It was 1995 when I first saw a picture of Mount Fujisan. Against all odds, I picked up a book from my beloved grandfather’s library and one magazine cut out fell from it. It was a picture of a perfectly shaped volcano, with a snowy top. It’s Fujisan, my grandfather tells me, you can take a day trip from Tokyo to Mount Fuji to see this beautiful landscape. As a 6-year-old, I didn’t know anything about Tokyo at the time and couldn’t even begin to dream that one day I will actually visit these places and realise a long life dream of living in Japan.
During our 2 weeks in Japan, we really wanted to go from Tokyo to Mount Fuji but after two attempts, we gave up, as the weather was cloudy and covered the tip of the mountain. However, during our third trip to Japan, we finally managed to capture Mount Fuji in all its splendour. We went to the Lake Kawaguchi for the day and enjoyed not just Mount Fuji but the beautiful town of Kawaguchi, which has more to offer than one may think.
Table of Contents
- Tokyo to Mount Fuji
- Getting to Mount Fuji
- Kawaguchiko Station to Mount Fuji
- What to do in Lake Kawaguchiko
- Ten Shrine
- Yama Shrine
- Hakusan Shrine
- Lake Kawaguchi Pleasure Boat
- Entsuji
- Tenjosangokoku Shrine
- Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park
- Mitsumine Shrine
- Yamanokami Shrine
- Yamanashi Gem Museum in Fujikawaguchiko
- Where to eat in Lake Kawaguchiko
Tokyo to Mount Fuji
There are several ways to get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji. The easiest way is to join an organised group and not worry about changing trains.
We wanted to explore Mount Fuji on our own, and we found our way around without an issue. However, we did have access to the internet on our phones, which was a tremendous help. It would have been a bit more complicated without Google Maps.
Remember to check the weather well in advance. Try to pick a sunny, clear day, although note that weather can be quite unpredictable. So even if you think it will be sunny, there are still chances it will become cloudy.
Getting to Mount Fuji
As previously mentioned, you can view Mount Fuji from various sites but we read it looks most wonderful from Lake Kawaguchi. We weren’t disappointed. We actually saw Mount Fuji for a good part of the duration of the train journey, and everyone was literally mesmerised. What I learned, is that no pictures do justice to this beautiful volcano. It looks so much more majestic in real life. It’s just surreal.
We went from Tokyo to Mount Fuji by train. We used the Tokyo subway map to make our way to Shinjuku. We took the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Otsuki Station. The journey takes 70 minutes and it costs 2500 yen by direct limited express train or it is entirely free if you have the Japan Rail Pass.
From Otsuki Station you need to take the Fujikyu Railway Line to Kawaguchiko Station. The journey takes 55 minutes and it costs 1140 yen one way. Please note that this journey is not covered by your Japan Rail Pass.
Kawaguchiko Station to Mount Fuji
Technically speaking, you are not in Kawaguchiko to go to Mount Fuji. You arrive in Kawaguchiko so you can capture some of the best views of the mountain. So here is what you need to do next. From Kawaguchiko station you need to make your way towards the Kawaguchi-machi New bridge. It takes around 22 minutes on foot. This is where your phone with internet comes in handy, but you can follow some of the signs. Along the way, you can stop at the Yamanokami Shrine to catch your breath.
Once you arrived at the bridge, cross the lake to the other side. Make your way towards the Ubuyagasaki Shrine. Close to the foot of the bridge, you can find some gravel which offers outstanding views of Mount Fuji. Of course, you can also see it throughout the journey across the bridge. It really looks spectacular.
What to do in Lake Kawaguchiko
There is more to Kawaguchiko than meets the eye. Some decide to spend more than just a day around Lake Kawaguchiko and discover what this town has to offer.
Ten Shrine
Address: Azagawa, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0303, Japan
Yama Shrine
Address: Azagawa, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0303, Japan
Hakusan Shrine
Address: 1039 Azagawa, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 401-0303, Japan
Lake Kawaguchi Pleasure Boat
4034 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 401-0301, Japan
Entsuji
3932 Funatsu, 富士河口湖町 Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 401-0301, Japan
Tenjosangokoku Shrine
Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0301, Japan
Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park
Japan, 〒401-0303 Yamanashi-ken, Minamitsuru-gun, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Azagawa, 富士河口湖町浅川1163−1
Mitsumine Shrine
Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0301, Japan
Yamanokami Shrine
Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0301, Japan
Yamanashi Gem Museum in Fujikawaguchiko
6713 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 401-0301, Japan
Where to eat in Lake Kawaguchiko
We searched for some restaurants whilst we visited Lake Kawaguchiko but we actually stumbled upon Ogino supermarket. Ogino supermarket is huge and has so many Japanese products you will probably spend hours hunting for popular Japanese food. You will also find a bakery with delicious and fresh produce as well as various ready-made Japanese food for you to pick and enjoy right away. We know sometimes it’s nice to sit down and have lunch in a restaurant, but on this occasion, we really loved our Ogino supermarket experience. Besides, we spent a lot less and got ourselves lots and lots of treats.
Are you ready to take a day trip from Tokyo to Mount Fuji or will you want to stay the night in Lake Kawaguchiko? Please let us know in the comments section below.
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