Kawaguchiko – the ultimate kaiseki

We went to Japan for a grad trip. Despite countless memorable experiences on that amazing journey, nothing comes close to the night spent at Kozantei Ubuya, Kawaguchiko’s best onsen ryokan. It was THE splurge item on the itinerary and worth every cent.

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As Mt.Fuji comes into view through the countryside

It took all morning to drag our huge luggages through the Tokyo subway system to get to Kawaguchiko station. We grabbed lunch before calling for the hotel shuttle. The ryokan is situated on the lakeside with the most gorgeous view of the mountain peak from our room. After almost a week of being enclosed in a tiny Tokyo hotel room, I ran laps around the suite, and set my tatami bed by the window, hoping to catch sunrise.

The ryokan has its own indoor and outdoor onsen. We enjoyed a much needed relaxing bath before heading for dinner – a generous 10 course tasting menu. Kaiseki is the ultimate Japanese dining experience, based on the principle of eating what’s in season. The waitress laughed at us in the ever-so-pleasant Japanese politeness for wooing and ahing over everything she brings onto the table. The meal was largely spent in silence with sounds of chewing and occasional exclamations of “oh my god”s.

Everything was cooked to perfection and every ingredient was showcased. I lost my food instagram virginity to this meal. Even though we already tried kobe beef in Tokyo, the waygu beef slices here truly lived up to the melt-in-your-mouth expectation.

The next morning I woke up at 4 to catch a glimpse of the sunrise gently dyeing the peak of Mt.Fuji a lovely shade of pink. I couldn’t help but to join Lucy for a refreshing morning run and inhale the crisp air into my lungs. Following another morning soak and a full Japanese breakfast, we grudgingly said our goodbyes to this magical sanctuary and continued onto the next leg of our journey.