Yamanashi · Mount Fuji / Yamanakako VillageNo.237★★★Open in map →
Lake Yamanakako
The largest of the Fuji Five Lakes, at about 1,000 metres above sea level and 13 kilometres from the Mount Fuji summit. Part of the UNESCO Fuji World Heritage zone, accessible from Shinjuku by highway bus in about 2.5 hours. The open northern shore gives clear mountain-over-water views.
Lake Yamanakako is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and sits at around 1,000 metres above sea level in Yamanashi Prefecture, roughly 13 kilometres from the Mount Fuji summit at its nearest point. This closeness shapes everything about the lake: on clear days the mountain fills the western sky from almost anywhere along the shore, and the open northern shoreline — less developed than the more popular Lake Kawaguchiko — gives unobstructed views across the water to the summit. The lake freezes in winter, and ice fishing for wakasagi (Japanese pond smelt) is a winter tradition. Highway buses from Shinjuku reach the lakeshore in about two and a half hours, making it a practical day trip.
Background & history
Lake Yamanakako formed on the eastern flank of the Fuji volcanic range. Ritual bathing here by Fuji-ko pilgrims is recorded from the 16th century. The lake was included in the 2013 UNESCO Cultural World Heritage inscription of Mount Fuji.
What to look for — in walking order
- Northern shore cycling road
- the less-developed north bank offers the most open view of Fuji across the water; a lakeside cycling path runs most of its length
- Panorama-dai viewpoint
- observation point on the ridge southeast of the lake at about 1,090 m; approximately 30 minutes on foot from the Mikuniyama Hiking Course trailhead bus stop — wide view of the lake and the mountain together
- Diamond Fuji (late October to mid-November; late January to mid-February)
- on specific dates the setting sun aligns precisely with the summit, creating a glowing 'diamond' cap — a phenomenon visible from the northern and eastern shores
- Swan Lake pleasure boat
- swan-shaped pedal boat available from the pier for a leisurely view of the mountain from the water
How to enjoy it
Take the highway bus from Shinjuku to the Yamanakako stop and walk or rent a bicycle to cover the northern shore — the open view of Fuji is best in the morning before afternoon clouds build. For Diamond Fuji, check the exact viewing dates for the current year (they vary slightly) and arrive at the eastern shore at least an hour before sunset. The lake is pleasant in any season: cherry blossoms on the south shore in April, clear summit views in autumn, ice fishing in January–February.
How to actually get there
- Shinjuku Station (Busta Shinjuku, 4F) → Yamanakako bus stop (Keio/Fujikyu highway bus, ~2 hr 25 min).
- Yamanakako bus stop → northern lakefront (walk or rent a bicycle, ~2 min on foot to the water).
- Northern shore → Panorama-dai trailhead (if hiking: board a bus to Mikuniyama Hiking Course Iriguchi, then 30-min walk to the viewpoint).
- Shinjuku → Yamanakako (Fujikyu highway bus)
- From Shinjuku Station (Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, Busta Shinjuku, 4F), take the Keio / Fujikyu highway bus toward Lake Yamanakako. Get off at the Yamanakako bus stop (about 2 hours 25 minutes, roughly ¥2,500 one-way). Buses run more than a dozen times daily. From the bus stop the lakefront is a 2-minute walk.
- Return bus to Shinjuku
- Return buses from Yamanakako to Shinjuku run throughout the day. The last bus is typically in the early evening — check the timetable at the bus stop or on the Fujikyu highway bus website before you go.
Before you go
- Cash
- Highway bus fares are paid at the bus terminal (IC cards and credit cards accepted). Bicycle rental at the lake is cash; expect ¥500–¥1,000 per hour. Pleasure boat rental is cash. The lake has convenience stores on the main road.
- Closing days
- The lake and northshore cycling are open year-round. In Diamond Fuji season (late October–mid-November; late January–mid-February) the eastern shore attracts large crowds at sunset — arrive early for a spot.
- Another way
- From Kawaguchiko Station (reached by Fujikyu Railway from Otsuki, about 50 minutes after transferring from the JR Azusa express), buses to Yamanakako run once or twice an hour and take about 30 minutes.
- After you get off
- The Yamanakako bus stop is on the main road at the western end of the lake; the lakefront promenade and bicycle rental shops are a 2-minute walk toward the water.