Are you slow traveling through Japan and looking to be in nature? You won’t want to miss this site on your must-visit list! If you’re not one for hiking but still want a good exploration, then continue on to let me tell you where to go for the best view of the most famous mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji! This one is for all the casual adventurers and photographers out there. We won’t be hiking Mount Fuji, instead, we will be admiring this sacred snow-capped peak mountain from a short distance across!

Mount Fuji is a stratovolcano, which means that it was formed by multiple layers of volcanic ash and lava. The last eruption of the mountain occurred in 1707, but it is still considered an active volcano. The mountain is known for its distinctive symmetrical cone shape, which has made it a symbol of Japan.

On this day, it was rainy and gloomy in the early morning around 7 AM when my friends and I arrived. By the late morning, the sky started to clear a bit. We could barely see the peak of Mount Fuji from the ground, but the dark gray clouds were slowly moving away as the bright blue sky became more apparent later in the day.

After breakfast, we strolled for a bit at Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine to admire the landmark as it is the oldest shrine in Mt. Fuji. It had been a peaceful morning so far.

The next idea is to get a closer view of Fuji-san and visit another tourist attraction over at Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center (ブルーベリーの里 河口湖自然生活館) This attraction is right by Oishi Park, where there is a wide space with paths and flowers to walk around and relax. The center and the park are right by each other. We parked at the Oishi Park parking lot which is in between both attractions. I would recommend trying their milky ice cream at the cafe inside if you get the chance. The ingredients are fresh and the ice cream is so creamy! Also, a great stop for a bathroom break before you explore some more. There are cute souvenirs in the center, so go ahead to take a quick peek inside!

If you enjoy walks or nature as much as I do, then you will enjoy walking around Oishi Park. We spent about an hour or two taking our time to admire the fresh after-rain air and surrounding views. As it was winter during the time that I visited, the colorful grounds that you would see in the warmer months, were not as present. Still, I could grasp the mellowness that I would usually feel when around blooming flowers. We stopped to take obligatory shots with Fuji-san in the background. Although the fog was doing a great job of blurring the huge stratovolcano, you can still see the sides curved outlines.

The day was getting a bit later and we headed to another spot to view Fuji-san. This time we are going to admire it from an almost parallel view.

We arrived at Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. You get another breathtaking view of the calming water and mountains all around you. Then, we walked up a slope to get to the cable cars that would take us across from Mt. Fuji. Most times, you can follow people going up to ride the cable car, if you’re not sure you’re going in the right direction. It is a popular tourist spot so the local people can also guide you. When you walk up to the ticket counter, the round-trip ticket for the cable car ride is 900 yen.

When you get to the top, there is a snack bar and restroom. There is also a short trail if you would like to hike. From this mountain that we are on, we get a beautiful parallel view of Fuji-san and the peaceful town of Fujikawaguchiko from above.

We observed the view for some time when I decided to spontaneously stay the night in this cozy part of town. My friend then helped me search online for accommodation with an onsen (温泉, natural hot spring). Apparently, the water in the onsens in Fujikawaguchiko comes from Fuji-san! Of course, this is an experience I don’t want to miss!

Making sure we keep track of time and don’t miss the last cable car to go back down to town, we finished our mini trail hike. We waited for the final cable car of the day to arrive at the top to pick us up.

Note: you can stay at this Ropeway for as long as you like, but keep in mind the time for the last cable car.

At the bottom of the entrance/exit of the cable cars, there are a few local market stalls selling snacks. We munched on some strawberries and they were the brightest and sweetest strawberries! Japanese strawberries are on another level!

From there, we drove to the hostel that my friend found not too far from where we were and the Kawaguchiko Station.

Thank you for reading this post! Look out for the next post where I tell you about the hostel I stayed at with an onsen sourced from Fuji-san, a popular traditional Japanese dinner, and a surprise fireworks festival!

For more ideas on what to do in Japan, check out Klook! It’s my favorite app to find discounted tickets for amazing tourist experiences.

Sincerely,
Amy♡