire pits, lounge zones, and forest views in all directions. In early morning, canoeing the lake across silver mist is among the gentle mochi-like moments here. Or hike Fuji‑facing trails. Or simply listen — for leaf rain, wind sway, distant bird call.
Cabins are staggered, terraces layered up the hill so privacy reigns. Staff deliver luggage and lead guests via jeeps to rooms along forest roads. Arriving feels partly like entering a secret. Service is impeccable but discreet. Meals lean Japanese — seasonal, local, sometimes alfresco, sometimes in forest kitchens. Seasonal touches — cherry blossoms, maple blaze, snow-gleamed boughs — shift your stay’s texture.
Prices are steep — you’re paying for suspension, for design, for view — cabins often quote a premium nightly rate (especially for the “D” or “T” types). Multi-night stays give more breathing room for cost. Because here, rushing reduces the magic.
A few caveats: walking between cabins can require stairs or slopes. In winter, access paths may demand care. But those are trade-offs many embrace to wake to Fuji without glass screens or traffic hum.
In sum: Hoshinoya Fuji is a forest lullaby in architecture, a place where light and stone wrestle, where nature edges inside not as a backdrop but as companion. If you come here, come ready to slow. To see how wood smells in rain. To realize views aren’t just seen — they’re inhabited. You may leave reset, a little softer, a little more present.
Add a review