Arakurayama Sengen Park

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Arakurayama Sengen Park is not just a city park, but also one of Japan’s most famous spots for viewing Mount Fuji, located in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Also being right at the foot of Mt. Fuji, it is about 10 minutes to Lake Kawaguchi by the Fujikyu Railway.

Read More: Mount Fuji, and Lake Kawaguchi

Why Is Arakurayama Sengen Park Famous?

This spot is so popular with tourists for enjoying the scenery of Mt. Fuji because it offers a quintessential view: Mount Fuji in the background, the vermilion-colored Japanese-style Chureito Pagoda in the middle ground, and seasonal plants or flowers - such as cherry blossoms in spring and red foliage in autumn - in the foreground.

It’s also worth noting that Arakurayama Sengen Park is situated halfway up a mountain, allowing you to gaze at Mount Fuji at eye level.

Where to Visit in Arakurayama Sengen Park?

As mentioned above, Arakurayama Sengen Park is located halfway up Mount Arakura. To reach the park from the base of the mountain, you need to climb 398 steps, equivalent to about 20 stories. Along the slightly tiring trip, you will pass many beautiful sights: on either side of the steps, you can see cherry blossoms in spring, green trees in summer, red leaves in fall, and possibly snow in winter. Moreover, generally speaking, after climbing about 100 steps, Mount Fuji will come into view through the trees. The higher you climb, the more expansive the view becomes. In addition, as you make your way up, you can see the following along the way:

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine and Its Torii Gate

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, located at the foot of Mount Arakura, has a long history. Originally built to pray that Mt. Fuji would never erupt again, people now visit this shrine primarily to pray for good health, freedom from disaster, and family harmony.

Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine

Vermilion Torii Gate

It will show you the simple yet elegant architectural elements of a traditional Japanese shrine, such as the main hall, torii gate, approach path, and worship hall. Among these, the vermilion torii gate is a particularly famous photo spot: the sight of the torii gate framed alongside Mount Fuji creates a scene that epitomizes the essence of Japan.

Chureito Pagoda

After climbing the 398 steps, the first thing you will see is the Chureito Pagoda, the park’s landmark. Built in 1962 and standing 19.5 meters (64 feet) tall, it was erected to commemorate those who lost their lives during the war. Designed in the style of a traditional Japanese Buddhist pagoda, it stands out strikingly against the blue sky with its vermilion-colored body and tiered eaves.

Chureito Pagoda

Observation Deck

Walk a few steps past the pagoda, and you will reach the Observation Deck of Arakurayama Sengen Park. This is the park’s best vantage point and one of the most famous spots for viewing Mount Fuji: it allows you to capture both the Chureito Pagoda and Mt. Fuji in a single frame.

Mt. Fuji View from Arakurayama Sengen Park

Arakurayama Sengen Park and Mt. Fuji in the distance

Observation Deck

Opening Hours and Admission

Opening Hours: 24 hours all year round
Admission: Free

When to Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park?

1. Throughout the year:

Among the four seasons, spring and autumn are the most recommended times to visit Arakurayama Sengen Park.

Spring from March to May: During this time, the temperature is pleasant, but the snow on the mountain top has not yet melted. Rain is less frequent, and visibility is relatively good. Besides, early to mid-April is the time when 650 cherry trees are in full bloom. Together with the snow-capped Mount Fuji and the red Chureito Pagoda, they create a stunning and unique spring scene that attracts numerous visitors.

Autumn from September to November: This is also a time of comfortable temperatures. With stable weather and high visibility, your chance of seeing Mt. Fuji, whose peak begins to be covered by snow, is relatively high. Moreover, beautiful autumn foliage is visible throughout the park from late October to November, sometimes even until early December.

Arakurayama Sengen Park in Spring

Arakurayama Sengen Park in Autumn

2. During the day:

You are recommended to visit Arakurayama Sengen Park for Mount Fuji between 7:00 and 9:00. This is because Mt. Fuji is often obscured by clouds and fog after 9:00 in the morning, and is backlit in the afternoon. During the period from 7:00 to 9:00, however, not only do you have the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji’s full silhouette throughout the day, but also the light is soft and the visitors are fewer.

How to Get to Arakurayama Sengen Park?

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Mt. Fuji View - Arakurayama Sengen Park

From Tokyo to Arakurayama Sengen Park

1. JR Chuo Line (Rapid) and Fujikyu Railway
Take a limited express or rapid train on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) from Shinjuku Station to Otsuki Station. Then, transfer to the Fujikyu Railway, get off at Shimo-Yoshida Station, and walk 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) to the entrance of the park at the foot of Mount Arakura. The entire journey takes approximately 2.5 hours.

The JR Chuo Line (Rapid) service operates from 5:00 to 24:30, with trains running approximately every 2–6 minutes. The Fujikyu Railway operates from 7:30 to 24:00, with 1–3 trains per hour.

2. Fuji Excursion Train
You can also take the Fuji Excursion Limited Express from Shinjuku Station to reach Shimo-Yoshida Station directly, without transfer. Then, walk to the foot of Mount Arakura. The entire journey takes about 2 hours.

There are approximately 4–5 trains per day, running only in the morning.

3. Highway Buses
A highway bus can take you directly from the Shinjuku Express Bus Terminal to the Chuo Expressway Shimo-Yoshida Bus Stop. From the stop, it’s about a 1.6-kilometer (1-mile) walk to the foot of Mount Arakura. The entire trip takes about 2 hours.

During operating hours from 8:00 to 22:00, the buses run approximately once an hour.

From Lake Kawaguchi to Arakurayama Sengen Park

For visitors planning to get to Arakurayama Sengen Park from Lake Kawaguchi, the Fujikyu Railway will help. It’s just three stops and about 10 minutes from Lake Kawaguchi to Shimo-Yoshida Station.

More Tips for Visiting Arakurayama Sengen Park

1. Please note that the peak cherry blossom season from early to mid-April and peak autumn foliage season from early to mid-November are the busiest times of Arakurayama Sengen Park, with very large crowds - you may even have to wait in line to get to the observation deck. Therefore, if you plan to visit the park during these periods, please set aside plenty of time.
2. Is there a way to avoid climbing so many steps when visiting Arakurayama Sengen Park? Yes. After visiting the Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, there is a gentle slope route in addition to the route full of stairs. Both routes take about 15 to 20 minutes on foot to reach the Chureito Pagoda.

3. The view you see of Mount Fuji is highly dependent on the weather. On cloudy, rainy, or foggy days, Mount Fuji is easily obscured by clouds, making it impossible to see the full view. You are recommended to check the local weather forecast before your trip and try to arrange your visit to the park on a sunny day.

How to Travel from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi / Mt. Fuji