Fujigoko
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Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) is a beautiful natural area with majestic views of Mount Fuji, plenty of trees, and picturesque mountain roads. The five lakes that make-up the Fuji Five Lake Region are: Yamanako, Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko, and Motosuko. A stone’s throw away from Tokyo, Fuji Five Lakes is a fantastic place to escape the hectic, neon streets of Japan’s largest metropolitan center.
Places of Interest
Kachi Kachi Ropeway: If you’re looking to get an awesome view of Mount Fuji, definitely head to Tenjoyama’s Kachi Kachi Ropeway. This cable car will effortlessly transport you up the mountain to the observation deck, which boasts an impressive view of iconic Mt. Fuji. For those who find it difficult to walk up to observation points, Kachi Kachi Ropeway is a great way to see Mt. Fuji.
Tenjoyama: For those who are a bit more adventurous and seek a good workout, hiking Tenjoyama is a viable option. The hike up Tenjoyama seems quite feasible for the average person and would probably take about an hour or so to reach the observation point where Kachi Kachi Ropeway leads to.
Shibazakura Matsuri: This is an annual flower festival held at Lake Motosuko. The main attraction is the pink moss phlox flowers, which completely cover the fields in vibrant pink colors when in full bloom. With Mt. Fuji as an almost unreal-looking backdrop, people flock to the matsuri every year to celebrate spring. Check out more photos and details here.
Fuji Yuraru Onsen: Yamanashi has many onsen spots due to Mt. Fuji’s geothermal activity. One of these onsen spots is Fuji Yurari Onsen, which is located in Yamanashi Prefecture and has a sublime view of Fuji-san right from their outdoor baths! Yurari has 16 types of baths that integrate the ideas of feng shui and hado-art, including an open air bath, cave bath, and a Goemon bath (metal bathtub heated from beneath). The facility itself was impeccably clean and there was ample space for everyone who was bathing. More information about Yurari Onsen can be found here.
Ide Brewery: This local brewery has been making sake for about 160 years. They are known for their delicious “Kai no Kaiun” sake, which is made with Mt. Fuji spring water. The owners are incredibly kind and although their English isn’t too good, they definitely know their stuff about sake. To go on a tour, you should book in advance. I didn’t book in advance, but was able to stop by for a sake tasting where I learned a bit about the process of sake brewing and tasted four different types of their sake. They have more information on their website.
Café Greenhouse: Along Lake Kawaguchiko’s outer pathway, you’ll find Café Greenhouse nestled amongst other small shops. The café is located behind another shop, which leads to it. They serve smaller food items, like ramen and desserts, but their sign for lavender soft cream drew me in. The ice cream was so tasty: lightly floral and exceptionally creamy.
Chureito Pagoda: This is the five-storied pagoda that overlooks Fujiyoshida and Mt. Fuji. It is part of Arakura Sengen Shrine and was built as a peace memorial in 1963. It takes approximately 400 steps to reach the shrine’s main buildings and the pagoda itself. For more information, click here.
Ono Orchard: Located in Minami Alps, this orchard is a wonderful place to enjoy seasonal fruit picking. They are known for their cherries, which can be picked during the early summer season. You can make reservations online or by calling.
Narusawa Ice Cave: This ice cave was formed from lava a previous Mount Fuji eruption. It’s designated as a National Monument and is quite cool because the natural temperature is about 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) year around.
Travel tip #1: The Fujigoko area is a major tourist destination and has ample public transportation, shuttle buses, and bicycle rentals available. However, car is the most feasible form of transportation to seamlessly navigate the region.
Food
Hoto (houtou /“hoh-toe”): Hoto is a famous regional dish in Yamanashi. It’s a hearty and filling noodle soup based in a miso broth and packed with tons of vegetables. Hoto is considered a variant of udon, but many locals do not recognize hōtō as udon because the noodles are made similar to dumplings rather than the traditional process used for making udon noodles.
Shingen mochi: This is a Japanese dessert made from gyuhi, a particularly soft form of mochi sprinkled with tons of kinako powder and eaten with a sticky brown sugar syrup over it. Apparently, only the variety made by Kinseiken Seika Company in Yamanashi Prefecture can legally be called shingen mochi.
Kakigori: While wandering around the Lake Kawaguchiko area, I stumbled upon a kakigori shop (Japanese shave ice) called Sazanami. The ice itself is made with local Hakusyu water. Their shingen mochi kakigori was absolutely fantastic! They had several other flavors on the menu, such as matcha-adzuki and strawberry, too.
Tempura and soba: If you’re looking for an authentic and traditional place for dinner, pay a visit to Yabu in Fujiyoshida-shi. They serve Japanese favorites—tempura, soba, and udon—for a great price. Their assorted tempura and zaru soba set was quite filling; the tempura was battered and fried to perfection while the soba was chewy, fresh, and delicious. The menu is in Japanese and they don’t speak English, so be prepared to step up your Japanese upon entering.
Yoshida udon: A special type of udon in Yamanashi Prefecture, Yoshida Udon has a unique texture. The noodles are firmer and chewier than other udon noodles I’ve tried in Japan, but the dish itself is made more unique with the horse meat topping. I recommend trying this while in Yamanashi!
Curry udon: Udon is the noodle of choice in Yamanashi, so I figured why not try their curry udon. Curry udon is a wonderful union of savory Japanese curry and chewy, thick udon noodles. I stopped by the café across the street from Kawaguchiko Station and slurped up a bowl for only 680 Yen. The curry was slightly spicy and the perfect consistency, with small chunks of tender pork mixed in. The noodles were equally satisfying, making for a superb meal.
Blue Rose Soft Cream: Most areas in Japan have their own special flavors of soft cream, and this was the first time I had ever seen blue rose soft cream! They sell this flavor in various places throughout the Kawaguchiko area, but I got mine at Fujiyama Café in Kawaguchiko Station. Similar to the lavender soft cream at Café Greenhouse, it was super creamy, but the floral notes were a bit stronger.
Travel tip #2: It gets bitterly cold in Yamanashi during the winter months, and parts of the prefecture can become incredibly hot during the summer months due to regional topography. Choose your food wisely!
Accommodation
While in Kawaguchiko, I opted to stay at a hostel in Fujiyoshida called Mt. Fuji Hostel Michael’s. The owners are a husband and wife duo. Michael, the husband, is a New York native who has been living in Japan for over 20 years! There is a pub and restaurant on the ground floor of the hostel. The hostel itself is very clean and spacious. Additionally, the staff are quite friendly and helpful. It’s in a slightly rundown area of Fujiyoshida, but is in walking distance from Gekkoji Station.
Lakeside hostels and hotels are more expensive, but the view of the water and trees is quite beautiful. If you want more of a “vacation-feel,” I would stay at a hotel, but hostels are great options for backpackers and budget travelers. Check booking.com for more options in the area.