I’m so glad we stayed at Mr. Michiku’s hostel. Michiku, our host, is the best. He picked me and my son up at 7/11 close to the station and dropped us back at the station the following day. He was very accommodating and helpful. He tend to our needs even for a short stay. The hostel itself is lovely. The interior is a mix of traditional Japanese and modern. We had a warm, comfortable and restful stay. We spent the night in a beautiful tatami room with absolutely amazing view of Mt. Fuji. I will definitely stay here again. It is quite far from the town center but I didn’t mind and loved walking around the Lake Kawaguchiko.

There’s nothing I didn’t like about this property.

My husband and I got off the wrong train station. It was getting dark and close to the closing time when we need to pickup our luggage from the station. We called the owner of the hostel. He immediately came to pick us up. We made to the station to get the luggage. He is the nicest guy. This is the experience we’ll remember for a long time. The room is clean. We were able to see the mountain Fuji sunrise from our room in the cold winter. We’ll definitely come back here next time when we visit Japan again.

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We stayed in a private room at Hostel Michikusa-Ya in early September 2024. We enjoyed our stay very much. The hostel has a stunning view of Mount Fuji. The private rooms are very spacious and offer a traditional sleeping pad on the floor. The host is a very friendly man who has endless suggestions on food, activities, hikes and sites to see. He is very helpful in navigation around Kawaguchiko. The hostel does not offer bike rentals, however there are bike rentals close by. I would recommend looking into bike rentals while staying here (unless you have a vehicle) because the walk to restaurants and sites from the hostel is quite far. The host offers 3 different times for shuttle in the morning to the train station and can often pick up at the train station if you arrive. I was able to stay in contact with him via Booking.com chat. When I was here there was mostly backpackers at the hostel, all were very quiet and mostly kept to themselves. It was a nice and relaxing atmosphere. I would definitely book here again. Highly recommend this hostel!

I LOVEEED staying here! The hostel has a nice atmosphere and Michi the owner was sooooo nice and kind and helpful, he really made us feel welcome, it was the only place from 8 accommodations we stayed in Japan that we felt a really warm welcome. Our room had views to Fuji, and there was a little meditation corner in the common areas with views to the garden and Fuji that was my favourite spot 🥹❤️ showers were warm, everything was clean… we’re back to Japan March next year and will stay here again for sure! Highly recommend it!

the futon and pillow were a bit thin, but it was not a problem for us, we just used the provided cushion to make it a bit higher and it was perfectly fine, we still had a really good night of sleep! Having white cotton sheets and pillowcases would also give a huge upgrade to comfort, but again this is just a detail and suggestion, the place was great! we see you again next year!

Our host was super welcoming and friendly! He messaged us a few days before arriving to ask what time we'd like to be picked up, and has set times to bring you back to the station on the day you leave as well. He also recommended great activities for us to do. The view was gorgeous - we were so excited to be able to see Mount Fuji in the morning from our room. We miss Hostel Michikusa-ya and our host already and would definitely stay there again.

If you're not used to traditional Japanese futons, you might find it a little hard sleeping on your side

Place feels “lived in” and lots of small details in the hall and common area (ornaments, art pieces, old vinyl records, books, etc.) make this a solid place to wind down and relax. I love the meditation “side-room” with tatami floor and a view directly to the garden. Great feature and something I want in my future house for sure! Both kitchen and bathroom are functional but not especially memorable. I have not been upstairs where the more “premium” rooms seem to be. Location is not ideal with about 30-minute walk to the main station. Then again: you are quite close to the Kawaguchi lake and a lovely Yagizaki park. Still: this is not a town to explore anyway (apart from Chureito Pagoda that’s one 90-minute walk away) but your last stop before conquering Fuji!

Sleeping area is the weak point: just a narrow round passage with small sleeping pods on both sides. Pods are the real letdown as they do not offer enough space to comfortably store your phone, charger, book, etc. It’s not a bad experience that should discourage you from staying here but it’s definitely below Japanese average. The host (probably the real owner of the place) has been helpful though a bit uptight. There are a lot of small rules around the house but hey – that’s Japan for you!

I've never before felt such peace and warmth in a hostel. This place is special. The owner is an amazing person: very helpful and attentive, and he gives good tips about places to see in the area. He even gave me advice regarding my future travel plans! Everything in the hostel was clean and well maintained. The dorm room bed was very comfortable, the best night's sleep I've ever had in a hostel. Some credit for that good sleep must be given to the general feeling of safety: all solo female travelers out there, I highly recommend this place! One of the best things for me was the view to the garden and to Mt. Fuji, visible from the common room window. If you need to take a break from busy travel schedules, or need a breather after exhausting yourself in Tokyo, take a vacation from your vacation and check out this hostel. Slow down a bit. Sit by the window, drink a cup of tea and take in the view.

Michi, who owns and runs the property, picked me up from Lake Kawaguchi station on short notice (it's about a 30-minute walk otherwise but with stunning views). He speaks incredible English and is super friendly. The house is really clean, kitchen with tea/coffee and fridge/microwave. Needed to do some laundry which Michi accommodated despite it being past the usual hours to use the machines. Cup noodles are available to buy, otherwise bring your own food or eat at one of the local restaurants (I didn't get to try this). The living room is very peaceful with views of the garden and Mount Fuji. Michi runs 3 trips back to Lake Kawaguchi between 8-10 in the morning.

Friendly owner, provided shuttle service from/to kawaguchiko station and hostel. Also drop us to the place with coin lockers. The Fujiyama view is awesome from our room during the early morning.

Limited usage of washing machine and dryer even though we are able to pay for that. The water temperature in the bathroom is not stable, the water is extremely cold during the autumn winter season even though it is already 40°C. Only feeling warm when switching it to the temperature higher than 40°C.

the hostel owner was so kind and helpful, collecting me from the station, recommending things to do and see in the area and even offering to drive me to the supermarket when I was walking. the hostel is clean and beautiful, I haven't stayed in a Ryokan but this is the authentic stay that I would hope to have in a Ryokan but at a hostel price. we were so lucky to have a beautiful clear view of Fuji on our second day. the rooms have an unbelievable view of Fuji when the weather is clear.