Kasuitei Ooya — the century-old ryokan where the 7th-floor bath watches Fuji and the lake at once

Kasuitei Ooya stands at 2585 Kawaguchi, right on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture. A free shuttle from Kawaguchiko Station brings you directly to the front door — just let the ryokan know your arrival time when you book. This is not a freshly built property chasing the latest travel trend; it is a place that has carried its history since 1923, more than a hundred years. Its lakeside position means many windows look out over the shimmering water, and on a clear day Mt Fuji rises beyond the ridge to the north in full view.

The heart of the ryokan — and what gets mentioned most in every review — is the 7th-floor open-air rotenburo. The height gives a panorama that is unusual for this style of property: Lake Kawaguchi extending to the left, Mt Fuji framed ahead. Soaking in the water with that view creates a sensation of floating above the lake's surface — the sort of perspective you would struggle to find at this price point anywhere else around Fuji. The starting rate is ¥25,000 per night for two people, meals included.

Beyond the communal outdoor bath, there is a reservable family bath suited to families or couples who want a private soak together. Certain rooms also come with a private rotenburo — numbers are limited and these sell out well in advance, so specify at the time of booking if this is important to you. Room rates include both dinner and breakfast, following the traditional Japanese kappo ryokan format. The meals use locally sourced seasonal ingredients, which adds to the sense of being somewhere genuinely rooted in the region.

The building and rooms are in a classic Japanese style — not the contemporary-design aesthetic you find in newer boutique ryokan, but the kind of worn-in character that only decades of careful upkeep can create. Aged wooden fittings, a wind chime at the window, a lacquered tea set for the morning brew, and staff who look after guests with the quiet, unhurried consideration that defines Japanese omotenashi. Couples gave the property a score of 9.4 on Booking, which tells you clearly how this place lands for a romantic stay.

Worth knowing before you book — because the building dates back over a century, decor and fittings are traditional rather than modern. Guests who expect a designer interior may find the style a little old-fashioned. Rooms with a private rotenburo are scarce, so request one early. Some room categories have a stronger lake view than a Fuji view — ask the front desk when checking in if that matters to you. The shuttle is free but must be arranged in advance; drop the ryokan an email or call after you confirm your booking.

To be direct: Kasuitei Ooya is the right choice for anyone who wants a high open-air onsen with real Fuji views, a classic ryokan atmosphere built over generations, and the kind of care that cannot be replicated in a property built last year — at a price that is fair for what you receive. If you are looking for a night in Kawaguchiko that stays with you, this is it.

Think about it this way: a ryokan over a hundred years old still scoring 9.3 on Trip.com from 213 reviews in an era when new properties open every season — that says something. Guests here tend not merely to "like" the place; they come back, or recommend it to everyone they know. Because standing in that 7th-floor bath on a clear morning, watching Fuji catch the early light, is one of those things no photograph quite captures the way the real thing does.