At 3,776 metres, Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest mountain and its most recognisable symbol, inscribed by UNESCO in 2013 as a sacred place and source of artistic inspiration. Most visitors do not climb it; they come to look at it. The best place to do that is the Fuji Five Lakes area on the north side, and above all Lake Kawaguchiko, which has the most transport, hotels and sights.
From Kawaguchiko Station, buses loop round the lake to flower parks, museums and a ropeway, and trains and tour coaches reach the Chureito Pagoda viewpoint in Fujiyoshida and the thatched village and spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai. One caveat applies to everything on this page: Fuji is shy. It is hidden by cloud on many days, especially in summer, so check a live camera before you set out and treat a clear view as a gift.
Highlights
- The five-storey pagoda with Fuji behind, from Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Fuji reflected in Lake Kawaguchiko from the north shore
- Oishi Park’s flower beds with the mountain as a backdrop
- The crystal-clear spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai
- The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station, 2,300 metres up the mountain
- An outdoor hot-spring bath facing the summit
Mount Fuji & Kawaguchiko in pictures
How long to stay and where to base yourself
How long: a day trip is feasible but tight — about four hours of travel for six on the ground. One night doubles your chance of a clear view, because the mountain is most often visible at dawn and dusk.
Where to base yourself: the eastern and northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko have most of the ryokan and hotels with Fuji-view rooms and baths. Near Kawaguchiko Station is most convenient without a car; Fujiyoshida, around Fuji-Q Highland, suits theme-park visitors. For a two-day circuit, continue to Hakone by bus via Gotemba.
