Unbelievable Lake Yamanaka Views: Rakuten STAY VILLA Awaits!
Rakuten STAY Villa Awa Awa Awaaaaazing! (Lake Yamanaka Edition: Brace Yourself)
Okay, folks, buckle up. I just got back from a stay at Rakuten STAY VILLA Awa (or whatever the heck they call it) by Lake Yamanaka, and my brain is still trying to process the sheer… beauty. Seriously. Lake Yamanaka? Jaw-dropping. The villa? Well, let’s just say I'm now considering selling my worldly possessions and becoming a permanent resident in a comfy bathrobe.
This isn't your typical hotel review, alright? Forget the sterile, corporate jargon. I'm gonna lay it all out, the good, the slightly-less-good, and the moments that made me want to scream with joy. So, grab a coffee, settle in, and prepare for the rollercoaster.
(First, the SEO stuff – gotta appease the Google Gods!)
Keywords, oh yeah!: Lake Yamanaka, Rakuten STAY, VILLA, Awa, Japan, Hotels, Yamanashi, Mountain View, Lake View, Luxurious Stay, Family Friendly, Pet Friendly (kinda-ish), Wheelchair Accessible, Spa, Sauna, Dining, Western Breakfast, Japanese Cuisine, Wi-Fi, Free Parking, Unbelievable Views, Adventure, Relax, Cleanliness, Safety, COVID-19 Protocols.
Accessibility: (The Not-Always-Smooth-But-Worth-It Ride)
Right off the bat, this is a villa, remember? So accessibility isn’t its strongest suit. While the website says "Facilities for disabled guests," I'd describe it as: "It's trying." The parking is free, which is a win, and there's supposedly an elevator (thank goodness, I had a suitcase the size of a small donkey!), but navigating the grounds, particularly the outdoor areas… well, let’s just say it’s easier with a good pair of legs. I didn't personally need wheelchair access, but I could see it being a challenge in certain parts. Consider calling ahead and asking specific questions if accessibility is a primary concern. (Rating: 3.5/5, with a huge asterisk.)
Internet & Tech Stuff (Because We Can't Live Without It)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise the internet gods! And it actually worked. No buffering during my Netflix binge, which is a huge win.
- Internet Access [LAN]: Yes, they have LAN, but who uses that anymore unless you're, like, a hardcore gamer?
- Internet Services: Standard stuff.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: More like scattered public areas. It works in the lobby and the restaurant, but don't expect a signal by the lake unless you're standing directly in front of the villa holding your phone up in the air. (I may or may not have done that).
Cleanliness & Safety: (COVID and Beyond)
Okay, here's where Rakuten STAY really shines. They are taking this seriously. The whole vibe is clean. The air smells… fresh? Really.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Absolutely.
- Hand sanitizer: Abundant.
- Hygiene certification: Yup.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Praise the pre-packaged gods!
- Physical distancing: Enforced, thank goodness.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Major plus.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Yep.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Yes, yes, and yes.
- Room sanitization Opt-out: Not that I would.
They still have the doctor on call, first aid kit, the works, and the staff are all masked and courteous. I think they're running the place with the same level of sanitization as the operating room! Seriously, though, this is what you want to know, especially these days. (Rating: 5/5 – they nailed it.)
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: (Food Glorious Food! and the Occasional Snack)
Alright, let's talk about the grub. This is Japan, so expectations are high.
- Restaurants: There is one, and it’s good. They have an Asian menu, and a western one.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes, you certainly can.
- Asian Breakfast: Yes.
- Asian Cuisine in restaurant: The star.
- Bar: Surprisingly decent selection of local beers and Japanese whiskeys. Perfect for sunset views.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: Not in current times; it's a la carte, which is fine.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Check.
- Coffee shop: None, but you can make coffee in your room.
- Western Breakfast: Yep.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Standard stuff.
- Room Service [24-hour]: Nope, not that I saw.
- Poolside Bar: Not really, though you could probably bring your own drinks.
The Food Experience: A Love Story (Mostly)
Okay, so the dinners were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I had this incredible Wagyu beef that practically melted in my mouth. And the Japanese breakfast? Sublime. Delicate, flavorful, and beautifully presented. My only complaint (and this is being super picky)? The coffee wasn’t the best. But the setting… oh, the setting.
The view from the restaurant is breathtaking. I honestly, I'm not sure if I've been in a more calming environment. And I'm a busy person.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: (Spoiled, I Tell You, Spoiled!)
This is where Rakuten STAY really amps up the good stuff.
- Pool with a view: There's an outdoor swimming pool, and the view… well, you get the idea.
- Sauna: YES. After a day of hiking, this was absolute heaven.
- Spa/sauna: The full package.
- Steamroom: I'm a sucker for a steamroom.
- Gym/fitness: Yes, they have a gym, and it's… okay.
- Massage: Yes, and it was amazing. The therapist was incredibly skilled.
- Foot bath: I'd forgotten this was a thing, and now I want one in my own home.
- Body scrub, bodywrap, and spa: All that luxury!
The "Relax" Button:
Honestly, you could spend your entire stay just hopping between the sauna, the pool, and your room with its incredible view. I'm usually buzzing around, trying to do everything, but here, I just… relaxed. I let myself get spoiled. It was glorious. I wanted to make fun of myself for being so relaxed, but i couldn't. (Rating: 5/5 - Pure bliss.)
Services and Conveniences (The Practical Stuff)
- Concierge: They were pretty helpful, but a little English-challenged. It's Japan, though, so this is to be expected.
- Cash withdrawal: You can’t do this at the hotel.
- Daily housekeeping: Perfect, even if a bit quiet.
- Elevator: Good, but as I said, the villa structure is, well, a villa!
- Laundry service/dry cleaning: They have it, which is handy.
- Luggage storage: Yup.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: If you must work while you're there.
- Smoking area: Discreet.
- Doorman: The hotel has a guard.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Kinda.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
- Food delivery: Didn't try it.
- Gift/souvenir shop: There is a gift shop.
- Car park [free of charge]: Yup.
- Car power charging station: Didn't notice one.
- Airport transfer/taxi service: Available, but it's not exactly close to the airport.
- Valet parking: No.
For the Kids: (Family-Friendly, Kinda…)
- Babysitting service: I didn't have a child, so I didn't pay close attention, but I believe it's available.
- Family/child friendly: Yes, very much!
- Kids meal: Possibly.
- Kids facilities: I didn't see specific kids facilities, but the pool and the general vibe are pretty family-friendly.
Getting Around: (Location, Location, Location!)
- Bicycle parking: I think so.
- Car park [on-site]: Yes, and it's free.
- Taxi service: Available, but you're going to want a car to get around, I think.
Available in all rooms: (The Nitty-Gritty)
- Air conditioning: Essential!
- **Alarm
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your sanitized "Top 10 Things to Do in Yamanakako" brochure. This is my trip. Expect a rollercoaster. Prepare to cringe. Welcome to the glorious mess that is:
My Rakuten STAY VILLA Lake Yamanakako Debrief & Itinerary (AKA: How I Tried to Adult in the Shadow of Fuji and Probably Failed)
Pre-Trip Anxiety & Packing Panic (Good grief, this always happens!)
- Weeks Before: Okay, Yamanakako. Sounds serene. Beautiful even. I'm picturing myself, zen-like, with sweeping vistas. The reality? A week of fretting about whether I had enough sunscreen (answer: I never do), the right shoes (answer: always wrong), and the inevitable existential dread of being alone with my thoughts in a villa.
- Packing, the Eternal Struggle: I'm a chronic over-packer. My suitcase looks like it’s preparing for a zombie apocalypse AND a fashion show. Layers are KEY, I convinced myself. Even though it’s July. I packed a full-on rain jacket the size of a small child. You know, just in case.
- Booking the Villa, the Hype Begins: Rakuten STAY VILLA Lake Yamanakako… sounded gorgeous. The pictures were stunning. A modern, minimalist aesthetic with… wait, a private onsen? Okay, sold. Now the pressure’s on to actually enjoy it. No pressure, self. None at all.
Day 1: Arrival & Initial Wow Factor (Followed by a Dash of Disappointment… because that’s me!)
- Getting There (The Train Ride of Almost-Doom): The train from Tokyo… lovely, right? Except I boarded the wrong one. Twice. Nearly missed my connection. Tripped over a suitcase. (Graceful, I am not.) But hey, I made it! The scenery slowly shifted from urban sprawl to lush countryside, and the air felt cleaner. Score one for not dying on the train.
- Arrival at the Villa: OMG, Is This Real Life?: Okay, so, the villa. HOLY CRAP. The photos didn’t do it justice. Floor-to-ceiling windows, a massive living room, a kitchen that could make Gordon Ramsay weep with joy… and the view of Fuji-san… absolutely breathtaking. My inner monologue went something like: "WHOA. Okay. This is… amazing. Don't screw it up. Don't spill anything. Breathe. Just… exist in beauty."
- The First Imperfection: But (and there’s always a “but”), there was a slight, let’s say, quirk. The instructions for the coffee machine might as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphs. After 20 minutes of confused prodding, I gave up and went to boil water the old-fashioned way. The zen was already cracking.
- Lunch & Local Flavors (The Ramen Revelation): Wandered into a small ramen shop nearby. The proprietor, a kindly old woman with a smile as warm as the broth, gestured me to a seat. Best. Ramen. Ever. Slurping noodles, feeling the warmth spread through me, I could almost feel my stress melting away. Almost.
- Chasing Fuji-san (or, the mountain that played hide-and-seek): I had grand ambitions. To hike, to photograph, to… commune with nature. Fuji-san, however, had other ideas. The clouds rolled in. The mountain vanished. I wandered around the lake, muttering about meteorological conspiracy theories.
Day 2: Double-Downing on Onsen & a Moment of (Almost) Pure Bliss
- The Onsen, Round One: Okay, let's be honest. The main reason I booked the villa? The private onsen. I ran a bath, cranked up the music (Japanese jazz, because… ambiance), and sunk into the steaming water. Pure. Bliss. For about five minutes. Then my phone rang (work, of course). The serenity bubble burst. Damn it.
- Lake Yamanaka Exploration (The Swan Boat Saga): Decided to embrace the tourist within. Rented a swan boat. Thought it would be romantic. It was… less romantic, more hilarious. I spent most of the time battling the pedals, feeling like a complete klutz, and nearly capsized trying to take a photo. I was probably a riot.
- Onsen, Take Two – The Redemption: The evening brought cloudless skies. I returned to the onsen, determined to reclaim my zen. This time, no phone. Just the stars, the warm water, and… a fleeting sense of peace. I'm pretty sure this is what they mean when they say "finding yourself."
- Dinner (The Cooking Disaster): Decided to be ambitious. Cooked tempura. It was, ahem, a culinary catastrophe. The oil splattered everywhere. The tempura resembled… crispy, oily, vaguely edible blobs. Lesson learned: stick to the ramen.
Day 3: Final Day, Farewell Fuji, and the Sadness of Leaving
- Fuji, You Showed Up!: Woke up to a perfect view. The mountain, glorious and majestic, bathed in morning sunlight. I actually teared up a little bit. (Okay, a lot.) It was as if Fuji-san was saying, "Yes, you clumsy, stressed-out human, you can have a moment of beauty."
- A Last Stroll by the Lake: Sat by the lake, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the water lap against the shore. This time I felt a real sense of gratitude. I'd messed up, stumbled, and almost drowned in a swan boat. But there was joy, beauty, and a deep respect for the strength of the mountain. And honestly, that's what truly mattered.
- Packing… Again (The Emotional Goodbye): It's always hardest to leave places that capture your soul. This time, I knew I would come back.
- Leaving (The Bitter-Sweet Departure): Saying goodbye to Fuji-san for now was hard. Leaving the villa felt like going home after a vacation. The memory of being in awe and the joy of spending time in the natural beauty of Japan made the trip worth it.
- The Train Ride Home (Planning the next trip!): The train ride home was quiet. I was tired, but my heart felt full. And already planning my next adventure to Yamanakako.
Final Thoughts (And My Honest Rating):
- Overall Experience: 8/10. The villa was incredible. The scenery was stunning (when visible). The ramen was life-changing. Even the swan boat was a (slightly embarrassing) triumph.
- Would I Go Back?: Absolutely. Without a doubt.
- Advice for Future Me (and You): Pack light (seriously). Learn basic Japanese (even just how to order ramen). Embrace the imperfections. And for crying out loud, get a better coffee machine. (Or just stick to instant.)
- And Finally…: Go. Just go. Even if you’re a clumsy, over-packing mess like me. The magic of Yamanakako, and Mount Fuji, will find you.
Rakuten STAY VILLA Yamanaka: You Ready For This Lakeside Madness? (FAQ - With a Side of Me)
Okay, Seriously... Is the Lake Yamanaka View *Really* That Good? Like, Insta-Worthy Good?
Ugh, alright, let's be brutally honest. "Insta-worthy?" Depends. Are you allergic to slightly overcast mornings? Because, yeah, sometimes the fog rolls in and you're just looking at a fluffy white nothingness. And then, BAM! The entire darn lake, Mt. Fuji shimmering in the background, BAM! It's like the universe just decided to put on a spectacular show, solely for you.
Picture this: I'm sprawled on the deck, coffee in hand, still half-asleep. Sun's just starting to peek over the mountains. And then... there it is. Fuji-san. Majestic. Perfect. I swear, I almost choked on my coffee. Seriously, I *had* to take a photo, and it was glorious. Not just Insta-worthy, but memory-make-you-ugly-cry-worthy. It's about the feeling, yeah? The quiet awe. The "I can't believe this exists" moment. That's what Rakuten STAY delivers. But, the weather is unpredictable. It's no guarantee, but if you get it, oh man, you get *it*.
So, What *Exactly* Makes a Rakuten STAY VILLA a "VILLA"? Is it just a fancy name?
Okay, so "villa" sounds all high-class and "imported Italian marble" and stuff, right? And honestly, some of these places are pretty swanky. But the key is the space! You're not crammed into a tiny hotel room. You've got a whole dang house. My place (and I think this is pretty standard) had a living room area, kitchen, multiple bedrooms (which was great because my brother snores like a chainsaw), and, of course, the deck overlooking the lake.
I'm talking freedom! You can make a mess in the kitchen and not freak out about cleaning up immediately (within reason, of course – housekeeping judges, I'm told). And hey, a kitchen means you can buy ALL the local goodies at that little market and have a picnic on your private deck. Absolute bliss. Oh! And the *washing machine and dryer*. GAME CHANGER. Especially if you're the kind of person who packs light (I am not).
Basically, it's about relaxing. Spreading out. Feeling like you actually *live* there for a little while. Which is a million times better than, "Oh, I have to whisper in this hotel."
What About the Amenities? Is There Wi-Fi? (Asking for a Friend...or rather, Myself)
Wi-Fi? Yeah, yeah, there's Wi-Fi. Thank heavens. Because, let's be real, even in paradise, sometimes you need to check your Instagram... or, you know, *respond* to incredibly urgent emails. And yes, the Wi-Fi I had was pretty good. I could even stream a movie, which was a lifesaver when the weather turned gloomy one afternoon.
Beyond the Wi-Fi, you typically get the basics: towels, toiletries, a hairdryer (thank GOD), and usually some kitchen essentials like pots, pans, and cutlery. They're pretty good about making sure you're comfortable. Check the specific villa details to be *sure* of what's included, because that can vary. Oh, and a few more things - *air conditioning*. Thank you! And the basic amenities. Not over the top, but perfectly serviceable.
Here's the kicker though: I did a grocery drop off service. Such a time saver!
Are There Any Downsides? (Because Nothing's Perfect, Right?)
Ugh, yes. There are always downsides, aren't there? First and foremost: the price. Let's get real, it's not cheap. Especially if you want a villa with *that* killer view. You're paying for the privacy and the space and, let's be honest, the bragging rights. It's an investment.
And also, and this is personal opinion, I found it a little *too* quiet. I mean, I love peace and quiet, but at night the sounds of the lake can get a bit overwhelming. I ended up putting some sleep sounds to keep me distracted.
Finally... this is my own minor complaint, but the cleaning fee. Yes, you usually have to do some basic cleanup before you leave. Not a dealbreaker, but it's a gentle reminder you're not living the *completely* carefree life. You're still a functioning adult.
How Do You Actually *Get* to Rakuten STAY VILLA Yamanaka? (Transportation Woes?)
Ah, the glorious logistical nightmare we call travel. It's definitely doable by public transport (from Tokyo, it's a combination of train and bus), but... it takes *time*. And lugging luggage *is* a pain. I highly recommend renting a car. It gives you the freedom to explore the surrounding area, like the Fuji Five Lakes region. Trust me, you'll want to. Because there's this amazing ice cream place that I found, and you wouldn't want to miss out on that...
The roads are relatively easy to navigate. Well, except for that *one* time I took a wrong turn and ended up on a very narrow, very windy mountain road. Let's just say my driving skills were put to the test. (And I may have sworn a little loudly). But hey, I made it! And the scenery was beautiful, even if I was terrified.
So, car is the way to go, but don't stress if you can't. There's a bit of a walk involved to some, so be sure and check the location! And watch out for those narrow roads!
What's the Deal with the Local Food? Gotta Know Where to Eat!
Okay, food is a *priority*, right? You're in Japan! And Yamanaka Lake does not disappoint. There is loads and loads and loads of great places to grub! I mean, so many amazing places, so little time. Make sure to check ahead for hours and reservations if possible!
The local specialty is *Hoto* noodles! A hearty stew perfect for a cool evening. I got a little carried away and ordered practically the whole menu. *So good*. And the fresh local ingredients are amazing. Also, don't be afraid to explore the smaller restaurants, which are generally the best! I found a tiny ramen shop where the chef clearly poured their heart into every bowl. Just heavenly.
Don't forget some snacks for your villa. It's super fun to eat while you are enjoying the lake views. I spent an entire late afternoon with some cheese, crackers, and wine!
Is Rakuten STAY Good forNomadic Stays
