Things to do in Yamanakako

Mount Fuji is one of those iconic places that never fails to impress. Seeing Japan's tallest mountain standing majestically against the sky is truly a memorable experience. I love how the scenery changes depending on the season, from cherry blossoms in spring to colourful autumn leaves and snow-covered peaks in winter. Every angle seems to offer a different postcard-worthy view! My personal tip is to allow some flexibility in your itinerary because the weather can affect visibility. If you're lucky enough to catch Fuji on a clear day, it's a sight worth remembering!

This place was SO much fun! I had the best time ever and enjoyed every single moment! 🤩🔥 10/10 experience and I’m definitely coming back for more! No doubt about it! 🎉✨

Oshino Hakkai is a charming town surrounded by stunning scenery, with a clear view of Mt. Fuji from the village. The history of this place is fascinating, especially the crystal-clear ponds, which are incredibly beautiful. The water is cold and clean, and we enjoyed watching trout swimming around, making it an unforgettable experience. We also tried some local food, including grilled fish, fresh fruit, and sweet treats. Additionally, we purchased some souvenirs at very reasonable prices. Absolutely love this place!

Lake Kawaguchi is a must-see when visiting, especially for those few days. I saw Mount Fuji from various angles every day. Photos of Mount Fuji are best taken on a clear day; otherwise, you might not be able to get a good shot.

Mt. Fuji Day - Everything went incredibly smoothly! I went out to catch the pre-booked bus to Mt. Fuji. I had allowed plenty of time because the travel guides said the boarding point was particularly difficult to find, but it turned out to be very close to my hotel; I just turned the corner and arrived! [Applause] After boarding, I found my seat was in the first row, with an unobstructed view of the bus window right in front of me! [Wink] Probably due to the excellent visibility around Mt. Fuji, there was absolutely no traffic that day. I woke up to find Mt. Fuji completely unobstructed before my eyes! [Please] So happy... A year ago, I watched Keko's "Neon Legend with Shoji" and was instantly captivated by the Mt. Fuji cycling experience... I included it as a must-do on this trip, and God was really kind to me, allowing me to fulfill my dream without any regrets TT I cycled along, stopping frequently, and randomly grabbed many people to take photos for me. Surprisingly, this shrine wasn't mentioned in the travel guides for Lake Yamanaka. I found it on the map myself and went to visit it; it's absolutely gorgeous... so beautiful that I went back there to sit after my afternoon bike ride, truly moved to tears by its beauty. After visiting in the morning, I was about to leave but decided to take a photo, so I went back to "catch" some people. I caught a group of Japanese guys, and after some semi-obstacles communication, I got a pretty good Polaroid photo and a travel photo that made me look taller. But I don't know if my reaction wasn't as enthusiastic as they expected, as they kept asking, "Is this okay?" Dude! The photo you took of me is one of the better ones taken by the others after me! Passing by Shiratori Beach, I saw swans and happened to meet a Japanese couple whose dog was about to fight with the swans—it was hilarious! In the end, the dog was forcibly dragged away by its owner. I then asked the woman to take a photo of me with the swans, and in the final picture, I realized how timid I looked! And then, my absolute favorite Polaroid photo from this trip! A group of girls who were also cycling stopped to admire the scenery. I went up to them and asked them to take a picture of me cycling on Mount Fuji. The composition was perfect, the image was perfect, and there was no overexposure. There was even a gust of wind blowing my hair. Oh, I admired the picture for a long time after taking it [smiling face][smiling face][smiling face]. Out of politeness, I also asked if she needed me to take a picture of them. She happily handed me her phone, and then I realized that a couple behind them were also with them. They were a family! So I took a picture of the five of them cycling with Mount Fuji in the background. One of the girls was very surprised when she saw the photo and kept saying "sugoi sugoi" [winking face]. When we said goodbye, all five of them rode over on their bicycles and gave me a high five. Oh my... I was in a really good mood [back to school season]. Also, while queuing for a restaurant where you can eat while looking at Mount Fuji, I met an adorable dog. I saw its little hat and asked the owner if it was its birthday. The owner said no, it was a carp's purse. It sounded familiar, but my brain didn't immediately register it. So I tried searching to see what holiday it was, and then the owner saw me and jokingly asked if I didn't know what "鯉のぼり" (koi no bori) was [crying emoji]. He then explained it to me in the simplest terms: it's Japanese Children's Day, but it's only for boys? The koi on the chest is a blessing. This shop definitely has a great view, and the pancakes are huge!

Watch the whole video. Japanese commentary. Bring the kids to experience it and he feels it is very fresh. You must book the tickets in advance. I thought I would buy the tickets on the day, but I accidentally saw that there was a ticket here and wanted to book it in advance. At that time, it showed that there were only 3 tickets for noon on a certain day in my itinerary in the week before and after, and the others were all booked.

As the cable car slowly ascended, the world outside the window gradually sank below. First, the rows of hotel rooftops appeared, then the lakeside road stretched out like a gray ribbon. Lake Kawaguchi below slowly revealed its full form—no longer just a glimmer of water, but a vast, warm, lustrous piece of jade, carefully cradled in the palm of the surrounding dark green mountains. The moment the cable car passed the treetops, Mount Fuji appeared. It was there, as if it had always been. The snow-capped peak that had required so much effort to look up from the lakeside was now almost level with my eyes. The clouds moved quickly, casting flowing shadows on the conical mountain, and the outline of the snow trembled slightly between the light and shadow, like a long, frozen sigh. At the foot of the mountain, the "Fuji Five Lakes" are like scattered mirrors, with Lake Kawaguchi being the brightest, reflecting the sky and the shadows of the mountains, as well as our slowly moving gondola—we look at the mountains, and the mountains also see themselves in its clear pupils.

This is the street leading to Mount Fuji. At the end of the road is Mount Fuji, which is integrated with the Japanese streetscape, making people feel infinitely close yet untouchable. It is so peaceful here, like a ladder to the clouds. Walking through it is a unique experience. It is also a popular check-in spot on Xiaohongshu and Instagram, and is very suitable for filming!

another beautiful scenery, just walking around with family and friends already taken many many photos there with the mountain

Summer Vacation Itinerary for Kids and Two Elderly People to Kawaguchiko - Day 3 [Smiling face][Grinning face] The day before, we split into two groups and visited the popular Lawson convenience store (Kawaguchiko Station store), the station crossing, and the Oishi Park on the north shore; FabCafe Fuji and Nikkawa Watch Shop in the "Ladder Town" area. The ladies did some street photography, while the elderly enjoyed a relaxing stroll. [Smiling face][Grinning face] On the third day, we were heading back to Tokyo. We bought bus tickets to Tokyo Station two days in advance (approximately one bus per hour from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM). Our hotel was near Tokyo Station. We booked return bus tickets for 1:30 PM; the online and offline prices were the same, and it was still possible to buy tickets two days in advance. Our hotel near Lake Fuji required check-out at 10 AM, and it was very busy, so late check-out was practically impossible. Therefore, we went for a boat tour on Lake Kawaguchi in the morning. It was only 400 meters from the hotel, the boat trip lasted 20 minutes, and cost only 40 yen – a great value! [Smiling face][Grinning face] After breakfast, we packed our luggage and left it at the hotel. The hotel uses a self-service luggage storage system with a transportation card. After swiping the card, one end unlocked a steel cable fixed to the wall, and after locking it, we retrieved our luggage using the transportation card – very convenient. We walked to the pier, where there was a small lounge for waiting for the ship. [Smiling face][Grinning face] The weather was great, and we could see the mountains. We could go up to the second-floor terrace on the deck for photos. If we didn't want to be in the sun, we could go back to the cabin where there was air conditioning. Everyone agreed that this itinerary was excellent. Autumn holidays are just around the corner, so those planning a trip should consider this itinerary. The morning is better for viewing the mountains. There are restaurants, a Kawaguchiko Fuji specialty cookie shop, a cable car, and more near the pier.