Coming to the Land of the Rising Sun, seeing and taking pictures with Mount Fuji is definitely the dream of all tourists, as well as Japanese people. This is the highest mountain in Japan and the 7th highest in the world, so seeing it is quite simple. You can see it from the high-rise buildings of Tokyo, the beach in Enoshima, or the roads of Yamanashi and Shizuoka provinces, ...
Today, I’ll share with you my journey to see Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture. I’ll be using public transportation, and getting around is extremely simple.
The first place to start your journey to see Mount Fuji is Kawaguchiko Station.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/svW2QHZsLmhudmFL7
At Shinjuku Station – Tokyo, you can choose to take a bus or train to get here. Taking the bus will take 1 hour 45 minutes and 2200 JPY, while taking the train will take 2 hours 20 minutes and 3000 JPY. Therefore, you should choose to take the bus to optimize your travel time.
You can buy bus tickets in advance at the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (located in front of Shinjuku Station). It’s recommended to purchase your tickets as early as possible since they sell out quickly, especially during holidays or the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/spT9hDXs3SsYFnmk6
As soon as we exit Kawaguchiko Station, we are greeted with a stunning view of Mount Fuji right in front of us, offering a truly majestic sight.
Since the sightseeing spots today are all within a 2-5km radius of the train station, I rented a bicycle so that I could take more photos without having to rely on buses or taxis. There are also many bicycle rental shops around Kawaguchiko Station to serve tourists, the rental price ranges from 1500 JPY - 4000 JPY depending on the type of bicycle you choose (mountain bike - power-assisted bicycle - electric bicycle).
Address of the shop where I rented the bike: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5MVK4Gg7YLSvS2sz9
After renting a bicycle, I headed to Shimoyoshida Honcho Street, an incredibly famous road that offers a direct view of Mount Fuji.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G82Q52zTz53vjCqj9
If we continue to move on this road about 1km towards Mount Fuji, we will see a huge Torii gate located right at an intersection.
Torii Gate Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kbCQqUxFMMiiu9n2A
The next place I visited was Chureito Pagoda, one of the most famous spots to view Mount Fuji in Japan.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vhZbE7GUbrJRY3ei8
This temple is only about 1 km from Shimoyoshida Honcho Street, approximately a 10-minute bike ride away.
The temple is famous for its five-story pagoda, situated on a hilltop with a stunning view of Mount Fuji, within Arakurayama Sengen Park.
We will need to climb a total of 398 steps to reach the observation deck of the five-story pagoda. It's not a small challenge, especially for those who aren't used to climbing.
Along the way, we can also enjoy beautiful views of the entire city as we climb.
And this is the result after about 20 minutes of climbing:
And my last stop of the day was Oishi Park, located along Lake Kawaguchi, one of the five large lakes surrounding Mount Fuji.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qt3QXQBZZJMxkhBd7
This is a large park featuring dozens of seasonal flowers, and it also offers a direct view of Mount Fuji.
When you visit Oishi Park, don’t forget to try the unique ice cream flavors offered here, such as green grape, plum, peach, and lavender.
End your day exploring Yamanashi Prefecture with a peaceful bike ride around Lake Kawaguchi to watch the sunset, and then head back to the bike rental shop to return your bike.
Yamanashi is one of the prefectures that boasts beautiful scenery throughout all seasons of the year. In spring, you can see cherry blossoms around Chureito Pagoda, in summer, lavender blooms at the foot of Mount Fuji in Oishi Park, autumn brings stunning red leaves around Mount Fuji, and in winter, the snow-covered peak of Mount Fuji is truly a sight to behold.
I hope this article helps you better plan and prepare for your trip to Yamanashi to see Mount Fuji. Thank you for reading all the way to the end!
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Does this journey excite you?
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Thank you for this article.
Can you tell me if there is a parking space when riding a bicycle to Chureito Pagoda? Thank you.
Yes, there is a private bicycle parking lot at the temple.
If I park my bike at Oishi Park or anywhere else, will I lose my bike? Are there any regulations on where to park my bike in the park or anywhere else? Will I be fined for parking incorrectly? Do you drive on the left in Japan like Thailand? I'm going to Japan soon and hope you can answer me.
In Japan, driving is on the left. Oishi and Chureito both have their own parking lots. Many tourists experience sightseeing by bicycle, so you don't have to worry.
Where did you park your bike where you were at Honcho Street