Mount Fuji Magic: Scenic Views from Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi, sometimes referred to as Kawaguchiko and Fujikawaguhiko, is a close town to Tokyo, Japan offering magnificent views of Mount Fuji. The views of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi are some of the most popular views that travelers can expect to see from Japan. Here are some of the best locations for those iconic shots of Mount Fuji.

If you don’t want to worry about transportation then organize one of these tours that will take you to the Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji area.

What does Mount Fuji symbolize?

Mount Fuji is an iconic symbol of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands tall at 12,388 feet, making it the highest mountain in Japan. This majestic mountain attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to admire its beauty and climb to its peak. Mount Fuji is an active volcano, although last eruption occurred in 1707. The surrounding area is dotted with hot springs and scenic spots such as Lake Kawaguchiko and Arakurayama Sengen Park where you can capture breathtaking views of Mount Fuji against cherry blossom trees or autumn foliage. Witnessing the sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji is truly awe-inspiring and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Mount Fuji is a symbol of Japan. The mountain contributes to Japan’s physical, cultural, and spiritual geography. Edwin Bernbaum explains, “symbolizes the quest for beauty and perfection that has shaped so much of Japanese culture, both secular and sacred.”

When posting pictures of Mount Fuji on your social media platforms, pass this knowledge onto your followers. A major identify of Japan is associated with Mount Fuji.

1 View from Oishi Park

If you’re looking for stunning natural beauty in Japan, then a visit to Oishi Park should definitely be on your list. Located at the northern shore of Mount Fuji, Oishi Park is home to a variety of blooming flowers and plants that provide breathtaking views any time of year. From poppies and lupines during springtime, to the brilliant autumnal hues of maples during fall, there’s no shortage of natural wonders to enjoy here. And if you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, you’ll be treated with unparalleled views of Mount Fuji itself towering majestically in the distance.

Oishi Park is located on the opposite side of Lake Kawaguchi from the train station, but is one of the most popular locations to get an easy view of Mount Fuji. The view from the park offers the lake in the foreground with Mount Fuji as the background which makes for a great contrast. If you plan accordingly, this park will have seasonal flowers for travelers to enjoy and photograph as foreground. Such as:

• April: Tulips in the spring
• June-July: Lavender in the summer
• Mid-October: Bassia scoparia that turn red during late fall.

The park is small and easy to explore in a span of an hour. After taking some photos of Mount Fuji there is a souvenir shop with plenty of Mt Fuji gear to take home.

Reaching the park can be done by taxi from the Kawaguchi station, or by taking the red line bus. The red line bus starts at the Kawaguchi station and the last line of the bus is Oishi Park. Expect to pay about ¥420 from the train station by bus, or ¥1500 for by taxi.

2 View from Arakurayama Sengen Shrine

Looking for a stunning backdrop for your next Instagram post? Look no further than the Arakurayama Sengen Shrine in Japan. This ancient Shinto shrine located at the base of Mount Fuji serves as a popular tourist destination for those looking to experience traditional Japanese culture and breathtaking views. On clear days, visitors can see Mount Fuji towering in the background, creating picture-perfect scenery.

Arakurayama Sengen Shrine is another popular view of Mount Fuji.  While this is not in the Lake Kawaguchi proper, the shrine is just a short trip away. The Arakurayama Sengen Shrine is located on Mt. Arakura.

Visitors will have to climb 400 stairs to reach the top where the Chureito Pagoda is located. Expect a hearty thirty-minute climb to the top! The pagoda was built in 1963 as a memorial for peace and has since been featured in numerous iconic pictures of Mount Fuji.

Additionally, during the spring beautiful cherry blossoms bloom around the pagoda making a blanket of cherry blossoms below blocking most views of the city beneath the pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background.

This location comes with an additional bonus shot area. A torii, or Japanese gate that you will find to the entrance of shrines, is located at the bottom of the initial staircase. This torii offers beautiful framing for Mount Fuji in the background with fantastic colour contrast.

This shrine is located in the neighboring town to Kawaguchi. In order to visit this town there are two options: take a taxi from the Kawaguchi station which will cost approximately  ¥1500. Or take the train down to Shimoyoshida station. While the train is much cheaper than the taxi, Kawaguchi station is very chaotic – therefore for the sake of time and stress taking a taxi over may be simpler. However, the Shimoyoshida station is only a ten-minute walk from the Arakurayama Sengen Shrine and is easy to commute back to Kawaguchi by the Fujikyuko Line. Despite being more of a trip than any of the other recommendations, this is a highly recommended stop for Views of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi.

3 Top of the Kawaguchi Ropeway

Experience breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and the surrounding picturesque landscapes from Kawaguchi Ropeway. The cable cars take you on a scenic journey up to 1,075 meters above sea level. Don’t forget to bring your camera and capture the stunning panoramic views. You can also enjoy activities such as walking trails, paragliding, hot springs and more near the ropeway station.

Back at Lake Kawaguchi, the second most popular view of the mountain is from the top of the Kawaguchi Ropeway. This ropeway, or cable car, takes visitors to the peak of Mount Tenjo. The view from the top offers views of Mount Fuji on one side, and a full view of Lake Kawaguchi.

The top of Mount Tenjo offers some other visitor attractions to include the Bell of Tenjo. This bell is the centre of a heart-shaped metal frame that outlines Mount Fuji in the background. There are a couple of myths regarding the bell. If you ring the bell by yourself while watching Mount Fuji, then a wish is supposed to come true. If you ring the bell with your significant other, then your love is supposed to last forever. You will primarily see couples doing a photo with the bell.

Additionally, there are two Fuji rabbit statues next to a shrine. It is said that if you rub the head of the rabbit that is laying down then you will gain wisdom. If you rub the foot of the standing rabbit, then you will gain strong legs.

The ropeway is within walking distance to the Kawaguchi Station taking approximately 15 minutes to walk. There is also the option of taking the red line bus.

Due to the close proximity and accessibility, the wait for the cable car can be enormous. The line during my time there was approximately 100 people long. However, with a cable car running about every three minutes the wait was only 30 minutes. There are tours that include the ropeway with the visit to Kawaguchi.

The cable car ride as mentioned is only three minutes long. There are no views of Mount Fuji from the cable car. Therefore, if you are lucky to be towards the front of the line to board the next cable car then move to the standing position in the back of the cable car facing Lake Kawaguchi. The view of the lake in the evening time as the sun is setting is spectacular!

After enjoying the view of the top, then there are two options: take a trip back down on the rope car or take a hike down. The hike down is only about 40 minutes, however, it is on a hiking trail. However, you will most likely beat those waiting in line to return to the bottom!

• Roundtrip: ¥800
• One Way ticket: ¥450

4 Any Lake Front Area

Really though, Mount Fuji is such a large mountain in the surrounding area that you are granted views of Fujisan from anywhere around Lake Kawaguchi. During summer, spring, fall, there are options of riding bicycles along the lakeside which means you can find plenty of stops for photo opportunities and numerous views of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi.

Secret Views of Mount Fuji

Want a unique photo of Mount Fuji? Then try to see one of the spectacular occurrences.

First one is referred to as “Red Fuji”. “Red Fuji” is a phenomenon that occurs during sunrise and sunset when the mountain shines in bright red. The chance to capture this is limited, so be prepared. There is also the chance that it may not occur due to cloud coverage.

Second is referred to as Diamond Fuji and Pearl Fuji, this is when the sun, or the moon, is perfectly aligned with the top of Mount Fuji making the mount appear to be balancing the sun, or moon, on the summit. 

Third is to capture a photo of the reflection of Mount Fuji in a lake, which makes a perfect reflection and doubles the appearance of the mountain. This is a difficult task as the wind can at times make it difficult to capture a smooth reflection.

Activities to do at Lake Kawaguchi

If you’re planning a trip to Japan and looking for natural beauty, Lake Kawaguchi is a stunning destination. Located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in and around the lake. For those who like adventure, boat tours will give you an up-close look at the iconic mountain while stand-up paddleboarding offers an even more unique view from the water level. Those who prefer land-based activities can explore Oishi Park with its beautiful flower fields or visit Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum which exhibits various instruments from around the world. Finally, don’t forget to admire the serene waterscape as you soak in one of many hot-spring bathhouses that dot nearby towns.

1. Photography: I mean, this entire post is about this, so of course a great option of spending time at Lake Kawaguchi is to spend the day walking around the lake and photographing Mount Fuji.
2.  Bike Ride: If you don’t want to walk there are bike rentals. Speed around the lake, and enjoy the warm weather in the summer months.
3. Drink Sake: if you want to sample the famous liquor of Japan then head over to Ide shuzo Sake brewery. The brewery uses the water from Mount Fuji. So by the end you will have seen and tasted Mt Fuji.
4. Relax in Onsen: check out these five different onsen with views of Mount Fuji. Relax after checking out all the photo spots.

How to get to Lake Kawaguchi

There are numerous ways to get to Lake Kawaguchi from Tokyo.

1. By Bus from the Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station. There are one to two buses every hour that will take you directly to Kawaguchiko station.
2. If you don’t want to rely on public transportation, then check out the below tours and schedule a private tour service. This means you don’t have to worry about planning anything. Just get picked up, enjoy the sites, then return to Tokyo. This is a great option for those on a tight schedule while visiting Japan.
3. By Train, you can take the Shinjuku Station to Otsuki Station. Then from Otsuki station to Kawaguchiko station. Additionally, there are special “Sweets Plans” on the Fujisan View Express for ¥4,000. Learn more about the Sweets Plan here.
4. If you are flying into Narita, you can take the Narita Express to Kawaguchiko. Note though: this train from Narita Airport to Kawaguchiko runs only every Saturday, Sunday and holiday. Learn more about this train here.

Where to Stay at Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi is worth more time than just a day trip from Tokyo. Therefore, I am going to encourage you to take the time to stay at Lake Kawaguchi to truly enjoy the Mount Fuji views. The place that I stayed at, Mizno Hotel, offers the best views of Mount Fuji out of all the hotels at Lake Kawaguchi. The hotel is located on a hill that overlooks Lake Kawaguchi.  There are numerous rooms that are facing Mount Fuji and each comes with their own personal balcony. You will get a tour of your room by one of the gracious hotel staff members.

Additionally, the hotel is creatively laid out that the majority of the walls facing Mount Fuji are large floor to ceiling windows. There are sitting areas across the hotel in front of these massive windows so visitors can lounge with a book, or coffee, with the Mount Fuji view.

There is the opportunity to order a drink at their bar: Authors. Mix up a cocktail and relax the evening away after adventuring around Lake Kawaguchi. Or when the weather is nicer, take to their outdoor bar on the roof!

Other amenities offered by the hotel: bike rentals, onsen, two bars, complimentary welcome drink, maps of the city.

My recommendation: If you are feeling romantic there is the option to rent a private outdoor onsen for two. Enjoy champagne at sunset with your special somebody for ¥8000.

Location: 187 Azagawa, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0303, Japan

Map of Locations