Kawaguchiko 河口湖

Quick facts

From Tokyo

~2 hr · Fuji Excursion

Length

Full day

Best

Clear mornings

Return

Same day

The best Mt Fuji views in Japan, done as a day trip from Tokyo. The lake's north shore gives the mirror reflection on clear days, and the Chureito Pagoda frames Fuji in autumn colour. Fuji is shy, so go early on a clear morning and keep a backup day in case it is clouded in.

Things to do

Seeded from what we already wrote. We will add, cut and reorder.

01

Chureito Pagoda

Climb the steps at Arakurayama Sengen Park. Five-story pagoda plus Fuji plus autumn maples is the postcard. Best early.

02

Lake north shore

Oishi Park for the lakeside reflection of Fuji. A long lens helps. Clearest in the morning light.

03

Mt Tenjo ropeway

Cable car up Mt Tenjo for an overhead view of the lake and Fuji. Quick, easy, worth it.

04

Oshino Hakkai

Traditional thatched-roof village with eight crystal-clear ponds fed by Fuji snowmelt. Photogenic and quiet.

Where to eat

Authentic local places we want to eat, and room for more.

Getting there & around

From Tokyo

Limited Express Fuji Excursion from Shinjuku, about 2 hours. Fully reserved with no standing room, so book the six seats together ahead.

Around the lakes

The Fuji sightseeing retro buses loop the shore and the main sights. Handy without a car.

Timing

Clearest Fuji is usually early morning, so take the earliest sensible train out.

Return

Back to Tokyo in the evening; the last useful Fuji Excursion leaves late afternoon, fallback is the highway bus.

Day by day

A loose plan, editable as we book things.