Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi, the most-visited site among Fuji Five Lakes, is popular to enjoy the landscapes of Mt. Fuji. Having the longest lake shoreline on the northern side of Mt. Fuji, it is embraced with many viewing spots and facilities for sightseeing. Both Lake Kawaguchi itself and Mt. Fuji in a short distance are breathtakingly beautiful no matter when you come. Also, it is easy to reach there via highway buses or trains especially from Tokyo.

Lake Kawaguchi Photos ( 26

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When to Visit Lake Kawaguchi

You can go sightseeing to Lake Kawaguchi in any season of the year. It’s always beautiful with stunning sceneries. In particular, April and November are the peak time with the most visitors. Full-blown cherry blossoms are fascinating in the former, while autumn leaves render the place gorgeous in the latter. Purple lavenders and multicolored hydrangeas contend in beauty during summer, and snow-covered landscapes and a dozen of fireworks shows are displayed in winter.

Top Things to Do

1. Sightseeing of Mt. Fuji

Lake Kawaguchi is welcomed for Mt. Fuji views with no doubt. Tourists could see the snow-capped mountain anywhere around the Lake Kawaguchi, as long as it is clear. Especially, the northern lakeshore is the best spot to enjoy a wide view as well as taking photos. Apart from the mountain and lake, the refection of Mt. Fuji, inverted Fuji, can also be caught very well on the northern shore.

2. Cruise on Lake Kawaguchi

A cruise is the major way for sightseeing around Lake Kawaguchi. To the southeast corner of the lake, you can find the pier to take cruises. Appare Sightseeing Boat in old Japanese style will take you about 20 minutes on Lake Kawaguchi, which departures every half hour. The price is JPY 1,000 for an adult. Appare offers broad vision, and the top deck is cool to see the surroundings, together with Mt. Fuji, with no obstacle in sight. Pedal boats in a shape of swan are also available there.

Mount Fuji

3. Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

By the pier of sightseeing boat, it is the station of Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, which connects Lake Kawaguchi with Tenjozan Park on the shore. The ropeway provides a beautiful view of Lake Kawaguchi below, and becomes an interesting way to see Mt. Fuji. In addition to the panoramic view of Mt. Fuji, you can also enjoy the scenic spots in Tenjozan Park. Overlooking the Tenjozan Park full of autumn leaves can’t be missed as well.

4. Tenjozan Park

Tenjozan Park is actually the Park of Tenjo Mountain. On the mountain, you can see cute sculptures of rabbit and raccoon dog. It is said that the Japanese fairytale Mountain Kachi Kachi, about the rabbit helped a grandpa to get revenge on the raccoon dog, took place right there. The great writer Osamu Dazai had stayed there for a period of time, when he wrote causeries – a success in his life. In memory of this great writer, a monument has been erected in Tenjozan Park.

Although the round trip of Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway is available, taking a single trip is popular. Hiking up or down the hill is also a nice experience nearby Mt. Fuji.

Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

Tenjozan Park

5. A Tour of Arts on the Lakeshore

Coming to Lake Kawaguchi, you would be surprised to find that there are some art museums with unique features on the lakeshore.

The best-known Itchiku Kubota Art Museum attracts visitors with its collection of kimonos and the traditional Japanese garden.

In Kawaguchiko Museum of Art, a great variety of paintings, printmaking works, and pictures depicting Mt. Fuji are on display.

Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum in the European-style garden shows a wide range of musical instruments, and give you a chance to listen to dulcet melodies, watch the dolls playing organ automatically, and enjoy the rose garden beyond your expectation.

Main Seasonal Events by Lake Kawaguchi

Fuji Lake Kawaguchi Cherry Blossom Festival: early or the middle of April

Kojosai – Lake Kawaguchi Festival: usually on August 5th, featured with the grandest firework show around Fuji Five Lakes

Lake Kawaguchi Autumn Leaves Festival: late October or early November to mid-November, the Momiji Corridor on the northern shore is the main venue as well as most spectacular site

Lake Kawaguchi Winter Fireworks Festival: every Saturday and Sunday from mid-late January to late February

Nearby Attractions around Lake Kawaguchi

Arakurayama Sengen Park with Chureito Pagoda: on the east side of Tenjozan Park, not far southeast to Lake Kawaguchi

Fuji-Q Highland: an amusement park under Mt. Fuji, about 4km (2.5 miles) southeast to Lake Kawaguchi

Oshino Hakkai: an old village with spring ponds, about 9km (5.6 miles) southeast to Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Yamanaka: the nearest lake to Mt. Fuji and the easternmost one among Fuji Five Lakes, about 14km (8.7 miles) southeast to Lake Kawaguchi

Mt. Fuji 5th Station: halfway up Mt. Fuji, overlooking Fuji Five Lakes on the observation deck

Lake Motosu: the westernmost among Fuji Five Lakes, about 15km (9.3 miles) southwest to Lake Kawaguchi, Fuji Shibazakura Festival from late April to May is absorbing

Fuji-Q Highland under Mt. Fuji

Sightseeing Bus at Lake Kawaguchi

Getting around Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi has sightseeing buses to run around the lake, and also to each of the rest of Fuji Five Lakes, Oshino Hakkai, Gotemba, Mt. Fuji 5th Station and more attractions around those lakes. The density of runs may be subject to change by month.

Route/Destination	Main Stops
Loop Line around Lake Kawaguchi: Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center ↔ Lake Kawaguchi Station	Cruise & Ropeway Entrance, Kawaguchiko Museum of Art, Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum, Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
Lake Saiko	Fugaku Wind Cave, Lake Saiko
Lake Shoji-ko & Lake Motosu	Fugaku Wind Cave, Lake Shoji-ko, Lake Motosu
Lake Yamanaka	Oshino Hakkai, Lake Yamanaka
Gotemba	Fuji-Q Highland, Oshino Hakkai, Lake Yamanaka, Gotemba
Mt. Fuji 5th Station	Mt. Fuji 5th Station

How to Get to Lake Kawaguchi

Highway Buses:
From Tokyo, Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Osaka and Kyoto, you can catch a highway bus to reach Lake Kawaguchi. Also, the buses from Tokyo are the most, mainly departing from the stops by Tokyo Station, a few from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Akihabara.

Trains:
Many trains, not Shinkansen bullet trains, run to or stop at Lake Kawaguchi Station. The limited express train Fuji Excursion is probably the fastest, which departs from Chiba and has a stop at Shinjuku.

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