Kawaguchiko
At the foot of Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi is one of the best places in Japan to admire the volcano. It’s the best known of the Fuji Five Lakes, and its shores offer spectacular viewpoints in every season. People come for the panoramas, but also for its flower fields and lava caves. A nature escape just two hours from Tokyo.
Kawaguchiko at a glance
Kawaguchiko is the place I recommend to anyone who dreams of seeing Mount Fuji with their own eyes. Here, it’s everywhere. You can see it from the lakeshore, from the ropeway, from some hotel rooms and even from certain onsen.
My advice: spend a night by the lake. Mount Fuji is often hidden by clouds during the day, and early morning gives you the best chance of seeing it. Sunrise over the volcano, with its reflection in the lake, is well worth the early wake-up call.
Here are the experiences I’d recommend to every traveler passing through:
climb the steps to Chureito Pagoda for the most famous view of Mount Fuji,
ride the Kachi Kachi Ropeway (Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway) up to the lookout above the lake,
soak in an onsen with a view of Mount Fuji,
taste hoto, the region’s signature noodle soup.
Frédérique
Japan Expert 🇯🇵
WHAT TO SEE IN KAWAGUCHIKO
What SEASON to go to Kawaguchiko?
Kawaguchiko can be visited all year round, but Mount Fuji’s visibility varies a lot with the seasons. Autumn is arguably the most beautiful time: Mount Fuji is clearly visible and the maple trees around the lake turn red, usually in early November. Summer is hotter and more humid, and Mount Fuji often hides behind the clouds, but it’s lavender season and the time to climb the volcano, open from July to early September.
Winter (December to February) brings the clearest skies and a snow-capped Mount Fuji, but it’s cold, often below freezing in the morning. And spring is stunning, with cherry blossoms usually blooming in mid-April, a little later than in Tokyo.
