Hello! (@chiropiyo0331) here.
This time I’m introducing Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu in Isawa Onsen, Yamanashi, which is distinctive for its interior inspired by the world of William Morris and its spacious guest rooms.
Speaking of Yamanashi, it’s grapes! Peaches! Koshu beef! Hoto noodles! Seasonal fruit in particular is famous for generous, in-season parfaits, and I chose this hotel as my lodging for a fruit-picking trip.
In this article, I’d like to share my impressions and review of my stay at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu.
“People who want to stay at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu but wonder what it’s like“
“People looking for a hot spring inn around Isawa Onsen Station“
If either of those describes you, this article is just right, so please read to the end.
- Who Should Stay at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- Access to Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- Guest Rooms at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- Details of Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- Hot Springs at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- Dinner at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- Breakfast at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
- My Impressions of Staying at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Who Should Stay at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Around Isawa Onsen Station, where Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu is located, there are about 30 hotels.
Isawa Onsen is located almost in the center of the Kofu Basin and is characterized by long hours of sunshine and a mild climate all year round.
Thanks to that, the whole hot spring town is wrapped in a gentle atmosphere, and it’s recommended for those who want to take it easy.
Isawa Onsen is known as a leading hot spring area in Yamanashi Prefecture and has flourished since long ago as a place for hot spring cures.
Blessed with quality hot springs and beautiful nature, it’s popular with people who want to soothe daily fatigue and those who want to spend time in a quiet environment.
I chose Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu for sightseeing in Isawa Onsen, and having actually stayed there, the people this hotel suits are as follows.
• Want to enjoy dinner in a relaxed dining room
• Want to enjoy events exclusively for guests
• Looking for reasonably priced lodging near Isawa Onsen
The first is people who want to enjoy dinner in a relaxed dining room.
In the dining room you can go barefoot, and it keeps a quieter, calmer atmosphere than ordinary table seating, so you can enjoy your meal and conversation at a leisurely pace.
The second is people who want to enjoy events exclusively for guests.
It’s held irregularly, but sometimes a magic show takes place.
It lasts about 40 minutes and is an event you can join for free, and it’s enjoyable for everyone from small children to adults!
Groups and individual guests who would like entertainment by a magician can ask the front desk in advance.
The third is people looking for reasonably priced lodging near Isawa Onsen.
Isawa Onsen isn’t as famous as Kusatsu or Hakone, but it’s known as one of the leading hot spring areas in the Kanto region, and room rates are fairly high.
With a high Rakuten Travel rating of about 4.2, it’s very appealing that in popular Isawa Onsen there’s a plan with breakfast and dinner from 15,000 yen!
Recommended for those who want to enjoy authentic hot springs.
Access to Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu is a hot spring inn in Isawa Onsen-kyo in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, an area where Isawa Onsen-kyo itself is a tourist attraction, with appealing nature and hot springs.
By Train
- Nearest station: JR Chuo Line “Isawa-Onsen Station”
- From the station to the hotel: The distance from Isawa-Onsen Station to the hotel is about 900 m, roughly 5 minutes by taxi. You can also walk from the station in about 15 minutes.
Isawa-Onsen Station is also easy to reach from Tokyo, and on the limited express “Kaiji” or “Super Azusa” you can get there from Shinjuku Station in about 90 minutes for about 2,300 yen one way.
By Car
- Using the Chuo Expressway: About 15 minutes by car from “Ichinomiya-Misaka IC”
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from Isawa-Onsen Station, so if anything, I recommend getting there by car!
Access by car is convenient and guests can use the parking lot for free, so for large groups, renting a car is also recommended.
| Hotel Name | Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu |
| Address | 195 Hatta, Isawa-cho, Fuefuki, Yamanashi 406-0023 |
| Phone | 055-262-2151 |
| Check-in | 15:00 (last check-in: 18:00) |
| Check-out | 10:00 |
| Rooms | 52 rooms |
| Access | About 10 minutes on foot from JR Isawa-Onsen Station, 5 minutes by car |
| Shuttle | None |
| Parking | Free (50 spaces) |
| Wi-Fi | Free |
| Smoking | Allowed (smoking room only) |
| Vending Machines | None |
| Coin Laundry | None |
| Credit Cards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diner’s Club, UC, DC, NICOS, Master Card, Rakuten Card |
| Luggage Storage | Available before check-in and after check-out |
| Other | Bar lounge, large hot spring bath, open-air bath |
Guest Rooms at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu has 52 rooms in total, with 5 Japanese-Western room types and 7 Japanese-style room types.
The Japanese-Western rooms are all equipped with the popular ReFa hair dryer!!
<Japanese-Western Rooms>
| Room Type | Features | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Garden-side M Type | Carpeted Western-style room using William Morris wallpaper | 39㎡ |
| Garden-side M Type with Private Reserved Bath | Carpeted Western-style room with a private reserved bath | 39㎡ |
| M Type with Semi-Open-Air Bath | Room with a semi-open-air bath, a carpeted Western-style room using William Morris wallpaper | 50㎡ |
| M Suite Type with Family Bath | Two-room Japanese-Western suite with a living room and bedroom, with a family bath and a massage chair | 80㎡ |
| M Suite Type with Semi-Open-Air Bath | Two-room Japanese-Western suite with a living room and bedroom, with a semi-open-air bath and a massage chair | 90㎡ |
<Japanese-Style Rooms>
| Room Type | Features | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Special Room V Type | Special guest room facing the Japanese garden | 6 + 6 tatami mats |
| Garden-side Two-room S Type | Spacious guest room facing the Japanese garden | 10 + 4.5 tatami mats |
| Garden-side A Type | Guest room facing the Japanese garden | 10 tatami mats |
| Mountain-side B Type | Standard-type guest room | 10 tatami mats |
| Three-room Garden-side K Type | Spacious guest room facing the Japanese garden (ideal for groups) | 8 + 8 + 5 tatami mats |
| Three-room O Type | Spacious, purely Japanese-style guest room full of charm (ideal for groups) | 8 + 8 + 5 tatami mats |
| Mountain-side Two-room G Type | Spacious two-room guest room (ideal for groups) | 10 + 4.5 tatami mats |
The room I stayed in this time was the “Garden-side A Type”, where you can look out at the Japanese garden from the room.
This is one of the rooms where you can stay at a reasonable price.
Details of Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Now, let me introduce the details of Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu, where I stayed this time.
I drove this time and parked in the free parking lot in front of the main entrance.
True to the name, there’s certainly a lot of stone, even from the exterior!!
With 52 rooms in total and 50 parking spaces, it’s about one-to-one, so you won’t be left unable to park because the lot is full. That’s reassuring.
If it’s free, driving is the way to go!
The hotel has no vending machines, so use a nearby convenience store to buy drinks.
There’s a Lawson Fuefuki Isawa-cho store about a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
At night it’s almost pitch dark with no lighting, so I strongly recommend shopping at the time you check in!
There’s also an AEON Isawa store 100 m from Isawa-Onsen Station!
Check-in
The main entrance has a spacious covered driveway, thoughtfully designed so guests can come and go comfortably even in the rain!
Lots of stonework here too!!
The lobby’s luxurious interior and calm space are appealing, inviting you into a special time~.
A large chandelier hanging from the ceiling is striking, and you can see its sparkling light elegantly illuminating the whole lobby.
The front desk is a space that conveys refined design and an atmosphere of attentive hospitality~.
Behind the front desk is a beautiful stained-glass-style decoration, making you feel like you’re in an art museum.
The carpet is lovely too!!
At the front desk, I received an explanation of my room and confirmed the dinner and breakfast times.
You can freely choose from three dinner times in 30-minute steps (18:00, 18:30, or 19:00) and three breakfast times (7:30, 8:00, or 8:30).
Because it’s a kaiseki meal, there’s no time when crowds concentrate as at a buffet, so it seems you can book any slot.
The room key is a physical key with a Showa-era feel.
But it has its own charm, and that’s good too~.
Guest Room
I took the elevator behind the front desk up to the 3rd floor, and after a short walk, I saw this corridor in front of the guest rooms.
Warm lighting and a geometric-patterned carpet create a retro-modern atmosphere, with a sense of time-slipping. It’s a nostalgic space that evokes the Showa era.
The room I stayed in was Room 303!!
It had a very Japanese feel, with a lavish genkan entrance step (fumikomi) at the entry.
Inside, there were signs of age here and there, but a tatami Japanese-style room spreads out right in front of you.
The tatami looks new, as if it was just replaced. At 10 tatami mats, it’s a spacious Japanese-style room.
There’s also a wide veranda (hiroen) space. I’m told you can look out at the Japanese garden from the window, so let’s take a look right away!
The weather was unfortunately cloudy, but the construction, which skillfully combines natural materials such as stone, water, and greenery unique to a Japanese garden, is beautiful!!
Somehow, it’s calming. I hear there’s even an event where you can feed the koi.
It’s a space recommended for those who want to quietly feel Japanese beauty.
The TV is about 30 inches, and it’s quite easy to watch.
You want a big TV of 30 inches or more in the guest room, don’t you?
The closet holds free-size yukata, obi sashes, and bath towel sets for each guest.
Having them already prepared in the room means fewer things to carry at check-in, which is easier.
Washbasin, Bathroom, and Toilet
It’s an old-fashioned washbasin, but as you can see from the photo, the plumbing area feels very clean.
It feels a bit small, but on the other hand, the amenities, lotion, and everything are within easy reach, which is convenient!
The toilet is integrated with the bathroom, which is cramped and awkward to use, but the size is typical of a business hotel.
Since it’s a hotel with hot springs, a small bathroom isn’t a problem!
Hot Springs at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu has a natural hot spring called “Sekifu no Yu.”
In the room, I changed into the yukata and took the bath towel set.
I saw a huge noren curtain with “yu” (hot water) written on it, so I found the place right away.
Men’s “Tono no Yu”. Image description
The entrance to the hot spring has the charm of good old Japan and a somehow nostalgic feel.
There’s also a cold water dispenser, which sauna fans will appreciate.
The large bath is a spacious space with natural light streaming in, conveying an open atmosphere.
The two rock baths are appealing too.
Surrounded by greenery and rocks around the open-air bath, you can enjoy the hot spring with the feeling of blending into nature.
Relax in this open-air bath and your everyday fatigue will surely be soothed!
There was no sauna or cold plunge.
Dinner at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Dinner at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu is in a venue called Ume no Ma, where you take off your hotel slippers and can dine in comfort.
To put it plainly, dinner is super lavish!!
Wagyu sirloin steak on the left, and fatty tuna steak on the right.
The way the carpaccio is plated is a bit bunched up, but the seasoning is light and delicious.
A dish that’s beautiful to look at, with shark fin floating in a clear soup.
The fibers were tender yet still had a crunchy texture, and it was satisfyingly substantial♪
Five-color tempura, where you can enjoy each color.
My friend’s shishito pepper apparently was extremely spicy, but mine was no problem.
Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
195 Hatta, Isawa-cho, Fuefuki, Yamanashi [Map]
*Prices shown are the lowest weekday rates for 2 guests with breakfast, before coupons or discounts. Please check the linked page for the latest information.
Breakfast at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
Breakfast at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu was in the same venue as dinner.
If you go at your reserved breakfast time, the meal is already set out, so don’t oversleep and be late.
From breakfast classics like freshly grilled salmon and tamagoyaki to Koshu’s specialty hoto stew, it’s hearty first thing in the morning.
A breakfast that warms both heart and body.
Incidentally, for lunch that day I’m planning to have hoto again at Hoto Kenkyujo, a seafood hoto specialty shop ☺ lol
You can feel the care put into each small side dish, and the palate cleansers are enjoyable too!
Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
195 Hatta, Isawa-cho, Fuefuki, Yamanashi [Map]
*Prices shown are the lowest weekday rates for 2 guests with breakfast, before coupons or discounts. Please check the linked page for the latest information.
My Impressions of Staying at Isawa Onsen-kyo Hotel Sekifu
This time, after enjoying hoto and a peach parfait in Isawa Onsen, I stayed at this easily accessible Hotel Sekifu.
First, the free-flowing source hot spring was at just the right temperature, and I could soak comfortably for a long time.
In particular, the view from the open-air bath surrounded by nature was spectacular, and I relaxed in both body and mind.
For dinner, I had the Wagyu steak. It was tender and juicy, the quality of the meat was outstanding, and it was irresistible for meat lovers. It was a dish that made me happy with every bite.
After dinner, a magic show exclusively for guests was held, and we enjoyed a wide range of performances from light tricks to full-fledged magic.
The children were thrilled, and everyone, including the other families, had a time full of smiles.
It was entertainment that’s especially perfect for family trips and couples’ trips!
Hot springs, meals, and fun moments were all there, making for a wonderful, relaxing stay, so it’s an inn I’d definitely recommend.
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