Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko, and Motosuko are four of the five lakes offering stunning views of Mount Fuji, a popular tourist destination. From Shinjuku, you can take a train or bus to Kawaguchiko Station. To explore the area around Kawaguchiko and Saiko, you can use the Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus and Saiko Sightseeing Bus (Red Line and Green Line). For Shojiko and Motosuko, the Nurusawa / Shojiko / Motosuko Sightseeing Bus (Blue Line) is available, or you can rent a car for more convenience.

A Two-Day Tour Around Mount Fuji

This two-day itinerary takes you on a scenic journey around Mount Fuji, exploring the surrounding lakes and natural wonders.

Day 1:

• Starting at Kawaguchigo Station Inn, pick up your rental car and head towards Lake Saiko.
• Visit the NARUSAWA ICE CAVE and WIND CAVE, marveling at the unique geological formations.
• Continue to Lake Shojiko and Lake Motosuko, enjoying the serene atmosphere and breathtaking views.
• Pay respects at Fujisengen Shrine and explore the traditional water village of Oshino-Hakkai.
• Return to Lake Kawaguchiko for the evening.

Day 2:

• Witness the majestic Mount Fuji at Chureito Pagoda in the morning.
• Take a scenic bus ride to Kachi Kachi Ropeway and The Kawaguchiko Music Forest.
• If clouds obscure Mount Fuji, opt for an exciting adventure at Fuji-Q Highland amusement park.
• Conclude your journey with a return trip to Shinjuku in the evening.

Additional Notes:

• The itinerary can be adjusted based on weather conditions and personal preferences.
• Early morning offers the best views of Mount Fuji, especially at Kawaguchigo Station.
• Consider purchasing a Hakone Freepass for convenient and cost-effective transportation around the area.
• Enjoy the local cuisine and cultural experiences throughout your journey.

Return to the hotel to prepare for breakfast at 7:30 AM. While waiting for the food, take another round of photos. The morning atmosphere is still empty, making it ideal for taking pictures. The train carriage booth in front of the station is a popular spot for taking pictures of Mount Fuji, as seen on the accommodation's Facebook page.

It's time for breakfast. For those who haven't booked breakfast, it's recommended to buy it in advance. It's difficult to find food in the morning, and the shops are not open yet.

After breakfast, we walked to pick up the rental car at Toyota Kawaguchi Lake Station. The car was a compact Vitz, and we picked it up at 8:00 AM and returned it at 6:00 PM with a full tank of gas at the gas station next to the rental agency.

We opened the map and drove to Lake SAIKO first, which took about 20 minutes. But after driving about 2 km, Nel realized that he had left his bag in the bathroom at the car rental company.

Fortunately, all the items were still there, so I had to drive back to get them.

We arrived at the Boat Rental Service and saw the Lake SAIKO sign. We stopped to take some photos.

After renting a boat, we drove along the lakeside and stopped to take photos at the Soba Noodle Shop (彩呼亭).

From Soba Noodle Shop (Saiko-tei), drive to the end of the lake to reach the Mount Fuji viewpoint of Lake Saiko.

Map of parking spots and driving route from Boat Rental Service to Soba Noodle Shop (彩呼亭) for taking photos, then to the viewpoint of Mount Fuji by Lake SAIKO (red dot)

After that, we planned to go to the ICE CAVE and WIND CAVE, but when we entered the information into the GPS or iPad, there was no data. The map we had prepared was not detailed enough. We drove around looking for signs, and luckily we found a map along the way, so we stopped to look at it.

The place where we parked our car is a bird-watching spot called SAIKO WILD BIRDS' FOREST PARK. From this spot, you can also see Mount Fuji.

Drive to NARUSAWA ICE CAVE (If you take the Retro Bus, you need to walk about 800 meters). Here, we chose to buy a Combine ticket for 500 yen, which allows you to visit both the ICE CAVE and the WIND CAVE. The staff will tear off the ICE CAVE ticket and give you back the WIND CAVE portion.

This location provides shoes and helmets for your safety, as there is a risk of head injury from rocks or ice while exploring the cave.

Let's go on a trip now. Walk along the path until you reach the mouth of the cave.

The image depicts an ice cave, where ice is being harvested and transported by horses to be presented to the local ruler.

Watch your head when entering the cave.

On the way back, I stopped by a souvenir shop and bought a T-shirt for 2,000 yen and a bottle of sparkling and still mineral water.

After that, we drove to FUGAKU WIND CAVE. The sign was different from the one on the map, and it took us two laps to find it. We had to park our car on the side of the road and walk in. The shop is located near the parking lot.

Walk about 200 meters along the path.

This storage area once housed silkworm eggs and tree seeds. Cave storage for cocoons and seeds continued until approximately 1995. The natural refrigeration preserved the high quality of the seeds and enhanced their germination.

After exploring on foot, we drove to Lake Shoji.

Turn onto Highway 358 and stop for a photo.

The Uncooperative Weather and a Delicious Lunch

The morning sky was uncooperative, filled with thick clouds and rain, preventing us from seeing Mount Fuji. We continued driving towards Lake Motosuko, and the rain intensified along the way. We decided to stop for lunch at a restaurant near the entrance of the lake. The portions at this restaurant were incredibly generous, making it a great value for the price.

After lunch, the rain subsided significantly and eventually stopped. We then drove around Lake Motosuko, but were unable to complete the loop due to a road closure (snow). We had to turn around and drive to the other side to reach the photo spot behind the 1,000 yen bill. At this point, the GPS was unreliable, so we relied solely on signs.

The photo spot behind the 1,000 yen bill is full of clouds, so I can't see Mount Fuji.

Expected image

Actual Photos

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We continued our journey to Oshino-Hakkai by driving back the way we came, heading towards Lake Yamanakako. While driving, we saw a sign for Fujisengen Shrine and decided to stop by for a look. We parked across the street and walked through the remaining snow to the entrance. Once we arrived, we realized there was a way to drive closer and park.

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After leaving Fujisengen Shrine, we drove towards Oshino-Hakkai, following the signs. We continued driving until we reached a point with an Oshino-Hakkai sign, where we could go either way. We chose to drive straight, but we couldn't find the entrance. We realized we were lost and decided to stop the car. My companion got out to ask for directions. The Japanese people were very kind. We had driven a long way, and they drove us to the location. We were so grateful. Before we could thank them, they had already left. From where we parked, we walked about 100 meters and reached the destination. The water was truly clear.

The large pond in the center of the village. Today, the clouds are blocking Mount Fuji, so it is not visible.

The shrine behind the Oshino-Hakkai village on the driving route.

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On the way back to Kawaguchiko, there was still some time left, so I decided to drive around Lake Kawaguchiko. While crossing the bridge over the lake, Mount Fuji appeared at the base and then disappeared again. When I crossed the bridge and turned right, there was no parking space available. I tried to park in front of the hotel, but a hotel employee came over, so I had to drive back to the other side. There were plenty of parking spaces there, or you could park near the boat or ropeway. The ropeway was closed today, so I couldn't ride it.

17:30: After filling up the car and returning it, we walked back to get some food. We debated between the restaurants at the train station and the one across the street, near our accommodation. We opted for the restaurant closer to our lodging. While the food wasn't as good as the restaurant we had visited earlier in the day, it was still quite busy, likely due to the limited dining options available. Upon returning to our accommodation, we discovered a lounge area with internet access and complimentary tea and coffee available 24/7.

We will be going to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will be taking photos of Mount Fuji at the Chureito Pagoda. In the afternoon, we will be visiting Fuji-Q Highland.

Let's continue our journey together at https://th.readme.me/p/9700