Hotel Review: Lakeland Hotel Mizunosato

Hotel Information:

Website: http://www.mizunosato.jp/english/index.htm

What do I have to say about this hotel?

Price: 9/10
I think the hotel gives out pretty reasonable price since I had the best Japanese cultural experience in this hotel. The facility, the restaurant, the food, the Japanese style hotel room, the yukata, the view, the public bath, the massage chairs...... Perfection!

Me wearing yukata inside a public bath shower......

Room: 9.5/10
The Japanese style hotek room! Perfect Japanese experience..... Sleeping on a mattress in a heated room on a wooden floor enclosed by wooden Japanese door...... Well, except the super tiny bathroom that I didn't feel comfortable to take shower it.... It's TOO small! But, it's still acceptable. The experience made up for it.....

The tiny Japanese Style Hotel Room

The super duper tiny bathroom..... I didn't take shower here... I went to the public bath instead to take a shower....... It's more convenient....

Hotel Staffs: 10/10
The hotel staffs are very friendly and helpful. Very respectful and well mannered...... But of course like many other Japanese, they don't speak English that well (especially the servers at dinner).

The awesome massage chairs make you relax......

Location: (10/10)
This hotel is located right beside the Lake Kawaguchi.....

A very Japanese Dinner at Lakeland Hotel Mizunosato..... Awesome!

Views: (10/10)
Great view of Lake Kawaguchi can be seen from the front of the hotel or the hotel restaurant "Hanamizuki".

At the front of the hotel

Mount Fuji through the window

Lake Kawaguchi through My Hotel Room Window

For others' reviews, please check:
TripAdvisor

My Visit to Oshino Hakkai (忍野八海), Japan

Oshino Hakkai is the eight springs located in Oshino, Yamanashi. The spring water at Oshino Hakkai is underground water from Mount Fuji. 

The water which is basically melted snow from Mount Fuji travels through the underground of Mount Fuji and is filtered by rocks of lava. The water takes over 80 years to finally spring at Oshino Hakkai.

This is one of the eight ponds at Oshino Hakkai.... I think this pond is the most crowded since the market is built around this pond.

The food market..... One of the first vendors you would find when you step inside the market building. I tried this green mochi and it tasted pretty damn good.... :)

The market also sells different kinds of Japanese hand-made crafts.....

Cute sumo little figurines.....

One of the water fountain that you can directly take the fresh water of Mount Fuji from.....

One of the clearest and most beautiful (especially the color) ponds that I have ever seen...... It's very clear and it reflects the sun beautifully........

The eight ponds you can find at Oshino Hakkai are Deguchi Pond, Okama Pond, Sokonuke Pond, Choshi Pond, Waku Pond, Nigori Pond, Kagami Pond, and Shobu Pond.....

Because Mount Fuji is believed as spiritual mountain, the water of Oshino Hakkai is called "The Spring of God". Now, Oshino Hakkai is one of the National Treasure of Japan and 100 Best Water of Japan.

Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi in One Morning - taken in front of Lakeland Mizunosato Hotel

Lake Kawaguchi is one of the Fuji five lakes located in Fujikawaguchiko, southern Yamanashi Prefecture near Mount Fuji, Japan. It's the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of the surface area, and is located at the lowest elevation.

Lake Kawaguchi is the most popular of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of tourists, and has the most developed tourist infrastucture.

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Mount Fuji - Fujiyama - Fuji San, as the backdrop of the hotel I stayed in...... Taken from the hotel...

Mount Fuji is very iconic for Japan. When you think of Japan, you might right aways think of Mount Fuji. It's famous for its perfectly cones shape.....
The freshwater from Mount Fuji is very fresh and drinkable. (I did try drinking the water. It's supposed to be bought for a price, but when the Japanese vendor realized I was a foreigner, she just gave it to me for free.)

Mount Fuji has been regarded by the Japanese as a sacred mountain since the earliest recorded history on the archipelago.

Movie Review: The Words (2012)

Movie Rating: 56/100
Casts: Bradley Cooper, Zoe Zaldana, Dennis Quaid, Jeremy Irons, Olivia Wilde
My Comments:

• The movie is kinda mediocre.
• It's not as smart or as deep as I thought it would be.
• The story line is a bit predictable.
• If you think this movie is a heavy drama, you would be wrong. For some people who don't like heavy and time dragging drama, you might like it. But for some critics, this movie might get on your nerves.
• Actually, I like Bradley Cooper's performance in this movie.

Movie Review: The Impossible (2012)

Movie Rating: 85/100
Casts: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor
Directed By: Juan Antonio Bayona
My Comments:

• This is one of the best drama movies in 2012.
• Performances by the Naomi Watts and Ewan mcGregor deserve the award nominations they've got so far.
• The child actor who plays the eldest son is very inspiring.
• The picture is very nice and the screenplay is very intense at some points in the film.
• I personally enjoyed the movie very much.
• Some pictures are disturbing but help convey the essence of the story and how somebody will go to a survival mode in situations like that.
• I highly recommend this movie for everyone to watch.

Movie Review: Life of Pi

Movie Rating: 69/100
Casts: Suraj Sharma, Irfan Khan
Directed By: Ang Lee
My Comments:

• The movie is a great fantasy movie, which is different from what I expected. I came into the theatre actually expecting a real life movie based on some true story. I ended up being a bit disappointed leaving the theatre.
• However, I learnt that the movie is a fantasy movie BASED on a NOVEL. Well, now that makes sense. haha......
• It's a drama movie in a sort. So if you don't like drama and too much talking and expect some actions, then this movie is not for you.
• I agree that Life of Pi has some amazing breathtaking views. The screenplay is also quite good.
• Ang Lee did a pretty good job directing the movie.
• The main actor also has enough charisma as Dr. Pi Patel.

Movie Review: Gangster Squad (2013)

Gangster Squad (2013)

My Movie Rating: 68/100

Casts: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Goslin, Michael Pena, Emma Stone

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

My Comments:

• This is just an OK movie.
• Sean Penn is great acting as a villain in this movie. Emma Stone is hot in this movie.
• It's quite an entertaining movie if you are in the mood for some intense action but for sure not an award winning movie.
• The film is sloppy in some parts and missed some important details.
• Thinking back about this movie, I am not as excited as when I left the movie theatre. I was actually quite satisfied after watching this movie since I already had quite low expectation before watching it.