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Lake Kawaguchiko

natureThe classic — done right

The most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes, a short bus ride west of Tokyo. The northern shore faces Mount Fuji directly, and the reflection of the peak in the water is one of the most photographed views in Japan.

FromShinjuku Stn
~110 mindirect bus (~110 min)
Get off atKawaguchiko Station (Fujikyu Railway)
From there
Lake Kawaguchiko

Directions ↗

Where it is

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What to look for — in walking order

licensed photographAlpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0

Oishi Park north shorethe main lakeside promenade facing Mount Fuji, with seasonal flowers from spring to autumn
Mount Fuji reflectionthe classic still-water mirror image of the peak, best on calm mornings
Kawaguchiko Music Forestan open-air museum on the western shore with a lakeside garden
Autumn colourshillside foliage peaking in the first half of November on the slopes above the north shore

How to actually get there

Shinjuku Station (Busta Shinjuku, 4th floor) → Kawaguchiko Station (direct highway bus, ~110 min).
Kawaguchiko Station → Oishi (Red Line sightseeing bus, ~30 min to the end of the line).
Walk the north-shore promenade at Oishi Park facing Mount Fuji.

Shinjuku → Kawaguchiko (direct highway bus): Shinjuku Station (Busta Shinjuku, 4th floor) → Kawaguchiko Station, direct highway bus operated by Fujikyu or Keio Bus. Journey about 110 min, fare around 2,200 yen (from 2,000 yen if purchased online). Buses run roughly twice an hour during the day. Booking ahead is recommended on weekends and public holidays.
Return by highway bus from Kawaguchiko Station: Buses back to Shinjuku (Busta Shinjuku) depart from in front of Kawaguchiko Station throughout the day and into the evening. No booking is strictly required for the return but buying a ticket at the station before boarding is safer on busy days.

Directions from my location (Google Maps) ↗

About the place

Lake Kawaguchiko (河口湖) is the easternmost and most visited of the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko), which formed when ancient lava flows from Mount Fuji dammed river valleys in the foothills. At about 3.5 kilometres across at its widest, it is the second smallest of the five but by far the easiest to reach — direct express buses link Shinjuku Station in central Tokyo to the lake in under two hours, and the Fujikyu Railway arrives from Otsuki. The resort town around the lake's eastern end has hotels, hot spring baths, and cruise boats on the water. The northern shore offers the clearest view of Mount Fuji rising beyond the southern bank, and Oishi Park on that shore is the main stopping point for sightseeing buses and the seasonal flower promenade. In spring, cherry blossoms frame the mountain; in autumn, leaves colour the surrounding hills and the lake below turns copper.

How to enjoy it

Take the sightseeing Red Line bus from Kawaguchiko Station and ride it around the northern shore to Oishi Park — the last stop on the Red Line route. On a calm morning, the lake surface reflects Mount Fuji cleanly. The best cherry blossom views are in mid-April; autumn colours peak in early November. For the widest panorama, the Kawaguchiko Panoramic Ropeway climbs the hill above the south shore in about three minutes.

Background & history

The Fuji Five Lakes region has been a place of worship and ascetic practice for pilgrims climbing Mount Fuji since at least the Heian period (794–1185). The lakes and the mountain together were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as part of Fujisan, Sacred Place and Source of Artist Inspiration. The northern shore's reputation as a viewpoint was reinforced when ukiyo-e artists including Katsushika Hokusai incorporated lake-and-mountain compositions into the woodblock print series that made Fuji famous abroad in the nineteenth century.

Before you go

Cash: The highway bus accepts IC cards (Suica, PASMO) or cash. Oishi Park is free to enter. The Kawaguchiko Panoramic Ropeway and cruise boats charge separate admission — cash and IC card are accepted.
Good to know: Mount Fuji is often hidden by cloud by midday, especially in summer. Come early for a clear view. In cherry blossom season (mid-April) and autumn colour season (early November), the north shore and the buses from Tokyo are very crowded — book the bus well in advance.
Another way: The Fujikyu Railway from Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Line, ~70 min from Shinjuku) also reaches Kawaguchiko Station and gives a train option. The bus is faster and more convenient from Shinjuku.
After you get off: From Kawaguchiko Station, take the Red Line sightseeing bus (Kawaguchiko Line) toward Oishi — about 30 minutes to the end of the line. From Kawaguchiko Station there is also a pedestrian promenade along the eastern shore.