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Kiyosato and Yatsugatake hotels: 5 picked from 178
Approximate, at the rate on 2026-10-02. You pay in yen.
- Where to stay in Kiyosato: five pensions and hotels, from toddler-friendly to dinner-led
- Maple is set up for babies; Bark Kiyosato takes two or three groups a day
- The Classic serves creative French dinners; Fuka has the only hot spring
The five
| Best for | Where to book | Score | Weeknight (per person) | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for babies and small children, run by a former nursery teacher — if you can’t decide | Kids Pension Maple Check price |
94/100 | ¥10,000–11,000 | ¥10,000–13,000 |
| A forest pension at 1,400 m that takes only two or three groups a day | Bark Kiyosato Check price |
79/100 | ¥15,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Creative French dinners from a former head chef, rooms renewed in 2022 | Kiyosato Kogen Country Inn The Classic Check price |
78/100 | ¥18,000 | ¥19,000 |
| A wooden classic hotel ten minutes’ walk from Kiyosato station, with English-speaking staff | Hotel Hut Walden Check price |
77/100 | ¥10,000–16,000 | ¥15,000–16,000 |
| Free-flowing drinks and an open-air onsen near Kobuchizawa | Yatsugatake Hotel Fuka Check price |
74/100 | ¥9,000–17,000 | ¥19,000–74,000 |
Prices are the cheapest per person found on Rakuten Travel for Wednesdays and Saturdays between 2026-11-04 – 2026-12-26, for 2 adults in one room (checked 2026-10-25). They move daily — the link shows live prices.
The booking links go to Agoda, which shows today’s price and lets you pay in your own currency. Its price can differ from the Rakuten Travel figures above.
Built for babies and small children, run by a former nursery teacher
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 5.00/5 (133)
- Seven rooms; the owner used to be a nursery teacher
- Toys and picture books indoors; the lawn is 500 tsubo (about 1,650 m²)
- Stands next to Moeginomura and the Kiyosato footpath trail
Why it made the five
- 5.00 across 133 reviews — a perfect average.
- Baby food, a nappy-changing table, children’s chairs, and nappies on sale.
- A large lawn with swings, a slide and a hammock, and a play space with a wood stove.
- About ¥10,000–11,000 per person on a weeknight and ¥10,000–13,000 on a Saturday, with breakfast — the cheapest of the five on a Saturday.
Getting there: Fifteen minutes on foot from Kiyosato station (JR Koumi line). By car, about twenty minutes from the Sudama interchange of the Chuo Expressway, or from the Kobuchizawa interchange via the Yatsugatake Kogen road. Free parking for ten cars.
Language and payment: Language support is not published, so ask when you book. VISA and Mastercard are listed. The bath is a family bath you book for your own group after check-in, so tattoos do not come up. Allergy-aware meals are possible — list the foods to leave out when you book. Bring your own pyjamas; children are charged from age 0.
- Right for: Families with babies or toddlers who want to relax without worrying about the noise.
- Not for: Not for adults travelling without children.
Score breakdown — 94/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★★ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 5.00 |
| Value for money | ★★★★☆ | ¥10,000–11,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 94% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | A former nursery teacher runs it and baby food is provided; a nappy-changing table, children’s chairs and plenty of other kit, with nappies on sale; a 500-tsubo lawn with swings, a slide and a hammock; next to Moeginomura and the Kiyosato footpath trail; allergy-aware meals on request. |
| Trust | ★★★★★ | 5 across 133 reviews (Rakuten Travel 133) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | A pension a former nursery teacher has set up for babies and small children, with toys, picture books and baby food ready. |
A forest pension at 1,400 m that takes only two or three groups a day
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.93/5 (331)
- No other place among the 33 that qualified has as many reviews at that level
- Check-in 16:00, check-out 10:00; last check-in 21:00 (Rakuten listing)
Why it made the five
- 4.93 across 331 reviews; breakfast scores 5.00 and dinner 4.93.
- Five rooms and two or three groups a day, in forest at 1,400 m.
- A private bath booked by the time slot, with a jacuzzi.
- About ¥15,000 per person with breakfast, on a weeknight or a Saturday.
Getting there: 25 minutes on foot from JR Kiyosato station; about 25 minutes by car from the Nagasaka or Sudama interchange of the Chuo Expressway. The inn does not normally run pickups — take a taxi or the Picnic Bus. Free parking.
Language and payment: Per Rakuten, a few staff understand a little English, and several handle everyday Korean. Cards cannot be used at the inn (listed as in preparation), so plan to pay in cash or ask about payment when you book. The bath is reserved by the slot for your group only, so tattoos do not come up. Free Wi-Fi and a paid coin laundry. No pets.
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Right for: Couples who want a quiet forest and a good dinner, with few other guests about.
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Not for: 25 minutes’ walk from the station with no pickup, and no cards at the desk.
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Worth knowing: No pickup as a rule — use a taxi or the Picnic Bus — and cards are not accepted at the inn. Check-in on dinner plans is from 16:00; call if you will arrive after 18:00.
Score breakdown — 79/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★★ | The categories Rakuten does show (room and others) average 4.93 |
| Value for money | ★☆☆☆☆ | ¥15,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 148% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | In forest at 1,400 m, with two or three groups a day at most; a private bath booked by the time slot, with a jacuzzi; several staff handle everyday Korean and a few understand a little English; free Wi-Fi and a paid coin laundry; no smoking anywhere in the building. |
| Trust | ★★★★★ | 4.93 across 331 reviews (Rakuten Travel 331) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | Wrapped in forest at 1,400 m and taking only two or three groups a day, with 4.93 across 331 reviews — among the highest of everything we looked at. |
Creative French dinners from a former head chef, rooms renewed in 2022
Kiyosato Kogen Country Inn The Classic
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.84/5 (162)
- The chef was head chef in Tokyo and Yokohama and cooks creative French food that shows off Kiyosato
- 4.84 across 162 reviews
- Check-in 15:00, check-out 10:00; last check-in 21:00 (Rakuten listing)
Why it made the five
- Dinner 5.00 and service 4.95 on Rakuten.
- All seven rooms renovated in 2022, with free Wi-Fi.
- Fifteen minutes on foot from Kiyosato station.
- About ¥18,000 per person on a weeknight and ¥19,000 on a Saturday, with breakfast — the dearest of the five on a weeknight.
Getting there: Fifteen minutes on foot or three by car from Kiyosato station (JR Koumi line); about twenty minutes from the Sudama interchange of the Chuo Expressway via Route 141. Free parking for twelve cars.
Language and payment: Language support is not published, so ask when you book. You can pay by card in advance, by card at the inn, by PayPay or in cash; VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Discover are listed. The bath is a family bath, so you will not share it with strangers. No pets.
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Right for: Adults who want dinner to be the reason for the trip.
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Not for: Steps inside the building make it hard going for anyone unsteady on their feet.
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Worth knowing: Dinner starts at 18:00, so arrive by 17:30. Children aged four and over need their own bedding.
Score breakdown — 78/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★★ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.82 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★☆☆☆☆ | ¥18,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 168% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Creative French cooking by a chef who was head chef in Tokyo and Yokohama; all rooms renovated in 2022, with free Wi-Fi throughout; pay by card in advance or at the inn, by PayPay or in cash; fifteen minutes on foot or three by car from Kiyosato station. |
| Trust | ★★★★★ | 4.84 across 162 reviews (Rakuten Travel 162) |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | Creative French food from Kiyosato produce by a former Tokyo and Yokohama head chef, with dinner scored 5.00. |
A wooden classic hotel ten minutes’ walk from Kiyosato station, with English-speaking staff
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.74/5 (244) · Agoda 8.5/10 (6) · 250 in total
- Eleven rooms in what the hotel calls a classic hotel full of the warmth of wood
- Location scores 4.80; there is a bar lounge
- Check-in 15:00, check-out 10:00; last check-in 21:00 (Rakuten listing)
Why it made the five
- Ten minutes on foot from Kiyosato station, with a free pickup if you book by the day before.
- Several staff handle everyday English, per Rakuten.
- Dinner 4.88; 4.74 across 244 reviews.
- About ¥10,000–16,000 per person on a weeknight and ¥15,000–16,000 on a Saturday, with breakfast.
Getting there: Ten minutes on foot or two by car from JR Kiyosato station; free pickup from the station if booked by the day before. About twenty minutes by car from the Nagasaka interchange of the Chuo Expressway. Free parking.
Language and payment: Per Rakuten, several staff handle everyday English, and a few understand a little Chinese and Korean. VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and others are listed. Free Wi-Fi in every room. No communal bath is listed, so tattoos are unlikely to come up. Allergy requests are handled by phone.
- Right for: Travelling by train and wanting a proper dinner at a small, calm hotel.
- Not for: No bath house or hot spring is listed, and the bath scores 4.24.
Score breakdown — 77/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.57 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★☆☆ | ¥10,000–16,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 100% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Ten minutes on foot or two by car from Kiyosato station; several staff handle everyday English, with a little Chinese and Korean; allergy-aware meals; no smoking throughout, with a bar lounge. |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 4.74 across 244 reviews (Rakuten Travel 244) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | An eleven-room hotel that styles itself a classic hotel full of the warmth of wood, with dinner scored 4.88. |
Free-flowing drinks and an open-air onsen near Kobuchizawa
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.53/5 (1,912)
- The only hot spring among the five
- 1,912 reviews, the most of the 33 that qualified, averaging 4.53
- Check-in 15:00; last check-in 19:30 (Rakuten listing)
Why it made the five
- Around 50 drinks at dinner and around 80 at bar time, at no extra charge.
- A hot-spring large bath and open-air bath (weakly alkaline).
- Seven minutes by car from Kobuchizawa station, with a shuttle bus; check-out 11:00.
- About ¥9,000–17,000 per person on a weeknight with breakfast — the cheapest of the five — but ¥19,000–74,000 on a Saturday.
Getting there: Seven minutes by car from Kobuchizawa station (JR Chuo line), with a shuttle bus; four minutes from the Kobuchizawa interchange of the Chuo Expressway. Free parking for 35 cars.
Language and payment: Language support is not published, so ask when you book. VISA, JCB, Mastercard, UC, DC and debit cards are listed. The onsen is communal and nude in the Japanese way — if you have a tattoo, ask the hotel before relying on it. A bathing tax per adult is paid at the hotel. Barrier-free rooms and loan wheelchairs are available.
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Right for: Wanting a hot spring and a relaxed evening without watching the drinks bill.
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Not for: Not walkable from a station, and Saturday rates rise sharply.
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Worth knowing: Rakuten does not give the shuttle bus times or conditions, so check with the hotel.
Score breakdown — 74/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★☆☆☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.45 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★★☆ | ¥9,000–17,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, breakfast) — 86% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Check-out 11:00 and a shuttle bus; around 50 free drinks at dinner and 80 at bar time; a hot-spring large bath and open-air bath (hypotonic, weakly alkaline); seven minutes by car from JR Kobuchizawa station; barrier-free rooms and loan wheelchairs; bathing tax paid separately on site. |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | 4.53 across 1,912 reviews (Rakuten Travel 1,912) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | An onsen hotel billed as all-inclusive, with drinks at dinner and at bar time included at no extra charge. |
Know before you book
- Kobuchizawa is on the JR Chuo line, and limited express trains from Shinjuku stop there; the journey is about two hours. It is the gateway for the whole area, and the bigger hotels sit a short drive or shuttle ride from it.
- Kiyosato is further up the mountain on the JR Koumi line, which branches off at Kobuchizawa. Trains are infrequent, so check the timetable before you plan a connection.
- Most of the 33 places that qualified are small pensions in the forest that assume you have a car. Only a handful can be walked to from a station — Kiyosato Pension Izumi in three minutes, Hotel Hut Walden in ten, The Classic and Kids Pension Maple in fifteen.
- Pensions here have five to eleven rooms, serve dinner at a fixed time and want you there before it — several ask you to arrive by about 17:30. Baths are usually a family bath your group books by the slot, so you bathe on your own.
- Hot springs are the exception rather than the rule. Hotel Fuka near Kobuchizawa has a hot-spring large bath and open-air bath; among the runners-up, Lodge Atelier has a natural hot spring.
- This is high country — Bark Kiyosato gives its altitude as 1,400 m — so evenings are cool even in summer and winter is properly cold. Prices here are per person with breakfast, for two sharing.
How we chose: theme, conditions, scoring
How we chose
- Candidates: every property in Kiyosato and Yatsugatake listed on Rakuten Travel — 178
- Passed the review filter (counts and averages on Rakuten Travel, the one site that lists every property in the area): 42
- Met every condition below: 33
- Kept: five, each the best at something different
Where the facts come from
- Facts: Rakuten Travel property information (in some articles, each hotel’s own site too)
- Prices: Rakuten Travel live availability, Wednesdays and Saturdays over eight weeks
- Reviews: the count and average on Rakuten Travel, as given in each hotel’s Trust row. Agoda’s reviews are shown under each hotel name for reference only and do not count towards the score
Conditions (all of them, not most of them)
- In Rakuten Travel’s Yatsugatake, Kobuchizawa, Kiyosato and Oizumi district, Yamanashi
- At least 50 reviews on Rakuten Travel, averaging 4.0 or better
- The cheapest rate falls between ¥6,000 and ¥50,000 per person per night
Scoring
Five criteria, one to five stars each, weighted to one hundred points. Every star says where the number came from.
- Quality20 pts
- The average of the scores Rakuten Travel publishes for the room, the bath and the food.
- Value for money25 pts
- The cheapest breakfast-inclusive rate against the median of the hotels we compared.
- Easy to stay30 pts
- Minutes from the station, a bath house, and check-out time.
- Trust20 pts
- Review counts and averages published by Rakuten Travel.
- Only here5 pts
- What this hotel has that the other 32 do not.
What we dropped
| Property | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kiyosato Pension Izumi | Runner-up (73/100) | 73/100, one point behind Yatsugatake Hotel Fuka. The categories Rakuten shows average 4.50 and its 4.58 across 186 reviews earned two stars for quality and three for trust, which cost it more than its low price — 81% of the median — won back. |
| Risonare Yatsugatake | Runner-up (65/100) | 65/100. No rooms with breakfast came up in our search window, so value was left at a neutral three stars, and the categories Rakuten shows average 4.21, pulled down by a 3.91 bath score, which earned one star for quality. |
| Lodge Atelier | Runner-up (64/100) | 64/100. About ¥14,000–18,000 per person on a weeknight is 135% of the median, which earned one star for value, and 4.59 across 308 reviews gave three stars for trust. |
| Seisenryo Hotel & Cottage | Outside the theme | 4.34 across 603 reviews and one of Kiyosato’s best-known names, but its cheapest rate is under our ¥6,000 floor. |
| Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa | Outside the theme | 4.24 across 4,742 reviews with a hot spring and 250 rooms, but its cheapest rate is under our ¥6,000 floor. |
| Kiyosato Pension Estrellita | Not confirmed | 5.00 across 60 reviews, but Rakuten shows no cheapest rate, so we could not check the price condition. |
| Yatsugatake Kogen Resort (formerly Ambient Yatsugatake Cottage) | Below the floor | 1,933 reviews and a hot spring, but its average of 3.99 falls just short of our 4.0 floor. |
| 135 other places | Below the floor | Fewer than 50 reviews, or an average below 4.0. |
Questions visitors ask
Which one would you book?
Kids Pension Maple if you have small children: 94/100, the top of the five, with a perfect 5.00 across 133 reviews and about ¥10,000–11,000 per person on a weeknight. Without children, Bark Kiyosato at 79/100 — 4.93 across 331 reviews in a forest that takes two or three groups a day — or Hotel Hut Walden if you are coming by train and want staff who handle everyday English.
Can I stay here without a car?
Yes, if you choose carefully. Hotel Hut Walden is ten minutes on foot from Kiyosato station and collects guests free if you book by the day before; The Classic and Kids Pension Maple are fifteen minutes’ walk; Yatsugatake Hotel Fuka runs a shuttle bus from Kobuchizawa, though you should check its times with the hotel. Bark Kiyosato is 25 minutes’ walk and does not collect guests. The sights are spread out, so plan on taxis, the Picnic Bus or a hire car for getting around.
Kiyosato or Kobuchizawa — where should I stay?
Kobuchizawa is on the JR Chuo line, where limited express trains from Shinjuku stop, so it is the quicker trip from Tokyo; Yatsugatake Hotel Fuka is near it. Kiyosato is further up the mountain on the JR Koumi line, with the pensions, Moeginomura and the walking trails around it. Four of the five are in Kiyosato, so stay there if you want to step out of the door into the forest.
Is there an onsen?
At one of the five: Yatsugatake Hotel Fuka has a hot-spring large bath and an open-air bath. Lodge Atelier, a runner-up, has a natural hot spring with the best bath score of the eight (4.74). The pensions have family baths — a small bath your group books by the slot — rather than hot springs. Communal onsen are nude and Japanese-style, so if you have a tattoo, ask first.
Do the staff speak English?
Per Rakuten, Hotel Hut Walden has several staff who handle everyday English — the only one of the five that says so. Bark Kiyosato has a few staff with a little English. The other three do not publish it, so ask when you book and keep notes about arrival time and allergies short and clear. Bark Kiyosato also does not take cards at the inn.
How much do these cost?
The table shows the cheapest price per person with breakfast, for two sharing, from Rakuten Travel’s availability search for Wednesdays and Saturdays between 4 November and 26 December 2026, checked on 25 October. Weeknights run from about ¥9,000 at Yatsugatake Hotel Fuka to ¥18,000 at The Classic. Saturdays at Hotel Fuka jump to ¥19,000–74,000, while the small pensions barely move.
Changes
- 2026-10-29 First published. Scored from 178 candidates.