Who has never dreamed of seeing Mount Fuji in real life? This emblem of Japan is without a doubt a must-see during your stay in Japan, and Kawaguchiko town is the ideal place to realize this bucket list experience. Indeed, Kawaguchiko is famously known to be one of Japan’s best towns, offering the best views of Mount Fuji. In this blog post, I share with you my complete Kawaguchiko travel guide that gathers the top places to see Mount Fuji. After reading this guide, you will have all information you need to know to organize your trip to Kawaguchiko and enjoy Mount Fuji’s best views.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to get to Kawaguchiko?
Kawaguchiko is a very popular place for tourists (and among locals). As a result, you will have no problem getting to Kawaguchiko from anywhere in Japan. However, the easiest starting point to get to Kawaguchiko is from Tokyo, either from Shibuya Station or Tokyo Station.
FROM TOKYO
There are a lot of direct buses that take you from either Shibuya station or Tokyo station to Kawaguchiko in only 1h30. Even though there are almost one bus per hour, I highly advise you to book your seat online in advance (at least 4 days prior to departure).
FROM OTHER CITIES
In case you don’t want to visit Tokyo, it is also feasible to visit Kawaguchiko from Osaka or Kyoto. If you have bought a JR pass, I suggest you take a shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo and then a direct bus from there. Otherwise, if you are traveling on a budget, you can book a night bus that starts from Osaka (and will pick up people in Kyoto too).
When to visit Kawaguchiko?
Although Kawaguchiko is a city that can be visited all year round (with notably 4 seasons), the best period is still autumn and spring. Indeed, during this period of the year (i.e. from March to May and from September to November) the temperatures are mild with sunny days. As a result, you will have more chances to see Mount Fuji with full visibility. On top of that, Kawagucjiko is a great place to enjoy the cherry blossoms, which usually take place in April.
Winter can also be a good season if you enjoy winter sports such as skiing or snowshoeing or if you just want to discover Kawaguchiko under the snow.
“My only advice would be to avoid visiting Kawagucjiko during the summer (i.e. from June to the end of August) which is a time of high temperatures and possible typhoons. Consequently, having a lot of humidity in the air, Mount Fuji will be more difficult to see even during clear days.”
How long to stay in Kawaguchiko?
WHERE TO STAY IN kAWAGUCHIKO?
- One of the best hotels offering quality rooms and 5-star services with a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji, ideal for an unforgettable experience during your stay in Kawaguchiko.
- This cheap and well-located hostel next to Kawaguchi Lake is the place to go if you are traveling on a budget!
How to move around Kawaguchiko?
There are many ways to move around Kawaguchiko and its surroundings, depending on your wishes and budget.
BY CAR
The best way to enjoy the Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji areas is to have a rental car (no doubt about that!). It will allow you to drive along beautiful mountain roads and stop wherever you want. But above all, it will allow you to reach the most remote places of the region, where the tourist buses do not serve, and that is priceless!
I recommend you book your car in advance here, in order to have the best prices (and especially to guarantee you a car during your stay in Japan).
ON FOOT
If you stay in the center of Kawaguchiko town, you can walk easily around Kawaguchi Lake as well as to the train/bus terminal station. Noted that it is possible to visit most of the activities listed in the “Things to do” tab below on foot. However, it requires a lot of walking time and therefore time to spare (something you may not have on a trip – especially during a short vacation!). Moreover, this means of transportation will limit your activity opportunities. Therefore, it is not necessarily the ideal way to visit Kawaguchiko and the Mount Fuji areas as per my own experience.
BY BIKE
You will be able to rent bikes for the day in the center of Kawaguchiko at a pretty good price. Count approximately 1’500 yen for a bike for a day. However, keep in mind that the roads are rather steep and there are no bike paths. But it looks like it is legal to bike your bicycle on the sidewalk. So if you choose this option, you will be quite safe, away from the cars!
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
There are buses and trains leaving from Kawaguchiko station to reach the surrounding cities or Tokyo for example.
For instance, you can take the train from Kawaguchiko station to the next town called Fujiyoshida (where the famous street with Mount Fuji in the background is located- see below for more details)
Otherwise, there are different bus companies that offer a 2-day discovery ticket and take you to certain points of interest around Kawaguchiko. With this bus pass, you can use unlimited the red line, green line, or blue line. The different bus lines operate from Kawaguchiko Station traveling around notably Kawaguchi Lake and Saiko Lake, but also to Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway or Oshino Hakkai. It costs 2’500 Yen per person.
However, it is important to note that the frequency of buses and trains is very low (even though Kawaguchiko is one of the most popular places in Japan!). Consequently, you will not have any freedom in your schedule. Having said that, it will also be impossible for you to go for a sunrise/sunset mission since the majority of the buses/trains start at about 8:30 am and stop around 7:00 pm. On top of that, due to the number of people, the buses are constantly full. You will have to queue for hours to get a place on the bus (or wait for the next one).
where to eat in Kawaguchiko?
Surprisingly, the city of Kawaguchiko is not flooded with restaurants. This is mainly due to the fact that hotels offer food service for their guest. However, don’t worry, if your accommodation does not provide meals, you will still find a few restaurants around town.
Otherwise, there are several convenient stores (such as Lawson and 7/11) that offer ready-made meals to take home. Also, if you want to cook, there is a very large food supermarket, 10 minutes walk from the city center called OGINO.
Top places to see Mount fuji in Kawaguchiko
The main reason to visit Kawaguchiko town is, of course, to see the very famous Mount Fuji. Below, I share with you all the top places to see Mount Fuji in Japan.
CHUREITO PADOGA
Chureito Padoga is without a doubt the most publicized place on the Web regarding Mount Fuji. And I understand why!
INFORMATION
- Free admission
- Open 24/24 hours
- Located 20 minutes walk from Shimoyoshida train station
- Tripods are forbidden starting from 6:30 am (before that time the supervisors are not there yet to check)
- Access to the site via stairs (about 400 steps)
- On the left, there is a park with lots of cherry trees, a perfect place to enjoy during the sakura season
TIPS
- Best time to visit Chureito Padoga is during sunrise (be aware that no bus nor train arrived before sunrise at Shimoyoshida – therefore you will have to get there either on foot or with your car. There is a parking lot available)
- Very popular place, so you won’t be alone even at 4:30 am in the morning
- Lots of cherry trees during sakura season making the place an ideal location for photography
SHIMOYOSHIDA HONCHO STREET
We have all seen this impressive picture of the typical Japanese street (with all the electric cables) and the mount fuji in the background. This photo is taken in Fujiyoshida, at Honcho street.
INFORMATION
- Free access
- Open 24/24 hours
- Located in Fujiyoshida town
TIPS
- Combine your visit to Shimoyoshida Honcho Street with Chureito Padoga. In fact, you can reach the street in 40 minutes on foot or 10 minutes with your car (easy!)
- From 7:30 am on weekdays, there is a person who makes the traffic for the schoolchildren. Consequently, it will be difficult for you to pass the crosswalk without too many people at the same time. In other words, come before 7:30 am!
- Put your camera on the sidewalk and record or photograph with a zoom lens
KAWAGUCHI LAKE
(Kogamasao Memorial Park)
Kawaguchi Lake is one of the five lakes that offer a view of Mont Fuji. In addition to being easily accessible, Kawaguchi Lake offers beautiful photo opportunities of Mount Fuji.
INFORMATION
- Free access
- Different parking lots available around the lake
- Craft markets at Kogamasao Memorial Park, every day
- Benches to sit on and enjoy the view of Mont Fuji
- Sidewalk (for pedestrians and bicycles) for along the lake
TIPS
- Go for a sunrise mission to see the reflection of Mount Fuji on Kawaguchi Lake.
KAWAGUCHI LAKE
(Nagasaki Park)
There are quite a few parks along Kawaguchi Lake, and Nagasaki Park is one that is worth visiting, offering beautiful views of Mount Fuji.
INFORMATION
- Free access
- Open 24/24 hours
TIPS
- Stop by Nagasaki Park on your way to Fuji Flower Child (see below for more details)
KAWAGUCHI LAKE
(lake Kawaguchi Lavender / Fuji Flower Child)
Located North of Kawaguchi Lake, Fuji Flower Child is a park that offers a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji. On top of that, as its name indicates, the park is full of flowers all year long (from lavender to tulips). The type of flowers varies according to the season.
information
- Free access
- Open 24/24 hours
- Café opens at 9:00 am
- Big Parking available
- Bus stop in the parking lot
tips
- Grab an Icecream at lake Bake cafe
OSHINO HAKKAI
Oshino Hakkai is a small typical village located 45 minutes by car from Kawaguchiko, which offers another perspective of Mount Fuji.
information
- Free access
- Shops and food stalls open at 10:00 am
- Accessible by bus
tips
- Visit Oshino Hakkai at the beginning of the afternoon in order to have good lights
- Great places to visit during the Sakura cherry blossoms
FUJI-SUBARU LINE 5TH STATION
Who has never dreamed of hiking at the summit of Mount Fuji? Great news, it is totally accessible if you are in good shape. You don’t need a guide to hike Mount Fuji but in case snow is remaining (depending on the season), one is mandatory. However, if you want to do some hiking (whatever your physical condition is or the weather) on Mount Fuji is to walk to the 5th station. It is the first part of the hike which will be opened quickly (because of its low altitude).
In conclusion