Mt Fuji, Japan’s tallest and most iconic peak, stands at 3,776 meters and is renowned for its perfectly symmetrical cone shape. Located on Honshu Island, it’s a symbol of Japan and has been a source of artistic inspiration for centuries. Mt Fuji is an active stratovolcano, though it hasn’t erupted since the early 1700s, and it remains a popular destination for hikers and tourists alike. While the best time to climb Mt Fuji is during the official climbing season from July to early September, the mountain offers breathtaking views year-round. We visit Mt Fuji Five Lakes (not to climb) in July 2024.
TLDR 🫣
Mt. Fuji: Japan’s tallest peak and an iconic symbol. We visited the area, not to climb, but to explore its surroundings.
Fuji Five Lakes Region: The five lakes—Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Saiko, Lake Shoji, and Lake Motosu—offer various activities. We focused on Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka - the easiest lakes to get to using public transportation.
Itinerary:
- Day 1: Despite rain, we explored Lake Kawaguchi, shopped, and enjoyed meals like camembert cheese doriyaki and tempura udon noodles.
- Day 2: With sunny weather, we visited Honcho Street, Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai, and took the KABA bus for a water view of Mt. Fuji.
Pro Tips:
- We used public transportation but recommend renting a car for easier access (and you get to see more lakes!)
- Pro tips on navigating local buses and the shinkansen system.
- We stayed at Fujisan Station Hotel, offering shuttle buses and free breakfast.
Top Awards:
- Best experience was watching a sunset at Yamanakako Communication Plaza Kirara
- Best dessert was from Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden.
The Fuji Five Lakes region, situated at the northern base of Mt Fuji, provides a stunning backdrop for travellers who want to experience the area without hiking the mountain itself. The five lakes—Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Saiko, Lake Shoji, and Lake Motosu—offer a range of activities, from sightseeing and photography to boating, fishing, and even hot springs. Lake Kawaguchi is the most accessible and popular among tourists, offering spectacular views of Mount Fuji, especially during sunrise and sunset. We wished we planned more time in this beautiful area, but alas, if you only have two days, here’s how we did it!
Oh! If you’re planning a long trip to Japan, we’ve outlined our full 31-day itinerary in another blog post: How to Spend 1 Month in Japan. That blog will give you a high-level overview of how we traveled, what we did, where we stayed, and how much we spent overall. In this post, we’ll zoom in on our recommendations for how first-time visitors can spend 2 full days in Mt Fuji Five Lakes, along with some tips to customize your itinerary.
Just a heads up: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase.
AWARDS
Best Experiences: Having the park all to ourselves and watching the sunset with Mt. Fuji in the background at the Yamanakako Communication Plaza Kirara
Best Eats: Camembert cheese doriyaki from Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden. It was SO delicious, I actually went back to buy more. Also, if you can get Japanese peaches in the summer, I promise you it’ll be the juiciest peach you’ve ever had.
Best “Bang for your Buck” Hotels: Fujisan Station Hotel. This hotel offered free shuttle buses to select areas in the region (eg, Kawaguchiko station, Onsens, etc) and came with a free buffet breakfast! It was also a 2 minute walk away from Fujisan Station, plenty of food options, and the nicest tourist information center!
Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase)
HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF MT FUJI FIVE LAKES
Getting to Mt Fuji Five Lakes from Tokyo was super simple. Here’s what our route looked like:
– Tokyo to Mt Fuji Five Lakes: One of the best features of our hotel, Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo-Nihombashi Hakozaki, was its proximity to the bus stop for the Mt. Fuji Five Lakes bus. After exploring various travel options, we found this to be the most efficient choice in terms of time and cost.
We took the JR Bus Kanto from the Tokyo Station Tekko Building, the second stop on the route. Alternatively, you can board from the Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit, which is the first stop. Tickets can be purchased online or on-site (fare: 2,200 yen per person, cash only). We bought our tickets at the bus stop from the driver and were fortunate to secure the last two available seats! Luggage goes in the undercarriage of the bus, so no worries about the size (we actually shipped our luggage from Tokyo to Osaka, taking only a small bag with us to Mt. Fuji). The bus ride lasted about two hours, departing at 7:45 AM and arriving at 9:47 AM. You can get off at Kawaguchiko Station or Fujisan Station – both are close to the picturesque spots of Mt. Fuji!
Pro Tip: Book tickets in advance or board at the first stop for better chances of getting a seat. If you are boarding at the second stop, don’t worry if the bus isn’t there yet. It arrives exactly on time and departs quickly after! So, be waiting for the bus at the stop early as you don’t want to miss it! They don’t come very frequently.
Getting to Osaka, from Fujisan Station also known as Mt. Fuji Station, was a bit more complicated and pricier!
– Fujisan Station to Shin-Fuji Station: Shin-Fuji Station, where the shinkansen (bullet train) to Osaka departs, is not actually close to Mount Fuji’s Five Lakes region, so don’t get it confused with Fujisan Station. To travel from Fujisan Station to Shin-Fuji Station, we took a public bus that cost ~28 CAD per person. These buses run at specific times, so be sure to arrive at the stop early (see more below). We used our IC cards to pay since it’s a local bus. Heads up: While large luggage is generally discouraged, we did notice a few people with bigger bags, and since the bus wasn’t crowded, it didn’t seem to be an issue. Just be considerate and ensure your bags don’t block the aisle.
– Shin-Fuji Station: This is where you get the shinkansen to Osaka. It’s a fairly small station compared to Osaka and Tokyo! There are not a lot of bento box options, so we stocked up on convenient store snacks at the station to eat on the shinkansen. Then, we hopped on the Shinkansen Reserved Seat (Green Cart), which cost ~90 CAD per person and took almost 3 hours (2:08 PM to 4:51 PM). The reason we bought green cart reserved tickets, which is typically more expensive and spacious, is because we were able to secure a discount using the Shinkansen smartEX App. We bought our tickets 6 days in advance in order to secure this discount.
Pro Tips: Plan to arrive at Shin-Fuji roughly an hour before departure! Yes, a full hour. The local bus can sometimes be delayed—ours was about 15-20 minutes behind what Google Maps predicted. We also spent around 20 minutes exploring the station for food to-go before heading to the upper tracks to catch the Shinkansen, which arrives and departs right on schedule. Be sure to compare times for the Shinkansen and the local bus from Fujisan Station, as buses are infrequent. For instance, our bus had only two morning options: 8:57 AM and 10:57 AM. We chose the 10:57 AM bus, which was supposed to reach Shin-Fuji Station by 1:12 PM but arrived closer to 1:30 PM. This gave us just enough time to grab food before boarding our Shinkansen at 2:08 PM—perfect for minimizing downtime. The last thing you want to do is book a time slot for the Shinkansen, but be forced to arrive there 3 hours too early because that’s the only time that the local bus offers OR miss your Shinkansen because your local bus was delayed.
For a detailed guide on how to navigate Japan’s Shinkansen system, check out our blog How to Ride the Shinkansen in Japan.
HOW TO GET AROUND MT FUJI FIVE LAKES
We chose Fujisan Station Hotel for its convenient location—just a 2-minute walk from Fujisan Station. The station is situated between Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka, both of which we accessed easily using public transportation. Yes, we managed to visit two of the five lakes without a car! However, if we were to do it again and only had two days, we’d definitely rent a car. That way, we wouldn’t be so reliant on the infrequent buses and trains (it’s not as well serviced as Tokyo’s metro), and we could visit more lakes.
You can purchase daily or multi-day passes for unlimited bus and train use around Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka, but note that these are separate passes. One pass covers Lake Kawaguchi, and another covers Lake Yamanaka—you can’t get a two-day pass that covers both areas. We did the math and found the Lake Yamanaka day pass (~$13 CAD per person for one day) was worth it, but for Lake Kawaguchi, we just used our IC cards. These passes can be bought at the station, another reason we stayed so close to Fujisan Station! With that said, we decided to split up our two day itinerary and cover Lake Kawaguchi (north of our hotel) one Day 1 and Lake Yamanaka (south of our hotel) on Day 2.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Lake Kawaguchiko Area (North of Fujisan Station)
Day 2: Fujisan Station and Lake Yamanaka Area (South of Fujisan Station)
Day 1: Lake Kawaguchiko Area (North of Fujisan Station)
After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we realized it was still too early to check in. Unfortunately, the first day greeted us with heavy rain, which led to the cancellation of several activities we had planned. However, we didn’t let the rain dampen our spirits entirely. Determined to make the most of the day, we ventured out to explore the mountainous regions surrounding Mount Fuji, which offered a laid-back, slow-paced vibe. The area was a stark contrast to the bustling energy of Tokyo, reminding us of Hokkaido’s relaxed atmosphere.
LUNCH: Yoshida Udon Noodle Togawa
We started our adventure with a stop at Fujisan Station for lunch. Side note: This station also has a Mos burger and a Daiso! In Japan, train stations are known for having amazing shops and food, and this one didn’t disappoint. Mt. Fuji is specifically known for their udon. In fact, they have a whole magazine dedicated to all the udon shops in town. We ordered tempura udon noodles, complete with tempura shaped like Mt. Fuji! The two bowls cost us just $15 CAD.
Shopping at Kawaguchiko Station
After lunch, we hopped on the train to Kawaguchiko Station. While our hotel offered a free shuttle, the timing didn’t work out for us. With the rain pouring down, we decided the best way to pass the time was… shopping. We picked up some gachapons and doriyakis in the area to keep the mood light. This camembert cheese doriyaki from Kawaguchiko Cheesecake Garden was THE BEST doriyaki we’ve ever tasted in Japan for $2.60 CAD.
Iconic Lawson’s Convenience Store
Next, we headed to the iconic Lawson’s, which usually boasts stunning views of Mt. Fuji in the background. Unfortunately, the overcast skies hid the mountain from view. The store itself wasn’t boarded up, but across the street, they have added a black tarp/board to discourage people from standing there and causing congestion.
Lake Kawaguchiko
Lake Kawaguchiko was our next stop, but the rain continued, making visibility poor. We skipped the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway—although it would have been beautiful on a clear day. Instead, we made a judgment call to head indoors instead of taking the bus to the other side of the lake, since we couldn’t see anything beyond grey skies.
Don Quijote
With no buses running to our next destination, we embarked on a 30-minute walk to Don Quijote, passing by a closed Fuji-Q amusement park (we wish we could have visited, but the rain stopped all rides). The store surprised us with tons of discounts, and we ended up spending over 2 hours and $100 CAD on gifts and souvenirs. The most surprisingly thing was actually the sashimi vending machine outside Don Quijote. “Tell me you’re in Japan without telling me you’re in Japan.”
DINNER: Uokubo 魚くぼ
For dinner, we visited Uokubo, an izakaya offering teppanyaki skewers, karaage, yakisoba, and okonomiyaki. These were some of the best pork skewers we had during our entire trip in Japan. Dinner cost us just $22 CAD. Afterward, we headed back to the hotel, hoping for better weather the next day!
Day 2: Fujisan Station and Lake Yamanaka Area (South of Fujisan Station)
When we woke up, the sun was shining, and it was the perfect day for exploring! On this day, we decided to buy a Fujiyoshida/Oshino/Yamankako day pass as knew we’d be stopping by a few spots south of our hotel, including Lake Yamanaka. The cost of the pass for two people came out to $26 CAD. After a quick breakfast at the hotel (because you gotta fuel up for all the walking), we headed out to Fujisan Station, just a 2-minute stroll away. And there it was—BAM! Mt. Fuji in all its glory, completely naked for the summer season. No snow cap, but hey, still a sight to behold! We were so happy we planned for two days in Mt Fuji Five Lakes instead of one – it would have been such a bummer if we had only one day and it rained the entire time. The photo below is taken from the rooftop of Fujisan Station (they have a free viewing gallery!)
Honcho Street
Next stop: Honcho Street. We wandered around for a bit, soaking in the vibe of the town with Mt. Fuji dramatically in the background.
Chureito Pagoda
We walked along Honcho Street to get to Chureito Pagoda. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s that iconic pagoda with Mt. Fuji in the background that you’ve probably seen on a million postcards. And guess what? It’s free! After snapping some pics and taking in the view, we walked over to Arakurayama Sengen Park—another freebie with 24/7 access. We even took a quick detour to the Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine to keep the shrine vibes going. All within walking distance, so no need to blow your budget on transportation just yet.
Oshino Hakkai
After all that walking, it was time to hop on a bus and head south to Oshino Hakkai, a scenic spot with stunning ponds and a serene atmosphere. Think peaceful village vibes with Mt. Fuji photobombing in the background. The only issue was, Mt. Fuji was taking a nap behind the clouds when we arrived. Nonetheless, it was great to enjoy the small village, have some lunch and snack on fried mochi ($1.30 CAD)! We were grateful for having seen Mt. Fuji earlier in the morning and were hopeful it would come back!
Lake Yamanaka
From there, we hopped on another bus and made our way to Lake Yamanaka. On a whim, we decided to ride the KABA bus! The KABA bus is decorated with hippos and is a bus that travels on land and sea! It takes you into Lake Yamanaka, where hopefully you can see the beautiful Mt. Fuji from the water. There happened to be a bus leaving in two minutes, with just two spots left, so we snagged our tickets (~$25 CAD each) and boarded right away. This is definitely a fun ride for kids and over the course the 45 minute ride, we were so excited to see Mt. Fuji pop out! Pro Tip: Ask for a free audio system. They translate what the attendant is saying into English, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, or Vietnamese.
We were so excited that Mt. Fuji started to come out through the clouds that after the KABA ride, we stayed back for a bit. We bought a small snack (two peaches for $2.50 CAD; discounted because of some slight bruising) and snapped some photos in front of the gigantic Mt. Fuji. It’s true what they say – the fruit in Japan is better! We have never had such a juicy peach before!
Yamanakako Communication Plaza Kirara
For our final stop, we hopped on the bus and headed to this gorgeous plaza/park we’d only seen in photos. It felt like a bit of a gamble—venturing to the far side of the lake using the bus as our trusty steed. The plan? Take the last bus there at around 5:00 PM, and catch the final one coming back to our hotel at 6:39 PM… at least according to the pamphlet that came with our day pass. Feeling all confident, we made it to the park and enjoyed the peacefulness of a quiet, empty, beautiful park. Then, we checked Google Maps—only to be hit with a curveball. Google said the next bus was TOMORROW MORNING! So there we were, stranded at the farthest point of Lake Yamanaka, debating whether to start hoofing it back on foot or put all our faith in the mighty pamphlet.
We decided to roll the dice and soak in the scenery instead. When would we be able to see this again and all to ourselves? White swans glided across the lake in front of Mt. Fuji, dreamy music floated from mysterious lakeside speakers, and the sun dipped behind the fluffy clouds. It was peaceful… and honestly, not a bad spot to get stuck if we had to!
At 6:25 PM, we shuffled over to the bus stop, fingers crossed. And right at 6:39 PM, just like the pamphlet promised, our trusty bus rolled up! We had the whole ride to ourselves—a perfect way to end the day and our two days in Mt Fuji Five Lakes!
TOTAL COST for 2 Full Days in Mt Fuji Five Lakes (Approximate, CAD for 2 people):
Accommodations for 2 nights: $58 (We had two free nights with our hotel points, so we just had to pay the taxes. Original price would have been $332)
Activities: $44
Food: $133
TOTAL: $235 (Roughly $59 per person, per day with the discount. Or $127 per person, per day without the hotel discount)
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we wrapped up our incredible journey, one thing became clear: Mt. Fuji and the Five Lakes region offer so much more than just breathtaking views. From slurping down tempura udon shaped like Mt. Fuji to getting momentarily stranded at Lake Yamanaka (thanks, Google Maps!), every experience was a unique blend of adventure, spontaneity, and discovery.
We left with full hearts, full stomachs, and a hundred memories of nature’s beauty. The Mt. Fuji Five Lakes region never fails to captivate and inspire, and if there’s one thing we learned, it’s that sometimes the best moments are the ones you didn’t plan for. Until next time, Mt. Fuji! Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below! And if you’re interested in seeing how we spent 31 days in Japan, check out our blog, How to Spend 1 Month in Japan!
Discover more from Where's Ryan and Celina?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.