Thanks to KI-NRT's suggestions (and his excellent Youtube videos), we stayed at FuFu Kawaguchiko and FuFu Nikko recently. We generally liked the modern ryokan style of the two hotels. Neither FuFu was great initially about replying to emails promptly, but once the ball got rolling with Kawaguchiko, they were pretty good. On the other hand the person in charge of responding to FuFu Nikko emails was particularly unresponsive and it was an exercise in deep frustration (and in the end, futility) to try to get dinner info and reservations from FuFu Nikko.

Service staff at both hotels ranged from pretty good to excellent to outstanding.

The meals at both hotels felt a bit formulaic, and many menu elements for the kaiseki dinner were identical between the two hotels, so it was a relief to the palate to finally get something different when we had a teppanyaki dinner one evening at FuFu Nikko.

I do think the decor of FuFu Nikko is truly excellent because it expresses a vivid sense of place, being on the former grounds of the Taisho-era Tamozawa imperial villa (the main building and gardens of which can still be visited) and the architecture and other design elements echo the design of the imperial villa. We did visit the imperial villa and then everything about the FuFu Nikko's design choices made sense. FuFu Nikko's complimentary happy hour is a great idea and an example of omotenashi. There is no complimentary happy hour at Kawaguchiko.

I liked that both hotels offer free self-parking. The parking lots are not far from the front door of each, and I much prefer to be able to get into and out of my car promptly than have to rely on a valet. A car is a definite necessity (in my view) for foreign visitors who are interested in exploring the Kawaguchiko/Five Lakes/Mt Fuji area and we did a number of driving trips all around the Fuji region, including a daytrip to Hakone and a day trip to Fujinomiya and Shiraito falls. For Nikko you don't really need a car, unless you are going to Lake Chuzenji (which I do highly recommend).

One more note, when KI-NRT visited, FuFu Nikko was offering breakfast as late as 1100, which would be great for anyone wanting to do some sightseeing at the Toshogu shrine and related UNESCO sights before the hordes of daytrippers arrive from Tokyo. This is no longer possible. Breakfast is now served only 0800-0930 which is exactly when the sights start opening for the day, so it is not possible to both have breakfast and to beat the daytrippers.

Happy to answer any questions.