Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • - Now, this is a view worth traveling for.

  • Come on, let's see what else we can find.

  • The most accessible

  • of Fuji's five lakes, Kawaguchiko is just two hours

  • from Tokyo by bus or train.

  • With so many beautiful places to visit,

  • it makes a perfect day trip from Tokyo all year round

  • and is one of the best spots for viewing Mount Fuji.

  • (playful music)

  • Two of the easiest ways to access Kawaguchiko

  • are by the Limited Express Train

  • or the Highway Bus leaving from Shinjuku.

  • Both take just under two hours and transport you right

  • into the thick of things at Kawaguchiko Station.

  • Here you can find helpful tourist information

  • in English and this will be the starting point

  • for all transport around the lake.

  • We're ready to start going around

  • and seeing all the attractions and we were thinking

  • how are we going to do it?

  • Luckily, there is a sightseeing bus,

  • which you can buy a one day ticket for for 1,200 yen

  • from Kawaguchiko Station, and that'll get you all

  • around the different attractions that you wanna see

  • in this area.

  • All you need to do is take that pass

  • and show it to the bus driver each time you hop on the bus.

  • Easy as that.

  • Today we'll be visiting some

  • of the main attractions in the area,

  • most of which can be accessed

  • by the red line sightseeing bus.

  • However, for our first stop, Chureito Pagoda,

  • where you can see one of Japan's most famous views,

  • we'll have to hop on a train.

  • hop onto the Fujikyuko Line

  • for about 10 minutes until Shimoyoshida station.

  • From there, it's about a 20-minute walk to the Pagoda.

  • You can take any train

  • from Kawaguchiko Station, local or Express

  • but if you happen to get on the Limited Express train,

  • there'll be an extra 400 yen fee,

  • which can't be paid for with an IC card.

  • The walk from Shimoyoshida Station

  • to the Pagoda is well signed posted,

  • so no need to worry about getting lost.

  • We'd love to say it's an easy walk

  • but honestly, there are quite a few stairs.

  • If you prefer a less strenuous experience,

  • there's also a gradual path leading up the hill.

  • No matter which one you take,

  • I'm sure we can all agree the views are worth it.

  • If you've seen a better view of Mount Fuji,

  • let us know in the comments.

  • (lively music)

  • Next up, it's time to grab some lunch.

  • So let's head back Kawaguchiko Station

  • to try a local specialty.

  • (screen whooshing) (twinkling music)

  • Just across from Kawaguchiko Station is Houtou Fudou,

  • a popular restaurant selling a dish unique to the area.

  • So in front of us we have houtou,

  • which is a dish from Yamanashi.

  • It's flat noodles with vegetables and it's delicious.

  • - This restaurant has a few branches located

  • around the Kawaguchiko area,

  • all reachable using the sightseeing bus.

  • They're really popular with English menus, but do be aware,

  • you may have to line up to get in.

  • If you don't fancy noodles,

  • then another spot we recommend

  • is the Kawaguchiko restaurant Sanrokuen.

  • Here you can sit around a traditional Japanese hearth

  • and enjoy a whole range of delicious skewered food

  • cooked right in front of you.

  • Now that we're all filled up on noodles,

  • it's time to hop on the bus

  • and head around the lake for some sightseeing

  • where our first start will be Mount Fuji Panorama Ropeway.

  • (screen whooshing) (eyes buzzing)

  • As the name suggests, the Ropeway is one

  • of the best spots to get a panorama view

  • of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko.

  • If you want to maximize your chance of good views,

  • then coming in winter is your best bet

  • when the skies are generally clearest.

  • The lookout also has a couple of attractions,

  • including a tea house, a giant swing

  • for a great photo opportunity in front

  • of Mount Fuji and a pottery dish throw

  • where you have the chance to gain eternal love

  • and prosperity depending on your throwing skills.

  • Hey, good relationship.

  • The Ropeway is 900 yen roundtrip for adults.

  • You can also pair it with a boat cruise that starts just

  • across from the Ropeway entrance.

  • If you're using the sightseeing bus,

  • then you can even buy a set ticket

  • that includes the bus, ropeway and boat cruise,

  • which gives you a great price for all three attractions.

  • (screen whooshing) (beeping sound)

  • Just a couple of bus stops from the Ropeway,

  • the north side of the lake has an interesting collection

  • of museums and outdoor locations to check out.

  • One of the most peculiar is Kawaguchiko Music Forest,

  • a museum of a collection of automatic musical instruments.

  • If Japanese art is more your style, then close by

  • is a museum to devoted to the artist Kubota Itchiku,

  • a world-renowned specialist in the art of silk dying.

  • And if you're visiting in autumn,

  • then the nearby Maple Corridor is also a must-see

  • for the spectacular autumn colors.

  • For one of the best and most popular views

  • of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchiko,

  • take the bus to the end of the red line

  • and hop off at Oishi Park.

  • It's not hard to see why this spot is so popular

  • with beautiful views of lavender

  • in mid-June and vibrant red summer cypress in October.

  • The Natural Living Center (indistinct)

  • is a great place to shop for souvenirs and local produce

  • with a small cafe selling a wide selection

  • of ice cream flavors.

  • The Kawaguchiko area has so much to offer,

  • including other attractions,

  • such as the Fuji-Q Highland Theme Park.

  • We've shown what's possible on a day trip

  • but for even more recommendations

  • and up-to-date information on prices and opening times,

  • check out our article on Kawaguchiko as well.

  • We're finished for the day

  • and it's a great place to finish the day at Oishi Park.

  • It's pretty oishii.

  • Well, not edible, but you know what I mean.

  • Thank you for watching and please subscribe.

  • We've got a lot more guides coming.

  • See ya.

- Now, this is a view worth traveling for.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it