I had a wonderful stay in Kobuchizawa, at Lodge Atelier. The room was spacious and spotless with a cute little balcony looking through trees. There are two private onsen, that are nice and hot. I stayed for five nights and didn’t have to wait to use the baths once. I took the half board option and was treated to breakfast in the lounge (very cool) and a three course evening meal in the restaurant (also very cool). The food was fantastic and the staff in the hotel and restaurant were so kind and considerate.
The area is a fantastic base for those wanting to explore the region - so much to do! Definitely somewhere for those who enjoy the outdoors, getting a bit off the beaten track and connecting with the vibe of the region, including local produce, wine and crafts. Kobuchizawa is well connected by rail and if you have a JR pass you can easily take day trips and return to your cosy home base each evening.
Highlights for me were the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection museum - spacious and beautifully curated, horse riding through the forest trails, getting lost on an epic walk and stumbling across the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum, getting lost on the way to the train station turning a corner and finding myself looking straight at Mount Fuji in the distance.
Kobuchizawa is a quiet resort town (amazing Country Club/golf course), most tourist info is in Japanese, walkable for sure but a car would really open the area up for exploring.
Cannot wait to go back!