Fuji Travel Guide- Fujiyoshida and Lake Kawaguchiko
When visiting Japan, a trip to Fuji is an absolute must. Fuji is such a nice change of pace to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Mt. Fuji is quite close to Tokyo, making it a great destination for either a day trip out of the city or a few day stop. One of my favorite places outside of Tokyo were the two towns close to Mt. Fuji; Fujiyoshida and Fujikawaguchiko (AKA Lake Kawaguchi). Both have incredible views of Fuji and lots to see and do. I have visited Fuji twice so far, once in the Spring and once in the Winter. In this blog, I will give you some tips to visit both Fujiyoshida and Lake Kawaguchi.
When Should You Visit
I have visited Fuji twice, once in the Summer (June) and once in the Winter (December). June was warmer but comfortable and January requirement a puffy coat, gloves, and a beanie. Being higher altitude towns, the weather can be spotty and the visibility of Mt. Fuji is not always guaranteed, no matter the season. When I stayed in Fujikawaguchi for 3 nights in the summer I did have 1 day of complete cloudy, heavy rain. If you don’t mind the cold, Fuji looks gorgeous snow capped.
Getting There
Getting to Fuji is a pretty straightforward process. There are 2 options that I would recommend. Bus or train. Bus is my top option because it is affordable and easy to book. There are many different booking companies that you can use. My recommendations would be: highway-buses.jp or willer-travel.com. Both work great, but have different starting points so check which one works best for you. Personally, we used Willer and started at the Tokyo Station Yaesu to Kawaguchiko Station. If you wanted to go to Fujiyoshida first, you could take a bus from Shinjuku to Fujiyoshida. Highway buses need to be pre-booked and it takes about 2 hours to get there. The only drawback with a bus is because of pre-booking you will have to gamble with the weather.
Another more spontaneous option is to take the train. This does not need to be pre-booked and is straightforward. The reason I did not do this is because it is slightly more expensive and a longer journey at 3+ hours, due to stops. If this doesn’t bother you, it could be a good option.
Lastly, you can get to Fuji by getting an Uber in Tokyo and busing back or renting a car, but because I prefer budget traveling, these would not be my first pick.
How Long should you Stay?
A full day in Fuji is an absolute minimum as there is so much to see. If you only have 1 day, I would recommend starting in Fujiyoshida and walking over to Fujikawaguchiko throughout the day and busing back. That way you can see as much as possible.
I stayed in Fujikawaguchiko at the Toyoko Inn for 3 nights and really enjoyed it. It is a no-fuss business hotel that is right next to the lake and convenience stores. They even had included breakfast. 2-3 days is what I would recommend to really enjoy the area.
Fujiyoshida & Notable Stops
My second trip visiting Fuji in the winter was spent primarily in Fujiyoshida. I went for a day trip and spent about 8 hours in and out roaming the town exploring. Fujiyoshida is so photogenic with streets displaying fuji everywhere. I recommend spending at least 5 hours in Fujiyoshida just to get a feel for it and visit the popular attractions.
Once you get to Fujiyoshida I recommend heading right to Chureito Pagoda. It is very famous, well-known and gets packed with people. The earlier in the day you can get there the better.
Next notable stop is Honcho Street. This is also very well-known and beautiful with Mt. Fuji right in between the street and sidewalks. Make sure to be extra mindful here. This is a road with a decent amount of traffic. Please follow the street attendants instructions when crossing the street and don’t stand in the way of the cars. I rarely hear honking in Japan, but this street is an exception. Make sure to be mindful of locals living and working here.
After crossing those two sites off your list, spend the rest of your time walking up and down the streets, crossing the train tracks and exploring all the different views of Fuji.
Walking around Lake Kawaguchiko & Notable Stops
Walking around the lake is something that was a lot of fun, particularly in the summer! We saw many people biking as well which could be a fun option for you. Although a lot of it is a walking trail, be aware there is some road walking. It is 18.7 km and I recommend starting early. With stops, it took us about 5-6 hours. Lake Kawaguchiko is one of 5 lakes around Mt. Fuji and is the second largest.
1. From Kawaguchiko, most likely your first stop will be Yagizaki Park. This was a beautiful park with views of Fuji, the lake, beautiful green hills, sitting spots, and a hydrangea garden (blooms in June!)
2. As you make your way around the bend of the lake, you will find stairs up a hill. Take these and you will be at Okukawaguchiko Sakuranosato Park. There is an Observation Deck just at the top that is a nice overlook and place to sit.
3. Now that you are on the other side of the lake, make your way to Oishi Park. It’s gorgeous with lavendar, roses, a cafe, and views of Fuji.
4. Lastly, make your way around Lake Kawaguchi Great Bridge and make sure to finish off at Oike Park (ps. don’t forget to get Lavendar Soft Serve, it was delicious!)
