The Fuji Five Lakes area is one of the best places to see Mt Fuji in all its glory. On our very first night in Kawaguchiko, one of the main towns in the Fuji Five Lakes area, I honestly couldn’t stop squealing every time I turned a corner…. and there it was, majestically standing tall and peeping out over the top of the surrounding buildings.
There is no shortage of Mt Fuji viewing spots in Kawaguchiko, but after spending 3 days exploring the area, I’ve narrowed down the ten best views of Mount Fuji.
Of course, some of these places to view Mt Fuji are well known, but I’ve also included some lesser-known gems that we discovered during our time in Kawaguchiko. These are the best views of Mt Fuji in Kawaguchiko and its surrounds.
Chureito Pagoda
The best Mt Fuji views can be seen from the observation deck in front of the Chureito Pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park.
This recognisable photo of the Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji framed in the background, often with cherry blossoms in the foreground, is one of the most iconic spots in Japan and splashed across tourist guidebooks about Japan worldwide.
To recreate this stunning photo for yourself is not without challenges – the Chureito Pagoda and observation deck are located on a steep 398-step climb up in the park.
Understandably so, this spot gets busy, particularly with day trippers, so it’s worth visiting early or later in the day. This is one of the many reasons it’s worth spending a few nights in Kawaguchiko.
Whether you want to visit on a day trip or spend a few nights, make sure to check out my detailed guide for all you need to know about visiting the Chureito Pagoda from Tokyo.
Tip: Most people reach the observation deck but don’t venture any further. If you brave another short climb a further 5 minutes up the hill, there is another incredible Mount Fuji view point with hardly a soul in sight! You can’t see the pagoda, but you get a spectacular, clear shot of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Fuji.
Entrance to Arakurayama Sengen Park is free, making it my pick for the best view of Mt Fuji from Kawaguchiko.
📍 Location: Arakurayama Sengen Park
Need help planning how to spend your time in the Fuji Five Lakes area? Read my suggested 3 day itinerary.
Oishi Park
You’ll find the picturesque Oishi Park on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi.
With a large and varied garden with seasonal flower displays throughout the year, it’s worth strolling from one side of the park to the other to admire in the flower displays and stunning Mount Fuji views the whole way.
You’ll spot bright pink moss phlox in spring, lavender bushes in summer, vivid red kochia in autumn plus a winter illumination event, making this spot a must-visit all year round in Kawaguchiko.
📍 Location: Oishi Park
Onshirin Garden
I don’t normally like to use the cliche “hidden gem”, but if I were to, this little-known spot with spectacular views of Mount Fuji and blue nemophila would take the title.
After visiting the nearby Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, we drove 5 minutes to the nearby entrance to Onshirin Garden and came across this quiet spot with bright pink moss phlox and delicate baby blue nemophila flower fields.
It appeared to be purpose-planted, however there were no signs indicating it was private property and with one or two other locals strolling the area, we went in and took these spectacular photos (captured in mid-April 2023).
📍 Location: Onshirin Garden
Shimoyoshida Honcho Street
A spectacular Mount Fuji view point can be found on Shimoyoshida Honcho Street.
The long, straight street with its sweeping network of power lines, quaint street lights and shop signs with Mount Fuji towering in the background makes for an impressive photo.
While sitting in FabCafe Fuji enjoying a coffee, it was disappointing to see a traffic officer employed to control the crowds of tourists all seeking to take the same “candid” photo walking across the street.
With signs all around this area now warning tourists not to jump in the middle of the road in front of traffic, and still seeing some people do just this further down the street whilst we were driving was pretty disappointing behaviour.
If you choose to visit this spot, please do so respectfully and make sure to observe road safety and respect the businesses and residents who work and live on this street. Alternatively, explore the surrounding side streets for a similar but quiet (and traffic free!) alternative.
After seeing this take place, we chose to keep on exploring instead of joining the crowds – so please enjoy my friend Rhi’s beautiful snap of this spot instead.
Photo Tip: use a zoom lens or 3x photo mode on your smartphone to compress Mt Fuji, making it appear closer in the background.
📍 Location: Shimoyoshida Honcho Street
Yagizaki Park and Oike Park
On the southern side of Lake Kawaguchi are two parks with views across to Mount Fuji. The photo below was taken on a sunset stroll at Oike Park, which is the smaller and quieter of the two.
The larger Yagizaki Park is further along the lake’s edge and has a small doll museum, cafe and lavender fields in summer.
Photo Tip: At these spots, you won’t be able to get a photo of both the lake and Mount Fuji as you are facing away from Lake Kawaguchi. Oishi Park or the other spots along the northern shores are where you’ll need to go for these Mount Fuji views.
📍 Location: Yagizaki Park and Oike Park
Fuji Shibazakura Festival
In April and May, the grounds around Fuji Motosuko Resort become a sea of bright pink with thick fields of vivid moss phlox blooms. It is truly a spectacular sight to behold with Mount Fuji in the background.
Read more about this beautiful and unique festival in my detailed guide here.
📍 Location: Fuji Motosuko Resort
Lawson Kawaguchiko Station
Driving past the Lawson convenience store near the Kawaguchiko Train Station, we were somewhat surprised to see a crowd of people taking photos of the store. I didn’t take a snap here, as I didn’t want to add to the crowd, however the towering Mount Fuji arising behind is very quintessentially Japan!
The nearby Kawaguchiko Station makes for a great photo spot too with its old school European style building and Mt Fuji peeping over the top.
May 2024 Update: Unfortunately the crowds and growing number of poorly behaved tourists that frequent this spot have caused the local government to erect a 20-metre long mesh barrier to obstruct the view.
Just a reminder, that when visiting these small towns (or anywhere in the world, really) that we have the privilege of travelling to, respecting local rules and the residents who live here is paramount to ensure ongoing sustainable (and enjoyable) travel for everyone.
📍 Location: Lawson Kawaguchiko Station
Your Accommodation: Kawaguchiko Hotels with Mt Fuji View
When looking at places to stay in Kawaguchiko, I decided it was worth the extra cost for a room with a view of Mount Fuji – after all, this is why we had travelled to Fuji Five Lakes after all!
As a compromise, I booked a small family-run guesthouse with shared bathrooms but booked one of their private rooms that had a Mount Fuji view.
It was worth every penny. Waking up and seeing Mount Fuji out of my window each morning brought me so much joy. I joked with my husband that I wanted to sleep with the windows open so I didn’t miss a single second of that view!
Below are some options for hotels with a Mt Fuji view for all budgets (including where I stayed).
- Budget – Hostel Michikusa-ya: I booked the Triple Room with Mountain view, but they also have a budget Dormitory Room (no views), and the shared common room has views of Mount Fuji.
The guesthouse was meticulously clean and the owner was very friendly. - Mid-Range – Haostay: Only select rooms have views of Mt Fuji, but head to the rooftop terrace where you can eat breakfast while viewing Mt Fuji!
- Luxury – La Vista: All rooms have views of Mount Fuji and outdoor spa baths!
Cherry Blossoms along Lake Kawaguchi
We had just missed the cherry blossoms in Kawaguchiko by a few weeks, however my friend was there just in time to snap these incredible shots of Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms along the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi.
Along the lake, near the Kawaguchiko Circular Hall and Kawaguchiko Forest Museum, you’ll find an avenue of cherry blossom trees sweeping across the shoreline.
Between this spot and Oishi Park, both of these are close contenders for the best view of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko.
📍 Location: Cherry Blossom Corridor
Lake Motosuko
The other lakes in Fuji Five Lakes all have views of Mount Fuji, however, we headed to Lake Motosuko which is also known as the mirror lake due to its spectacular mirrored reflection of Mount Fuji on a calm day.
We got lucky with the weather and took these incredible snaps at the location pinned below. This spot was definitely up there as one of our Mount Fuji best view points during our 3 days exploring Kawaguchiko.
Tip: You will need a car to access this one, as it is an hour’s walk from the nearest bus stop.
📍 Location: Motosukotenbo Park
Bonus Spots: More Places to View Mt Fuji
Here are three more spots with great views of Mount Fuji. I haven’t included them above as I haven’t been there, but they were on my list when I was researching our Fuji Five Lakes trip.
- Tenku No Torii: This attraction is a privately owned plot of land with a torii gate for the purpose of taking photos for a small fee.
- Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park: Reached via the Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway or by taking the hiking trail, this observation deck part way up the mountain has great Mount Fuji views (but only lake views on the cable car ropeway)
- Oshino Hakkai: A reconstructed traditional village with thatched roof houses and eight clear ponds fed by springs with melted snow from Mount Fuji.
- Shiraito Falls: This spectacular waterfall is a ranked one of the best waterfalls in Japan! The wide cascade of falls is fringed by lush forest which turns a spectacular hue of amber in autumn, and to top it off has a view of Mt Fuji towering in the background. This incredible natural attraction is free to visit, but it’s best accessed by car as its a 45 minute drive from Kawaguchiko and the public bus connection runs only a few times a day.
Map of Lake Kawaguchiko Mt Fuji View Points
Check out the below map (click for an interactive version) for the best places to view Mt Fuji.
Final Thoughts – Best Place to View Mt Fuji
That wraps up my ultimate list of the best places to see Mt Fuji near Kawaguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes area. Exploring this beautiful region, and seeing Mount Fuji daily, was the highlight of my month long trip in Japan.
If you need help planning more of your Japan adventures, make sure to check out my other guides below. Happy adventuring!
Plan your Japan trip:
- Exploring Fuji Five Lakes: 3 Days in Kawaguchiko Guide
- How to Easily Visit the Chureito Pagoda from Tokyo
- An Exciting 4 Days in Osaka Itinerary for First-Timers
- A Fun 7 Day Tokyo Itinerary: Complete 1 Week in Tokyo Guide
- Takayama Itinerary: 2 Days Discovering Traditional Japan
- A Perfect 4 Weeks in Japan Itinerary: Ultimate Travel Guide
- Koyasan Temple Stay: Essential Travel Guide & Tips
It seems like everywhere I want to travel to you have already been there. Thanks for sharing. When did you travel? Mt Fuji is very visible
Thank you! These photos are all taken in April 2023. During 4 days in Kawaguchiko, we had clear views of Mt Fuji for 3 of them but obviously its very weather dependent 🙂