Photo By: Elin Chow

Rise and Shine! It was already the third day of our 9D8N trip to Japan. We woke up and left our hotel super early on this day to catch our bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Kawaguchiko. It was 6.30 am in the morning when we left our hotel and our bus departs at 7.30 am.

Our main purpose of going to Kawaguchiko is to see Mount Fuji at a close distance. Standing at 3,776 metres high, Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. It is registered as an UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site in 2013 and is an iconic landmark of Japan

Laying at the base of Mount Fuji are the scenic Fuji Five Lakes - Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Saiko, Shoji and Motosu. Among the five, Lake Kawaguchi is the best developed and most easiest to reach. It is a popular day trip destination that offers some of the best views of Mount Fuji with train and direct bus connections from Tokyo.


The most convenient and cheapest way to get from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi is by bus, which departs from Shinjuku and Shibuya Expressway Bus Terminal. All the buses from Tokyo will arrive and depart at Kawaguchiko Station. The station is also the terminus of the Fujikyuko line from Otsuki.


Both Fujikyu and Keio bus operate one or two direct buses from Shinjuku Bus Terminal in Tokyo to Kawaguchiko Station. The tickets tend to get sold out fast during the peak seasons, so it is recommended that you book them in advance.

We booked our bus tickets from Highwaybus, which departs from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. An one way fare costs 1,950 Yen per person and the journey will take about 2 hours. It is cheaper and faster than trains without the need to transfer. However, please note that JR Pass cannot be used on these buses.
The buses are usually very clean and have a rest room at the rear of the bus. It was very comfortable and we were glad the traffic was pretty smooth on that day.

Alternatively, it is about two hours train ride from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station. At Shinjuku Station, take the Limited Express train on the Chuo Line to Otsuki Station. The journey will take 69 mins and cost 1,320 Yen. From here, you will need to transfer to the Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko Station. It takes 55 mins to get from Otsuki Station to Kawaguchiko Station and the fare will cost 1,140 Yen.

There are also two direct limited express train between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko in each direction. Seat reservation is required for direct train service. The journey will take about 2 hours and costs 4,000 Yen (including seat reservation).

For those who are taking bus, please note that it will make a stop at Fuji-Q Highland before arriving at Kawaguchiko Station. Fuji-Q Highland is a popular amusement park in Japan and is best known for its Guinness World Record breaking roller coasters.


We arrived at Kawaguchiko Station at around 9.30 am. Upon arriving, we walked to the nearby Lawson to grab some breakfast. It was really cold in Kawaguchiko area (around 5℃) and very windy. I am worried that I might not survive travelling as I was already feeling a little unwell.

Tuna Mayo Origiri

Custard Bun


Green Tea & Craft Boss Coffee

After breakfast, we headed to the first stop on our itinerary, Arakurayama Sengen Park. Located half way up Mount Arakura in Fujiyoshida City of Yamanashi Prefecture, Arakurayama Sengen Park is a famous viewing spot for Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms in Spring.

The nearest station is Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line. From there, it is a short 10 minutes walk to Arakurayama Sengen Park. The best way to get from Kawaguchiko Station to Shimoyoshida Station is by the Fujikyu Railway. It takes about 15 minutes to get from Kawaguchiko Station to Shimoyoshida Station and an one way fare will cost 300 Yen.

Please note that JR pass cannot be used on Fujikyu Railway. You can either use an IC card or buy a ticket at the ticket counter to pay for your train fare. We bought tickets at the counter because we were not aware that IC cards are accepted.



The Fujikyu Railway runs about every 30 minutes, with 2 train services each hour. You may want to check the timetable on Fujikyu Railway website so that you can plan your time accordingly.


The best time to visit is early morning or before noon. Visiting early will not only ensure that you will grab a nice spot for getting photographs, but also a higher chance of seeing Mount Fuji. We arrived a little late, at around 11 am.



The station consists of an island platform with two tracks. We have cross the tracks via a level crossing to get to the station.

As soon as you exit the station, you will see a sign board with a detailed map and photos directing you to Arakurayama Sengen Park. The map is easy to read and along the way, there are signs and arrows that will guide you to the park. The place is actually very tourists friendly, so you do not have to worry about getting lost. You can easily find the park either by following the arrows or simply follow the crowds.


From Shimoyoshida Station, it is a 10 minutes walk to the entrance of the park. While I was on my way to park, I fell in love with the beauty and tranquility of rural Japan.


There are no entrance fee to the park and it is open all year round. You will know that you have arrived at the entrance of the park when you see a large vermillion torii gate.



However, for the best view, you will need to climb 400 steps up the mountain. The climb is not particularly difficult, but it is a long steep climb, and the higher we go, the thinner the air gets. But it is certainly worth the effort because you will be rewarded with spectacular view at the top.




Next to the stone steps, you will also find a sloping path. For those who have problems with stairs, you can use to sloping path to reach the top. Shuttle taxi services are also available to take you to the top if you do not mind paying a higher fare. If I am not wrong, a round trip ride will cost 500 Yen per person.



It took me about 30 minutes to reach the top. At the top of the 400 steps, you will find Chureito Pagoda, a vermilion five-storied pagoda. The pagoda is a memorial of peace built to commemorate  those who died in the battles during World War I.



Behind the pagoda, there is a slope leading further uphill to an observation deck offering spectacular view of Mount Fuji. If you visit during Spring, you might have the chance to photograph the pagoda and the pink cherry blossoms with Mount Fuji in the background all together. Thus, it is particularly popular with photographers.

That was also the main purpose of our visit. But sadly, it was a very unlucky day for us. We visited too early and the cherry blossoms has not bloomed yet. So there was no cherry blossoms to enjoy and Mount Fuji was barely visible. Even so, the view was still stunning.

The observation deck is not very large and is usually crowded with tourists taking multiples selfies. Everyone around us was trying to get a spot to get the best photos taken. Furthermore, most of them were pretty inconsiderate and have no intention of moving aside even after having their photos taken. It was a little frustrating. We did not stay for long because there was barely any space for us to stand and enjoy the view.

After taking a short break, we took the train back to Kawaguchiko Station to explore the attractions around Lake Kawaguchi. There are a number of tourist attractions around Lake Kawaguchi, so it might hard to decide which one to visit.

I have a long list of places to visit in Kawaguchiko, but at the end, we only get to visit one. The only one attraction we visited was Oishi Park, which is located on the North shore of Kawaguchiko. Well, I could only blame it on the weather. It was so cold and windy and it was making me sick. I have to waste most of time hiding indoor to keep myself warm. Another reason was simply because we were disappointed for not being able to see Mount Fuji.


The easiest way to get around Kawaguchiko area is by the Omni buses. There are three Omni bus lines - Red, Green and Blue, all departing from Kawaguchiko Station. You can refer to the bus route map and timetable to plan your trip.

We visited the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center, which is located at the last stop (Kawaguchiko Shizen Seikatsu-Kan) on the Red Line. You can either pay the bus fare by cash or IC card. Unlimited ride bus pass is also available for purchase at the bus ticket counter located outside of Kawaguchi Station. The pass is valid for two days and costs 1,500 Yen for adult and 750 Yen for child. I really recommend getting this unlimited ride bus pass if you are planning to take the bus for more than 3 times.


We did not get the Unlimited ride bus pass because it will not pay off. It is actually cheaper for us to pay as we go with IC Card. The journey from from Kawaguchiko Station to Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center takes about 35 minutes and costs 320 Yen (if I am not wrong) each way. Admission to the center is free.

At Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center, you can enjoy making fruit jam and try out some specialty made blueberry ice cream. Inside the Natural Living building, you will also find a souvenir shop packed with herbs and food products made within the center or at nearby farms. This will be a good place to get some gifts and souvenirs for your family and friends. The most popular souvenir to get here is handmade blueberry jam.



However, the main attraction here is Oishi Park, a beautiful flower garden overlooking Lake Kawaguchiko with Mount Fuji as the backdrop. Strolling leisurely through the park, you will get to enjoy a panoramic view of the Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji at a time.




But sadly, we were one of the unlucky ones because we could not see Mount Fuji at all. It was drizzling and there was just too much clouds and fog on the day we visited. The mountain has remained hidden by the clouds. We were incredibly disappointed.


Other than the view, the park also features a 350 metres walking path with various flowers planted along it. Even though the park can be visited throughout the year, it is most popular from late June to early July when the lavenders are in full bloom.


There is a small cafe and restaurant where you can get some snacks and drinks. It is nice to relax with a coffee in a flower garden while admiring the view of the lake.

Meat Wrap
Price: 300 Yen

Chicken Curry Rice
Price: 1,000 Yen

Feeling hungry, we bought some food from the restaurant. Choices of food was limited and the taste were so-so.


We probably spent over an hour here before taking the bus back Kawaguchiko Station. Initially, we planned to visit the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, but we missed our stop. Since I was not feeling very well, we decided to spend the rest of the hour waiting for our bus back to Shinjuku. It was raining heavily at the time we boarded the bus.

Arriving at Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal at 9 pm, we headed straight back to the hotel. We decided to just eat cup noodles for dinner because we were so tired and hungry. This was how we ended our third day in Japan. It was a day filled with disappointment and discomfort. But we will definitely visit Kawaguchiko in the future again just for Mount Fuji.


If you are interested to know more about our trip, you may want to check out our 9D8N Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka Trip Itinerary + Overview for the list of attractions that we had visited during our 9 days in Japan. For anyone planning your first trip to Japan but have no idea where to start, you should read my "How To Plan A Trip To Japan" post.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates on my 9 days adventures in Japan! You might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.