Kawaguchiko area guide: which lake or town to base in

Lake Kawaguchi: the busy middle

Lake Kawaguchi is where most visitors come for views of Mount Fuji¹. The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway links the lake shore with Mt. Tenjo⁸, a ride of 3 minutes to an observation deck at 1,075 m⁹.

For the classic shoreline shot, JNTO advises waking up early and heading to the north side of Lake Kawaguchi¹⁰. Oishi Park on that shore is a popular spot with photographers¹¹, and you can still see lavender and other flowers there¹² even without a festival.

Fujiyoshida or Lake Saiko

Fujiyoshida and Lake Saiko pull in opposite directions: town, trains and pagoda on one side, forest, water and thatched roofs on the other.

Fujiyoshida

A city between Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka, the closest to Mt. Fuji

• Chureito Pagoda about 25 minutes on foot from Shimoyoshida Station
• Arakurayama Sengen Park, a famous Mt. Fuji viewpoint
• Famous for its udon noodles

Lake Saiko

A resort lake with lakeside hotels, campsites and excursion boats

• Nenba: about 20 restored thatched-roof houses
• Green Line bus loops the lake and Aokigahara forest
• Fugaku Wind Cave averages 3°C inside, even in summer

You can reach both without a car. Check the bus, car and walking travel options for routes and passes, and the map of Lake Kawaguchi and nearby attractions to see how far apart they sit.

Choose Lake Kawaguchi if

• it’s your first visit: it’s the most touristic of the lakes and the easiest to reach¹;
• you want to walk straight from the train to your room: Kawaguchiko Station Inn is a 1-minute walk from Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyu line¹⁵;
• you’d rather not drive: the Red Line bus circles the northern shore, including Oishi Park¹⁶;
• Fuji-Q Highland is on your list: Hotel Regina Kawaguchiko’s free shuttle also runs to the Fuji-Q Highland highway bus stop¹⁷, and the park has its own Fuji-Q Highland Station on the Fujikyu Line¹⁸.

Choose Fujiyoshida if

• Chureito Pagoda is the photo you came for: it’s about 25 minutes on foot¹⁹ from Shimoyoshida Station;
• you want the viewpoint as well: Shimoyoshida Station serves Arakurayama Sengen Park²⁰, one of Japan’s best-known Mt. Fuji viewpoints¹⁹;
• you’d like a town with its own lunch: Fujiyoshida is famous for its udon noodles¹;
• you want help on arrival: the Shimoyoshida Tourist Information Center is a 7-minute walk¹⁹ from the station.

Read up on the things to do in Fujiyoshida before you book.

Choose Lake Saiko if

• you want to camp, sail or windsurf: Lake Saiko has lakeside hotels, windsurfing facilities, campsites and excursion boats³;
• the forest appeals: the Green Line bus links Saiko, Aokigahara Forest and the Narusawa Ice Cave¹⁶;
• you like caves: Fugaku Wind Cave is 201 m long and easy to tour²¹, at stop 51²² on the Green Line, about 30 minutes²³ by bus from Kawaguchiko Station;
• you want a craft afternoon in the thatched village of Nenba (below).

The Lake Saiko lodging and sights guide covers the shore in more detail.

Choose Lake Yamanaka if

• water sports are the plan: it’s popular for boating, fishing, water-skiing and windsurfing⁴;
• you want a cabin: there are small cabins and campsites⁴;
• you like the biggest lake: it’s the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes by surface area and the highest⁴.

Choose Hakone instead if

• hot springs come first: Hakone’s tourism association counts the Hakone 17 hot springs²⁴ among its natural blessings;
• you’re coming by bullet train: Wikivoyage puts the Tokaido Shinkansen trip from Tokyo at one hour²⁵ with a good connection;
• you want one pass for local transport: the Hakone Freepass covers the Hakone area (fares above).

One place to start from in each of the three main areas:

Only have a day? A guided trip can cover Arakurayama Sengen Park and Oishi Park in one go, or you can plan your own route with this guide to getting to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo.

Day tour

Mount Fuji Scenery Day Tour: Arakurayama Sengen Park, Kawaguchiko Oishi Park, Oshino Hakkai, Lawson and Hikawa Clock Shop (from Tokyo)

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