Enjoy Nature in All Seasons! Top 17 Popular Tourist Spots Around Lake Kawaguchiko

Mt. Fuji, known for its beautiful natural scenery throughout the seasons, can be enjoyed any time of the year, but spring and autumn are particularly recommended.
In spring, you can see the stunning combination of cherry blossoms with Mt. Fuji, and in autumn, the beautiful blend of autumn leaves with Mt. Fuji.

From Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, it takes about 2 hours by highway bus or the express train "Fuji Excursion."
From Osaka or Nagoya, it takes about 3 to 4 hours, so it's a good idea to extend your trip to Tokyo and visit the area as well.

Due to the limited number of train stations in the area, traveling by car is the primary means of transportation.
It's recommended to use route buses, taxis, and walking to visit the various tourist spots.
Using chartered taxis or a sightseeing bus that offers tours of the attractions around Lake Kawaguchiko is also advisable.

The Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway is popular among tourists for climbing Tenjoyama by the shore of Lake Kawaguchiko.
From the gondola, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Kawaguchiko below.
You can also take in the magnificent panorama of Mt. Fuji and its surrounding area. Additionally, there are popular spots such as the Tenjo Bell, Usagi Jinja (Rabbit Shrine), and Kawara Throwing, allowing tourists to fully enjoy their sightseeing experience.

"Appare" tours around Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, in about 20 minutes.
Departing from the Appare Pier on the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, the boat passes under Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge, makes a U-turn near Unoshima, the only island in the Fuji Five Lakes, and returns along the same route. This tour offers a unique opportunity to view the spectacular scenery of Mt. Fuji, which can only be experienced here.

Surrounded by lush greenery, Fugaku Fuketsu Wind Cave is one of the largest natural lava caves located in the Aokigahara Jukai (sea of trees).
The cave extends horizontally for a total length of 201 meters and has a height of 8.7 meters, which can be walked through in about 15 minutes.
Inside the cave, it remains cool even in summer, with an average temperature of 3 degrees Celsius.

Narusawa Hyoketsu Ice Cave is located at the eastern entrance of the Aokigahara forest(sea of trees), which spreads at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It is one of the tourist spots among the Fuji Goko/Five Lakes and attracts visitors throughout the year.
The cave was formed after the eruption of Mt. Fuji's side volcano, Mt. Nagao, in 864（the 6th year of the Jogan era）, which resulted in flowing lava. This lava cave extends for a total length of 153 meters.

Oshino Hakkai refers to a collective of Mt. Fuji’s 8 natural ponds, Deguchi-ike, Okama-ike, Sokonashi-ike, Choshi-ike, Waku-ike, Nigori-ike, Kagami-ike and Shobu-ike. These were once part of a lake that dried up, resulting in the formation of these 8 spring-sourced ponds.
The water in these ponds is exceptionally clear because it is meltwater from Mt. Fuji that has been filtered through underground lava over a period of about 20 years.

Sengen-jinja Shrine is one of the cultural assets of the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Site, with a history spanning over 1900 years. It is said to have originated when legendary prince Yamato Takeru designated it as a place for distant worship of Mt. Fuji. It also serves as the starting point for the Yoshida trail for climbing Mt. Fuji. Walking along the solemn approach lined with cedar trees and stone lanterns, you will reach the Fuji-san Otorii, one of the largest wooden torii gates in Japan.

Lake Shoji is a dammed lake formed by the volcanic activity of Mt. Fuji and is the smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes.
In spring, you can see cherry blossoms; in autumn, the colorful fall foliage; and in winter, the mystical frozen lake surface. It offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of each season.

This music-themed museum is located by the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko. The grounds feature a beautiful European-like landscape while uniquely offering views of Mt. Fuji in the background.
The museum showcases a variety of rare automatic musical instruments, ranging from those intended for the Titanic to large music boxes. Additionally, visitors can enjoy impressive performances from one of the world's largest dance organs.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is famous for its magnificent views of Mt. Fuji and the beautiful Chureito Pagoda (Five-story Pagoda). The park is home to about 650 cherry trees, and in the spring, you can see a quintessentially Japanese view featuring Mt. Fuji, the Chureito Pagoda, and cherry blossoms. This view has become a popular spot and frequently appears in various guidebooks introducing Japan.

Located at an elevation of 830 meters along the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, this popular spot features approximately 1.5 kilometers of maple trees. As the name "corridor" suggests, the overlapping branches of the maple trees, enhanced by the colorful fallen leaves on the ground, create a beautiful scene often referred to as a tunnel of autumn foliage.

Located on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi in the Oishi district of Yamanashi Prefecture, this scenic spot offers panoramic views of Mount Fuji across the lake. The park, with its photogenic landscapes, attracts many tourists.

Houto is a traditional dish of Yamanashi Prefecture. It is made by kneading wheat flour into thick flat noodles and simmering them in a miso-based broth along with pumpkin, mushrooms, and other ingredients. The noodles are cooked immediately after being made, which gives the soup a characteristic thickness.

Located near Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Fuji Five Lakes at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Hoto Fudo offers Yamanashi's famous dish, Hoto. The Hoto at this restaurant is carefully hand-prepared from scratch and combined with a miso-flavored broth rich with the sweetness of vegetables like pumpkin and mushrooms, creating an exceptional dish.

Established in 2012 in Asahi, Kofu City, Budoya kofu is a specialty shop focused on processed grape products. Here, they started making specialties such as raisin sandwiches using semi-dry, additive-free raisins, as well as 100% wine grapes, and additive-free, unsweetened grape juice.

A classic hotel located on the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, with a history of over 90 years. It is a prestigious hotel that has even hosted members of the royal family in the past. The hotel offers cottages with kitchens, making it recommended for those who wish to enjoy some private time.
One of the hotel's attractions is its large public bath with a view. From the men's bath, you can enjoy views of Lake Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji.

Cottage Harvest Tree is a rental villa located just an 8-minute walk from Lake Kawaguchiko. It offers athletic activities, BBQ, and bonfire options, all set in the midst of nature.
Since you can rent the entire building, it’s fully equipped for infectious disease prevention. Conveniently, there is a convenience store next door for easy shopping.
The villa includes a living room of approximately 15 tatami mats and a loft of 7 tatami mats, accommodating up to eight people. It is equipped with cooking appliances such as an IH stove and a microwave oven, as well as dishes and utensils. The approximately 17 tatami mats wooden deck is covered, allowing you to enjoy BBQs even in the rain.

Shuhoukaku Kogetsu is located on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, one of the Five Great Lakes, at the foot of the Mt. Fuji UNESCO site. It is a hot spring inn where all guest rooms and the open-air baths offer a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko.
Guests can choose between traditional Japanese rooms with tatami mats and verandas, offering a taste of Japanese culture, or rooms that combine Japanese and Western styles with beds, according to their preferences.