NEW! When Mt FUJI is Unmissable: Lake Kawaguchiko in 2 Days | Travel Vlog Guide 2025

NEW! When Mt FUJI is Unmissable: Lake Kawaguchiko in 2 Days | Travel Vlog Guide 2025

If you ever visit Mount Fuji, it’s best to 
keep your expectations in check. A notoriously shy mountain, there is an unfortunate 
chance you wont ever get a full view. So, we crossed our fingers for the 3 nights we’d 
booked in a region known as the Fuji Five Lakes, hoping to at least catch a glimpse, at 
some point. But, little did we know, we were about to see more of Mount 
Fuji than we ever could’ve hoped… So, in this video, we’ll share a relaxed 
2 day itinerary around Lake Kawaguchiko, the most accessible spot for those wanting to get 
up close to Japans favourite landmark. We’ll map out the perfect bike ride, whether it’s a cloudy 
day or not, coupled with local signature dishes you wont want to miss, tips for getting the 
most from THE number one Fuji photo shot in all of Japan (and no I don’t mean this one), and 
why despite the serenity of what may be the nicest theme park backdrop you’ll ever find, this was the 
most intense experience of my life. So buckle up, this is Suitcase Monkey with 2 full days 
around Lake Kawaguchiko and Mt Fuji. 🙂 From Shinjuku, Tokyo, it takes around 2 to 2 
and a half hours to reach Kawaguchiko Station by train. Arriving in the late afternoon, 
weather wise, it was an ominous start, and we quickly made way to our 
apartment to ditch our bags. And, if you like bunny rabbits, then boy have I 
got a place for you. For around ¥38,000 a night, it wasn’t flashy, but homely enough, and sleeping 
up to 9 people so works out better price wise for families. But, for us, we choose this apartment 
for its hopeful views of Fuji in the morning, and its easy access to the town, lake and station. As ever, this apartment and all places featured 
in this video will be linked via the QR code on screen or in the video description below for 
those wanting to replicate parts of this trip. Getting acquainted with our new neighbourhood, 
Lake Kawaguchiko is the second largest but most developed of the five lakes just North of 
Mount Fuji, yet despite this, it still maintains a peaceful countryside charm. Most of the time. 
Yes, it does have its pockets of tourist hotspots, but they’re pretty far spread out, a sprinkling 
of tourist attractions, shops and cafes here and there, typically relaxed and cosy, just make sure 
you hold back on your strong choice of perfume. After wandering our more immediate neighbourhood, 
dinner was served via the local supermarket, and this is something I recommend for anyone visiting 
Japan. You can typically grab a tasty bargain of a meal here, especially after 6pm where they mark 
some prices down for the fresh items. And so, fuelled for tomorrow, we made our way to bed, 
hoping for much more clear skies in the morning… Slightly in shock of how lucky we were, and 
wondering how long this would actually last, we rented a bike through our host, 
making a beeline for what we assumed would be the busiest stop for the day. 
And we were right. Shortly after opening, we waited around 15 minutes to board the 
cable car and then when leaving after 10am, this was 8 fold. But whether you arrive first 
thing or mid afternoon to beat the queues, it was a solid opener to jump start 
our half day bike ride around the lake… Cycling around the 18km perimeter of 
Lake Kawaguchiko was simply a joy. And I hope this comes through in this video, 
but it’s impossible to not constantly be kept in awe of this giant symmetrical 
mountain. It’s easy to see why the Japanese feel a spiritual connection 
with it. And I finally know what a new parent must feel like with a camera. Ah, 
what does Fuji look like from this angle, oh did you see what it just did? What if we 
dress it up just a little? It doesn’t get old. And whilst the western half of the lake 
offers a more secluded, rural experience, mostly driven on the road itself, the eastern side 
mixes in some dedicated bike lanes, along with multiple stops to take it all in. In truth, over 
the following 6 hours, we were on our feet or, let’s be frank, our arses, more, than we were, 
on our saddles. But, how could you blame us?… Our first stop was this super cute cheesecake cafe 
which was so smooth and light. This was also the first time we were introduced to everything 
here being tentatively linked to Fuji in some way. This cheesecake of course has Fuji powdery 
snow, your food and water is shaped in its image, your ice cream… well that’s just the, 
shape of ice cream, lets be honest, but even your road safety here is protected 
by this powerful form, it’s everywhere. Our second stop then, was a clear highlight. A 
local farm to table diner, serving seasonal menus from a converted 19th century home with veranda. 
Not only was it a win with its omnipresent backdrop, but the food itself was delicious; 
this tempura with its perfect light crisp and Chiaki loving their signature local dish. 
Hoto noodles are similar to udon in thickness, usually served in a miso based soup, but prepared 
more like dumplings, giving them a heavier, more fulfilling aftertaste. Oh and by the 
way, this was all whilst sitting comfortably in this heated table, known as a Kotatsu, 
which is super cozy on a January afternoon. Our final food pit stop was 
exactly what my energy tank needed, with this modern coffee shop, 
not too far from the main town… We ended our round trip with 
this perfectly placed foot bath, right at the point of completion. Although 
technically free, it’s suggested to purchase these towels from the adjacent hotel 
reception to support its offerings. And so, as clouds settled in and 
out for the rest of the evening, we wondered what this would mean for 
our plans tomorrow. Getting hopeful for another glorious day of weather, as we’d 
be travelling to Japans most iconic lookout… The 5 storey Chureito Pagoda forms half of one of 
the most well known photo stops in all of Japan. Whilst it is easily the main attraction here, it 
only forms part of the larger Arakurayama Sengen Park, which is worth a wander, including 
its small 8th century Shrine. Dedicated to the goddess of Mount Fuji, it’s considered 
her responsibility to keep the mountain from erupting. An achievement currently 
lasting, for more than 300 years. Fortunately it all wasn’t as busy as we feared, 
but that was probably helped again by this being January and that we arrived to the viewing 
platform for 8:40am. These single photo stops can often not meet expectation and whilst 
the time spent here was fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things, the feelings of this 
moment echos back every time I check my phone. It’s also only 15 minutes away from 
Kawaguchiko Station, with a little help from Thomas and friends, then a 20 
minute walk up to the viewing platform. The majority of the rest of our day was spent just 
enjoying the last few hours out of Kawaguchiko town itself, a tasty meal here, a quiet walk 
there. There was however one last stop before all of this. And that was Fuji Q Highland, which upon 
arrival I had no idea was about to blow my mind. I got off the station here, on my own, 
almost on a whim, just to see what it was all about. Although you can pay for an all 
day pass, you can also just pay per ride, so I entered via a free ticket on 
arrival. Now, you should know up front, that I am a thrill seeker when it comes 
to rollercoasters but my guard was totally lowered due to this picturesque backdrop, 
and the peace I associated with Fuji. But, it was upon seeing a Guinness 
Record for Worlds Steepest rollercoaster, I knew this place deserved my full attention. 
So I bought a ticket for said rollercoaster, Takabisha, still not really knowing what was 
ahead. For the most part it is your expected, adrenalin fuelled thrill ride, but the 
highlight comes near the end. After a vertical climb, which just keeps going, 
it prepares you for its 121 degree drop, after of course, a thoughtful pause to think 
about your life and the choices you have made… More than just a one drop wonder 
though, this was great fun, but even this didn’t prepare 
me for what was coming next. My final ride here, was, without question the 
most intense rollercoaster I’ve experienced in all my decades visiting theme parks. Eejanaika is 
described as a fourth dimension roller coaster, one of only 17 in operation around the 
world. Imagine a rollercoaster that has all the usual drops and inversions, 
only on top of this, the seat you’re in, can fully rotate 360 degrees on its 
own axis, spinning you in every which way and it’s intense but amazing. The ride 
starts with you going backwards, facing God, which seems appropriate, and then, well I’ll 
let you see for yourself… Although not for the faint hearted, this was so much fun but 
I’d recommend having your lunch afterwards. To end this video, I want to share a bunch of 
tips and suggestions that will make any visit to Kawaguchiko a lot more hassle free so let’s make a 
slight gear change here and begin with transport. The most affordable way to get to Kawaguchiko 
is by bus, departing from Tokyo or Shibuya Station. They take around 2 to 2 and a half 
hours, costing a little over 2,000 JPY. Train wise, there are 2 options with pros and 
cons. There’s a direct limited express train which only leaves 4 times a day from Shinjuku. 
This takes less than 2 hours, costing 4000 JPY but needs a mandatory seat reservation, so 
can be booked at the station, or online. For us, we ended up taking option 2, which was the 
more frequent local trains, taking the Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Otsuki Station, then changing 
for a limited express train to Kawaguchiko. Depending on your connection for this route, it will take under 3 hours, costing around ¥2,500 Apart from its relative frequency, since these are local 
trains, you can just tap with your IC travel card, whether thats on your iPhone or the physical card 
itself, so there’s no need to get reservations or buy physical tickets. I go more into how to set 
this up for an iPhone, which makes travelling around so much easier, in this video, which I’ll 
link at the end and in the description. Depending on your connections for this route, it will 
take under 3 hours, costing around 2,500 JPY. Upon exit, the station has loads of 
lockers just outside so you can leave your bags if you want to start exploring 
right away or for your eventual return. If it looks like they’ve run out, just 
keep walking and there’s loads more, closer to the 7-11. They take coins only, 
but there’s a machine to convert your notes. Coming out of the station, is the only time 
things can feel a bit chaotic here as people are waiting for a number of 3 different 
coloured buses. The red line runs every 15 minutes and covers most of the locations 
shown in the video so booking a hotel along this line will be the easiest to get to, outside 
of walking. For these buses, you would just enter via the middle doors and tap to pay, again 
either with your IC travel card or iPhone. For the best locations around accommodation, 
you have quite a few choices since the town is quite spread out. Ours could be reached 
by the green line, but our host offered a free pickup/drop off from the station 
which we took. Subsequently, we actually just walked to and from the station and the 
lake, since it was pleasant enough on foot. Other than where we stayed, anywhere here 
would be considered being along the main routes you would be visiting, whilst 
still close to the station. Otherwise, if you’re happy being a bit further away from 
the station, the north side of the lake is easily the best location for those wakeup views of Mount 
Fuji, since the lake acts as the foreground. I’ve linked a bunch of our favourite suggestions in the 
description below or via the QR code, along with direct Google Map links for all restaurants 
and attractions featured in this video. So, I’m about to talk about the weather and 
how that relates to Fuji so obviously take everything here with a pinch of salt, as the 
weather don’t run on rules. We’ve been to Japan two Januarys and Februarys in a row now and 
found this time of year, great for having the most frequent blue skies so take that for what 
it’s worth. It’s also a good off peak season, in general, once the early days of January 
has passed and outside of Chinese New Year. I’ve also read online that Fuji is often 
best seen in the morning and late afternoon, then covering itself with clouds in the middle, 
so take that for what it’s worth. Conversely, I’ve read that over the Summer going 
into September, due to the humidity, cloud cover is very common which leads 
me into my most important tip here. If you do stay anywhere near Mount Fuji, go there 
assuming you wont see it, as there really is a good chance you wont. Its stubbornness is 
part of its charm, like a cat who doesn’t like you. So keep that as your low expectation 
going in, and there is still plenty to enjoy. Again, check out this video for the most 
convenient way to travel within Japan. All hotel suggestions, restaurants 
and activities are linked on screen and down below in the video description. As 
ever, thanks for watching Suitcase Monkey.

In this travel vlog, we spend 2 days staying around Lake Kawaguchi, one of the most popular locations for seeing Mount Fuji up close. Lake Kawaguchiko is a couple of hours away from Tokyo and in this travel guide, we share what to do here for a short stay:

Visiting the famous Arakurayama Sengen Park Observatory with its iconic views of Chureito Pagoda, riding the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway cable car, renting a bike and riding the 18km perimeter of Lake Kawaguchiko, whilst visiting some of the best local food restaurants and cafes in the area.

We also share tips for where to book your hotel, how to beat public transport in Lake Kawaguchiko, getting to Lake Kawaguchiko from Tokyo, along with the best time to visit Lake Kawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji.

Visited in January
Shot on iPhone 16 Pro

👇👇👇 *Free PDF with EVERYTHING (more than I can fit here) linked which you can download and refer to:* https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YaEooN-he8csSogk449UHNlDE1iEdAow/view?usp=share_link

HOTEL WE STAYED

👉* Whole house we stayed in, suitable for up to 9 people. Beautiful views of Fuji from all windows – https://booking.tp.st/oX1DAxv5

👉* Affordable alternative hotel near the lake – https://booking.tp.st/uYHK8mM4

👉* Beautiful terraced villa alternative – https://booking.tp.st/CHUoOI1t

👉* Day trip to Kawaguchiko if you prefer a highlights tour from Tokyo: https://gyg.me/qIW1S1og

👉* An alternative day trip, visiting lots of iconic Fuji photo stops: https://affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=45118&aff_adid=1065707&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Factivity%2F126536-arakurayama-sengen-park-lake-kawaguchi-one-day-tour-from-tokyo%2F%3Fspm%3DSearchResult.SearchResult_LIST%26clickId%3Daee77a46e5

👉 VIDEO GUIDE for how to travel within Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto by putting Japan Travel Card Suica onto your iPhone: https://youtu.be/nf1-X3Wa7lg?si=EGquWr9vnRdIZBqd

👉* 10 – 15% discount for E Sim when travelling anywhere with Airalo link and coupon below (never expires so save for future):
https://airalo.pxf.io/c/2373656/1268485/15608

Use the codes after clicking when you checkout
Use code SUITCASE15 & get 15% off (new customers)
Use code SUITCASE10 & get 10% off (existing customers)

👉 Cheesecake cafe: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uXwUbsmaJfELyS7D8

👉 Lunch with terrace: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4gxSuZPJw992e9AF9

👉 Fuji-Q Highland Theme Park: https://www.fujiq.jp/en/

👇👇👇 *Free PDF with EVERYTHING (more than I can fit here) linked which you can download and refer to:* https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YaEooN-he8csSogk449UHNlDE1iEdAow/view?usp=share_link

👉 Suitcase Monkey Second YouTube channel for even more light hearted travel vlogs around the world:
http://youtube.com/@CarryOnMonkey?sub_confirmation=1

If you would like to support what we do on this channel:
👉 https://www.patreon.com/suitcasemonkey

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#mountfuji #lakekawaguchiko #traveljapan

00:00 What is Lake Kawaguchiko
3:10 Biking around Lake Kawaguchiko
6:52 Getting to Japans most Iconic Fuji View
8:54 Most intense Theme Park 🤯
11:40 Getting to Kawaguchiko & Public Transport
13:29 Where best to stay in Lake Kawaguchiko
14:18 Best months to see Mount Fuji