2 Days Trip to Mt. Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo🗻
Please turn on the subtitles in the video setting tab. Good morning from Shinjuku! Today we’re heading to Lake Kawaguchiko. This’s our first Mount Fuji sightseeing trip! We’ll be taking expressway bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. We are expected to arrive at 10:10 AM.
There are two ways to get to Lake Kawaguchiko directly from Tokyo. Option 1 is the JR Limited Express “Fuji Excursion” train. Option 2 is the expressway bus. Both methods take around 1hr 45min. Since the train is a bit hard to reserve, expressway buses are our go-to choice.
The buses run every hour with 2-4 departures, and are quite pocket-friendly. A one-way fare costs 2060 JPY, and you can make up to 3 changes. I was actually asleep just a moment ago… But when I opened my eyes, Mt. Fuji is right before me! It’s simply enchanting!🤍
Remember to choose a window seat on the LEFT side for the journey there! And on the RETURN trip, opt for the RIGHT side. There’s a saying – If you see Mt. Fuji, you can have a lucky year! Thank you, God of Luck! We arrive at Lake Kawaguchi as scheduled!
We’ll be staying here for two days, visiting popular attractions and watching the winter fireworks festival! Just a few steps to the left of the station, there’s a Lawson. It’s known as the prettiest convenience store with Mt.Fuji view! Mt. Fuji is like built on the roof!
However, this spot tends to attract quite a crowd. And there are cars keep passing by. It can be a bit tricky to get a perfect shot here. You’ll either end up capturing other people in your photos or getting blocked by cars most of the time.
I don’t recommend spending too much time at this spot. Next, we return to the bus station. It’s right outside the Kawaguchiko JR station. We’re heading to a superb view spot – ⛩️Torii Gate in the Sky! We take the Sightseeing Bus (Red Line) at bus stop no. 1.
Then get off at the “Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum”. After getting off the bus, follow the map and hike for about 40 minutes. The torii gate sits on the hill of Kawaguchi Asama Shrine. There’s no public transport going up there. Along the way to shrine, you’ll pass by local houses.
Don’t forget to look behind you while walking! Right behind you is the magnificent Mt. Fuji! Despite the temperature hovering around 6°C, walking in the sunlight keep us warm and cozy. After 20 minutes walk from the bus station, we arrive a forest with huge cedar trees.
This is where the shrine resides. To reach the torii gate, we’ll need to hike uphill for another 20 minutes. When you come across a fork, you’ll see this sign. Turn left and continue walking on the asphalt road. After a short walk, you’ll see two Torii Gates.
But we won’t be going that way. Keep walking on the asphalt road. Halfway up the mountain, there’s a camping site. The site offers various types of accommodation, like tents, cabins, cottages, and even cool transparent glamping dome! You can wake up to breathtaking view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko!
There’s a cozy little café right here too! Phew~ we’ve been trekking for a while now. Let’s take a break and relax here! Hehe~ We’ve got pear pudding in our bag. Enjoying the stunning view of Mt. Fuji while savoring delicious treats is pure bliss~ It’s a nice spot to snap a few shots.
Let’s countinue our way. Oh, look! We’re almost there! Let’s talk about a little backstory about the torii gate. As mentioned earlier, the shrine sits on the hill of Kawaguchi Asama Shrine. The name “Asama” signifies its dedication to Mt. Fuji, and its connection to the worship of volcanoes.
It was built as a sacred place to pray to Mt. Fuji and other volcanoes. The view from torii gate is really amazing! It looks like the entrance of Mt. Fuji! Don’t forget to bring some coins. Before reaching the gate, we had to pay a small fee of ¥100 for maintenance purposes.
Eeach group of visitors have 3 minutes to snap pictures at the torii gate. There’s a staff keeping track of time and assisting with the photography. While waiting in line, my friend and I brainstorm and rehearse for our shooting session. It really requires some teamwork and coordination!😂
After 45 minutes of waiting, it comes to our turn! Every single photo looks like a postcard! Trust me, 3 minutes go by in a flash! 😂 Remember to get your poses ready! This place is really a perfect spot to take photos and enjoy the scenic beauty of Mt. Fuji.
If you come to Lake Kawaguchiko, you absolutely can’t miss it! Right next to the gate, there’s another photo spot for Mt. Fuji. And there’s no time limit! So, if you didn’t get enough shots at the gate, you can always snap a few more here! With our shooting completed,
We head back the way we came. You might be wondering… Is reaching the torii gate challenging? Well, totally not! My friend and I rarely exercise, but trust me, the breathtaking views along the way made time fly by! When you catch sight of those beautiful views,
You’ll feel like every step was worth it! Our stomachs are growling with hunger. We’re gonna try out a local specialty noodle that’s only found in the Fuji region. The noodle shop is just few steps away from the bus stop where we arrived. Houtou Fudou, North Kawaguchiko Head Store
Even though lunchtime already passed, there’s still quite a crowd. Luckily, the restaurant is spacious. We are directed to annexe. We order the signature dish – Houtou Noodles! There’re also popular side dishes like raw horse meat sashimi and inarizushi. Every table has a cute Mt. Fuji container. Guess what’s inside?
It’s the togarashi (chili powder)! To ensure the freshest and most flavorful taste, Houtou noodles are cooked to order. Houtou Fudou Noodles 1210 JPY We were shocked by the hearty portion😂 For small eaters, one bowl is enough for two. The soup is made with miso, lots of pumpkin, and veggies.
It has a deliciously sweet and smooth flavor, infused with the essence of the veggies. YUM! There aren’t any meat in the bowl. but it was still so satisfying and you will forget that you even need meat! The noodles and soup are stewed together. The noodles are thick and chewy,
More like biting into dumplings. It was a hearty meal. Perfect for a chilly winter day. After finishing our meal, we felt incredibly satisfied and warm❤️🔥 Next stop: Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum. It’s just a 5-minute walk away from Futou. Since it was almost dinner time at the hotel,
We were actually thinking of skipping this attraction. But once we went inside, we realized it’s totally worth it! It’s like stepping into beautiful small towns in Europe, but with Mt. Fuji as the backdrop! The souvenir shop is so adorable😍 You can find a wide variety of music boxes.
From classical music to Japanese pop songs, anime songs and even Hayao Miyazaki’s melodies! The museum also houses a collection of rare and historical music boxes and automatic organs. If you like music and elegant settings, I highly recommend spending 2-3 hours here! Tonight, we’ll be staying at a ryokan in Ashigawa Onsen Street.
The ryokan has such a cool traditional Japanese vibe in its setup and decorations. Each room in this ryokan provides a stunning view of the lake and Mt. Fuji. For a detailed review of the ryokan, check out the video at top right corner. And now, it comes to the grand finale of our day!
The Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks Festival! The show is held in January and February every year. There’re multiple lauching sites, so you can see it from almost anywhere along the lakeside! As the fireworks burst and light up the night sky, it’s truly mesmerising! That wraps up our incredible first day! Goodnight!💤 Good morning!
Today, we’re going to the ropeway and Tenjosan Park. We go by the red line sightseeing bus, get off at the “Ropeway Ent.” stop. After getting off, walk straight ahead, on the left side of the uphill road, you’ll see a wood building. The ticket booth and boarding point are located here.
Although it’s early in the morning, there’s already a long line extending to the foot of the mountain. The ropeway operates from 9 AM to 4:40 PM. We buy a round-trip ticket. If you don’t want to take the round-trip, you can also hike up 40 minutes to Tenjosan Park.
The cable cars operates about once every five minutes. We queued for about 30 minutes to get on the cable cars. Here we go! As the ropeway gradually ascends, the view opens up! You can enjoy the panoramic beauty of Lake Kawaguchiko! If you come in autumn, the moutain will turn into lovely reddish-orange color🧡
The view will be even more beautiful! The ride is quick. It takes only 3 minutes to reach the mountaintop. Do you find Mt. Fuji? It’s hidden by clouds today :'( Do you know? Mt. Fuji has so many faces! We manage to see Mt. Fuji and clouds. Just in a slightly different form LOL
This is the Tenjo Bell. Ringing the bell can pray for smooth love and good health! The bell is acutally set opposite to Mt. Fuji. If the weather is good, you can look at Mt. Fuji through the heart! There’s a sign next to the bell that explains how to ring the bell.
If lovers ring the bell together, they can stay together forever!💞 Let’s give it a ring for good health! It’s harder than it looks lol Wish everyone has a happy and healthy year🥰✨ There’s also a rabbit shrine🐰⛩️ It prays for the safety, healthy legs of mountaineers and tourists.
If you touch the head of “Dream Rabbit” on the right, you will gain wisdom! Touch the back leg of “Fuji Rabbit” on the left for healthy legs! By doing both, you’ll have full energy and vibrant health! Finally, remember to greet the rabbit god🐰 Two bows, two claps, and bow once more. 🙇🙇👏🏻👏🏻🙇
The omikuji fence is so adorable! In the heart of the observatory, you’ll find Tanuki Tea House. They’ve got yummy snacks and unique souvenirs! Rabbit omamori🐰 This lace omamori is so cute!!😍 Goshuincho (stamp book) It’s like a passport for your pilgrimage. It will be stamped with the shrine’s name and your visit date.
Mt. Fuji chocolate crunch Apparently, the blue fuji is more popular!😆 You’ll find many Fuji-themed goods. You might notice that many ornaments have the number 3776. You know what that means? That’s actually the elevation of Mt. Fuji’s main peak — 3,776 meters! It’s a cool little detail.
(Here is your rabbit dango.) Rabbit and Tanuki dango are popular snacks in the observatory. Rabbit dango is topped with brown sugar sauce and soybean powder. It’s super, super, super delicious!!!😍 They’re the best dango I’ve ever tasted! The dango are slightly chewy, but not too sticky.
And the balance between soybean powder and brown sugar is just perfect! Not overly sweet. Chillin’ with snacks and an epic view of Mount Fuji🎶 Life is good! Just a little further up is the Superb View Swing. The swing is a popular attraction. You’ll feel like you’re diving towards Mt. Fuji!
We’re at the highest observation deck. If the weather is good, you can see an unobstructed panoramic view of Mt. Fuji. There’s also a photo booth. It’s perfect for capturing a panoramic view of you and Mt. Fuji! When you are at Tenjosan, you may wonder…
Why there are so many statues of a rabbit and tanuki raccoon dog? Well, it’s all linked to an old Japanese folktale called “Mt. Kachi Kachi”. And Tenjosan is actually the setting for the tale. One day, an old man catches a troublesome Tanuki in his fields and plans to cook it later.
But when he’s away, the Tanuki killed the farmer’s wife and cooked her in a soup. A rabbit seeks revenge for the poor old man. The rabbit sets the Tanuki on fire, with the sound “kachikachi” and drowns it to death. The characters in the story may appear cuddly,
But it’s actually quite a dark cruel tale… The view from Tenjosan Park is really impressive! It’s a pity that we can’t see the snow hat of Mt. Fuji. We’re back to the ropeway entrance. There’s a mouthwatering aroma wafting from the cookie store!🤤 The cookies are all shaped like little Mt. Fujis.
They’re just too cute! These biscuits are a hit as gift or souvenir from Mt Fuji. The cookies got a variety of flavours and toppings. While you can find these cookies at Kawaguchiko Station, they don’t have as many flavors, and they’re sold in bundles.
White chocolate is used to resemble the snow on Mt. Fuji, It’s sooo adorable🥰 The most popular flavor is vanilla. They’ve got coffee drip bags too. Perfectly paired to enjoy with those delightful cookies! I bought the set of five-colored cookies and the Red Fuji coffee.
This coffee is smooth, latered, with a hint of fruity goodness. It’s completely free from bitterness and acidity! This combo is truely delicious! I highly, highly recommended it! Don’t miss the cookie store when you visit the Ropeway! As we wander around the Kawaguchiko Station,
We find many people carrying adorable Mt. Fuji paper bags. Following them, we find this adorable tiny bakery! They have the cutest toast and pudding shaped like Mt Fuji!🗻🩵 FUJISAN SHOKUPAN The shop is just 4 minute walk from Kawaguchiko Station. We buy the Mount Fuji bread. The packing is unbelievably cute!
We want to try the pudding too. Sadly, pudding is already sold out. The toast is soft, fluffy. Equally photogenic and instagrammable! In the afternoon, Mt. Fuji finally revealed itself behind the clouds! I’m totally in love with the sunset at Kawaguchiko!
When the soft golden light of the setting sun shine upon Mt. Fuji, it’s truly breathtaking🩵 It’s time to head back Tokyo. This is our first Mt. Fuji trip, and I can’t believe to be such a success!
Fuji is much more magnificent and beautiful when you see it in person than on the screen! On the return journey, do you remember which side of the bus to give a better view of Mt. Fuji? You got it! The right side! It’s a pity that we couldn’t snag a right seat this time.
So, out of all the incredible spots we explored, which one is your favorite? Share with me in comment below. Thank you for joining me on this trip to Lake Kawaguchiko! Do you enjoy it? If you enjoyed our journey, don’t forget to subscribe and give it a thumbs up! 🤗
See you next time!
We took a 2-day trip to the beautiful Lake Kawaguchiko for Mount Fuji and winter fireworks.
🕰️Contents
0:00 Intro
0:25 Shinjuku Tokyo ➡️ Lake Kawaguchiko
2:29 Torii gate in the sky
6:36 Houtou Fudou
8:22 Kawaguchiko Music Forest
9:13 Ryokan & Kawaguchiko Winter Firework
10:20 Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway
16:35 Mt. Fuji souvenirs
18:43 Ending
*Titles, descriptions and subtitles are automatically translated using Google Translate. There may be mistranslation or misinterpretation.
*Prices may change depending on the season or other conditions.
*The information in the video is as of the time we visited and may differ from the current situation.
🎵Music
Winter Magic by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-winter-magic
Music promoted by Audio Library https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBZPlSvscQc
📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakafter6/
#MountFuji #Kawaguchiko #JapanWinterTravel #JapanTravelVlog