Fuji Five Lakes Guide: All Five Lakes

The Five Lakes at a Glance

The Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) ring the northern foot of Mt Fuji, and each has its own character: resort-style Yamanakako, easy and busy Kawaguchiko, and the near-wild western lakes, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko. Kawaguchiko is where most visitors stay and the easiest place to start from Tokyo. To go further, you rely on Fujikyu's color-coded sightseeing buses, or a car for the two lakes furthest west.

What to Know First

• Five lakes, five moods. From east to west: Yamanakako, Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko, ranging from the developed resort of Yamanakako to the near-wild shores of Motosuko and Shojiko.
• Getting between them takes planning. Beyond Kawaguchiko you use Fujikyu's three sightseeing bus lines (Red, Green and Blue) and the Fujikko bus. The Blue Line to Shojiko and Motosuko runs only every 1 to 2 hours, so those two lakes are far easier with a car.
• Go between November and February for the clearest views. In Fuji City's 2025 observations, the whole mountain was visible on about 79% of February mornings, while July and August had no view at all on 71% and 65% of days. The outlying lakes reward campers, photographers and hikers who want quiet.

Key Facts

• How they formed: lava flows from Fuji's eruptions dammed river valleys. Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko were once one lake, divided by the Jogan eruption of 864, and they are still linked by underground waterways, sharing a surface level of 900 m.
• Largest, highest and closest: Lake Yamanakako is the largest by area and the highest, with a mean surface altitude of 980.5 m (the third-highest lake in Japan); it is also the closest to Fuji. It is the most developed after Kawaguchiko and a leading Diamond Fuji spot. It is also the shallowest, at 13.3 m, and the only one of the five with a natural outflow, the Sagami River.
• Deepest and clearest: Lake Motosuko, 121.6 m deep (the ninth-deepest lake in Japan). Powered boats are banned, its northern-shore view is the one on the 1,000-yen note, it is a Yuru Camp pilgrimage site, and its deep water rarely lets it freeze.
• Smallest: Lake Shojiko, the least developed, prized for the "Kodaki Fuji" view (Fuji cradling a child) and quiet camping.
• Quiet, with caves: Lake Saiko, ringed by the Aokigahara forest, with the lava caves and the thatched-roof village of Iyashi no Sato Nenba.
• World Heritage: the five lakes are component parts of the Mt Fuji UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, inscribed in 2013.

Where the Lakes Are and How They Formed

The Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) are five freshwater lakes at the northern base of Mt Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, about 100 km southwest of Tokyo. They sit at roughly 800 to 1,000 m, inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. They formed during the Holocene, when basalt lava from Fuji's eruptions dammed ancient river valleys against the Misaka Mountains and broke larger prehistoric lakes into the five basins you see today. From east to west they are Yamanakako, Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko.

Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko were originally one large lake. A huge lava flow during the great Jogan eruption of 864 split it apart, and the remains of that flow now lie under the Aokigahara forest. The three lakes are still connected by underground waterways and so keep the same surface level, 900 m above sea level. The five are grouped as "Fujigoko" because they form an arc around the northern half of the mountain, all of them give mirror views of the peak (the "Sakasa Fuji", or upside-down Fuji), and all are listed as component parts of the Mt Fuji UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site (2013).

Each Lake's Character

Lake Kawaguchiko (河口湖)

The second-largest lake (about 5.7 km²) and the lowest, at around 830 m. It is the most developed and the easiest to reach from Tokyo, with a direct train or bus in about 2 hours, the classic reflection views, museums and plenty of hotels, ryokan and hostels. It suits first-timers, families and anyone without a car. Our Lake Kawaguchiko guide covers it in full, and our Mt Fuji viewpoints guide picks out the best spots on its shore.

Lake Yamanakako (山中湖)

The largest of the five by area (about 6.8 km²) and the highest, with a mean surface altitude of 980.5 m, the third-highest lake in Japan. It is the closest lake to Mt Fuji and the most developed after Kawaguchiko. It is also the shallowest of the five (maximum depth 13.3 m) and the only one with a natural outflow, the Sagami River. Its sightseeing boat is the swan-shaped "Swan Lake", a 20-minute cruise; it replaced the earlier "Princess Odette" in 2012. The lake is a leading spot for Diamond Fuji, the sun resting on the summit, at sunset in winter, and on calm days for the "Double Diamond Fuji" reflected in the water.

Water sports are everywhere: pedal swan boats, SUP, canoeing, fishing (wakasagi smelt in winter) and the amphibious "KABA" bus. A cycling path of about 13.6 to 14 km circles the lake (part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic road-race course), and swans spend the winter here; the Mt Fuji six key attractions day tour stops at Hirano Beach to see them (4.9★ from 344 reviews). There are museums, including the Yukio Mishima Literary Museum and Teddy Bear World, and onsen such as Benifuji no Yu. The six-spot Mt Fuji day tour from Tokyo starts with a morning stop at Hirano Beach on the lake.

Lake Saiko (西湖)

One of the quietest lakes and the second smallest, but the second deepest, at 71.7 m. Steep wooded slopes surround it, and its Fuji view is partly blocked except at the western tip. It is the gateway to the Aokigahara forest and its lava caves. The main cultural draw is Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba, an open-air museum of about 20 thatched-roof (kabuto-style) houses on the site of a farming village destroyed by a landslide in a 1966 typhoon; each house holds crafts, galleries, shops or food. Nearby is the Saiko Bat Cave (Saiko Komori Ana), at over 350 m the largest lava cave at the foot of Fuji and home to several bat species. The lake has campsites and an onsen, Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari (also called Fujiyama Onsen Yurari). The Mt Fuji, Chureito Pagoda and Oishi Park day tour includes the thatched village.

Lake Shojiko (精進湖)

The smallest of the five by area (about 0.5 km², with a 6.8 km shoreline and a maximum depth of 15.2 m) and the least developed, best for solitude, camping, fishing and photography. It is famous for the "Kodaki Fuji" (Fuji cradling a child) view, where the smaller Mt Omuro sits in front of Mt Fuji like an infant in its mother's arms, a composition you only get at Shojiko. In the Meiji era it was promoted abroad as the "Switzerland of the East". There are a couple of lakeside hotels on the north shore, campgrounds (Shojiko Jiyu Camp and Shojiko Camping Cottage), and a nature trail that circles the lake in about 45 minutes.

Lake Motosuko (本栖湖)

The deepest (121.6 m, ninth-deepest in Japan) and clearest of the five, known for its deep-blue "Motosu Blue". Its northern-shore view of Fuji, taken from the Nakanokura Pass, appears on the back of the Series E 1,000-yen note (2004–2024, still legal tender; the new 2024 note shows Hokusai's Great Wave instead) and on the earlier Series D 5,000-yen note (1984–2004). It is based on Koyo Okada's (1895–1972) 1935 photograph "Kohan no Haru" (湖畔の春, "Spring by the Lake").

The lake is often described as the only one of the five that never freezes, because its deep water stays above about 4 °C; at the least, it freezes far less than its shallow neighbors. Powered boats are banned to protect the water, so the surface is unusually still. It is a major Yuru Camp (Laid-Back Camp) pilgrimage site, with the real Koan Campsite appearing in episode one. Visitors come for camping, kayaking, SUP, windsurfing, diving and hiking.

The Five Lakes Compared

Getting Between the Lakes

Fujikyu Sightseeing Buses

Three color-coded lines leave from Kawaguchiko Station:

• Red Line (Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus): the east and north shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, including Oishi Park, the ropeway and the museums. Roughly every 15 minutes.
• Green Line (Saiko Sightseeing Bus): the south shore of Kawaguchiko and around Lake Saiko, including Iyashi no Sato Nenba, the Saiko Bat Cave and the Wind Cave. Roughly every 30 minutes, running one way (counterclockwise) around Saiko.
• Blue Line (Narusawa, Shojiko and Motosuko Sightseeing Bus): the Ice and Wind Caves, Lake Shojiko and Lake Motosuko. Only every 1 to 2 hours, with a limited number of departures a day, so plan around the timetable.

The Fujikko bus (F Line) links Kawaguchiko, Fujiyoshida, Oshino Hakkai and Lake Yamanakako, roughly hourly. Ordinary route buses also serve the more remote areas.

Unlimited-Ride Bus Passes

• Kawaguchiko–Saiko–Motosuko area pass: ¥1,500 for 1 day or ¥2,000 for 2 days, covering the Red, Green and Blue sightseeing lines plus ordinary buses in that area.
• Fujiyoshida–Oshino–Yamanakako area pass: ¥1,800 for 1 day or ¥2,200 for 2 days, covering the Fujikko bus and ordinary buses around Yamanakako.

Some guides still list cheaper "common coupons" for the sightseeing lines (about ¥1,300 for the Red and Green lines, or ¥1,500 for adults and ¥750 for children for all three over 2 days, sold at Kawaguchiko Station and on board). Fujikyu's own pass page no longer shows them, so plan on the area passes above and ask at Kawaguchiko Station.

Driving Times

The outlying lakes are far easier by car:

• Kawaguchiko to Yamanakako: about 9.2 miles (15 km), a 17 to 19 minute drive, against 30 to 40 minutes by bus, which runs only every 1 to 2 hours depending on the route.
• Kawaguchiko to Motosuko: about 50 minutes on the Blue Line bus.
• Shojiko, Motosuko and Saiko: each within a 10 to 15 minute drive of the others.

Cycling is excellent around Yamanakako, on a 13.6 to 14 km loop with bike rental on site, and around Kawaguchiko. Longer rides between lakes are possible but mean riding on roads.

Things to Do at the Outlying Lakes

Aokigahara, the "Sea of Trees" (青木ヶ原樹海)

A primeval forest of about 30 km² on Fuji's northwest flank, grown on the lava of the 864 eruption. It has a dark reputation abroad, but day to day it is a protected, ecologically important forest with well-kept, clearly signposted walking trails that are safe for beginners. The key rule is simple: stay on the marked trails. The iron-rich volcanic soil can make compasses and GPS behave unpredictably, mobile signal is unreliable off the paths, and the basalt absorbs sound, which gives the forest its deep quiet. Wear sturdy shoes for the uneven lava, tell someone your plans, and consider a licensed guide; the guided Aokigahara forest walk and lava-cave tour on Viator is rated 4.9★ from 270 reviews. The main loop linking the three lava caves takes about 4 to 5 hours at a moderate pace; the Aokigahara Caves Trail is roughly 5.8 miles (9.3 km).

The Lava Caves

All three are national natural monuments. Helmets are provided or recommended, and sturdy, non-slip shoes are essential.

• Narusawa Ice Cave (鳴沢氷穴): a vertical lava cave about 153 m long that drops some 21 m underground, formed by the 864 eruption from the Mt Nagao flank vent. Inside it averages about 0 to 3 °C all year, and ice pillars can reach 3 m (largest around April). Admission is ¥350 for adults and ¥200 for children. Open about 9:00 to 17:00, varying by season, with last entry around 30 minutes before closing.
• Fugaku Wind Cave (富岳風穴): a horizontal lava cave, 201 m long and 8.7 m high, which you can walk in about 15 minutes; inside it averages about 3 °C. Until the early Showa era it was used as a natural refrigerator for silkworm eggs and seeds, and its basalt walls absorb sound, so there is no echo. Same prices as the Ice Cave; seeing both costs ¥700 for an adult. If you are coming from Tokyo for the day, the Mt Fuji, Lawson and lakes day bus tour includes entry to either the Ice Cave or the Wind Cave (4.3★ from almost 10,000 reviews).
• Saiko Bat Cave (西湖蝙蝠穴): the largest lava cave at the foot of Fuji, at over 350 m, with branch tunnels. It stays at around 10 to 12 °C all year. Open about 9:00 to 17:00 in season, it closes every year from December 1 to March 19 to protect hibernating bats. Admission was raised on March 20, 2024 and is now about ¥350 for adults and ¥200 for children (some English guides still show the old ¥300 and ¥150). People with heart conditions and older visitors are advised not to enter, because of the difference of more than 20 °C between inside and out.

Camping

The outlying lakes are the area's camping heartland:

• Koan Campsite (Lake Motosuko): the Yuru Camp holy site on the north shore, with lakeside pitches facing Fuji, forest tent areas and cabins. It is free-form, so you find your own spot. The adult camping fee is reportedly about ¥600, and a tent-and-tarp pitch runs about ¥3,100 (weekday afternoon) to ¥4,000 (weekends and holidays). Coin showers cost ¥100 for 2 minutes and the bath ¥500. Cash only, no equipment rental, and no convenience store nearby, so bring supplies. The vehicle gate closes at night, and swimming is banned because the lake drops off suddenly to great depths.
• Motosuko Camp-jo (Lake Motosuko): a larger, casual site at about ¥2,500 per tent per night, no reservation needed.
• Shojiko: Shojiko Jiyu Camp and Shojiko Camping Cottage on the north shore, quiet with little light pollution, good for stargazing.
• Saiko: several campsites, including one beside an onsen.

Hikes with a View

• Panorama-dai (near Shojiko and Motosuko): a ridge viewpoint at about 1,325 m on Mt Sanpobun, reached by a steep climb of about 50 minutes from near Shojiko Campground. It has the classic view of Fuji over the Sea of Trees, with the Kodaki Fuji composition. The trail continues toward Eboshi-dake and down to Lake Motosuko. The Blue Line bus stops at Panorama-dai-shita. Several viewpoints in the area are called Panorama-dai; this one is not the Panorama-dai above Yamanakako.
• Mt Mitsutoge (三ツ峠山, 1,785 m): a demanding day hike near Kawaguchiko with one of the best Fuji views in the area. There are two main routes: from Mitsutoge Station (harder, about 15 to 17 km with 1,200 to 1,400 m of climbing, 6.5 to 8.5 hours) or from a trailhead about 25 minutes by bus from Kawaguchiko Station (about 12 km with 750 m of climbing, about 5.5 hours). Best in the cooler months. The bus to the trailhead runs once a day and not in winter, when a taxi costs about ¥6,200. There is a mountain hut with vending machines near the top. The station-to-station trail was reported closed on AllTrails recently, so check its status before you go.

On the Water at Yamanakako

Boating, canoeing, SUP, windsurfing, the jet-ski-towed "Hurricane Boat", and wakasagi (smelt) fishing in winter.

Passes for the Wider Region

• The two area bus passes above: the cheapest way to hop between lakes. The Kawaguchiko–Saiko–Motosuko pass (¥1,500 for 1 day, ¥2,000 for 2) suits anyone staying around Kawaguchiko or Saiko and dipping into Shojiko and Motosuko; the Fujiyoshida–Oshino–Yamanakako pass (¥1,800 / ¥2,200) covers the east side.
• Mt. Fuji Pass (Fujikyu): for foreign passport holders only. Unlimited Fujikyu buses and trains around the whole Mt Fuji area, plus free or discounted entry to attractions such as the ropeway, the Ice and Wind Caves and Fuji-Q Highland. Adults pay ¥7,500 for 1 day, ¥10,200 for 2 and ¥12,400 for 3; children 6 to 11 pay half. Best if you are also going to Fuji-Q Highland and several paid attractions.
• Fuji Hakone Pass (Odakyu): ¥11,100 for 3 days, combining the Fuji Five Lakes buses and trains with Hakone's transport and a round trip from Shinjuku. Best if you are doing both areas.
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass: ¥16,000 for 3 days since March 14, 2026 (it was ¥15,000). It covers the JR route plus the Fujikyu line to Kawaguchiko, and suits wider Kanto day trips. Our Tokyo to Mt Fuji transport guide compares the routes from the city.

A Two-Day Lake-Hopping Plan

Day 1: Kawaguchiko, Saiko and the Caves (Fine by Bus)

• Morning: arrive at Kawaguchiko Station and take the Green Line toward Lake Saiko.
• Late morning: Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba, for the thatched village, crafts and views of Fuji across the lake.
• Midday: the Fugaku Wind Cave and Narusawa Ice Cave (¥350 each for adults; bring a jacket, as it is about 0 to 3 °C inside).
• Afternoon: a short Aokigahara nature trail between the caves, staying on the marked paths, or the Saiko Bat Cave (seasonal: closed December 1 to March 19).
• Evening: back to Kawaguchiko for an onsen and dinner; try hoto noodles.

Day 2: Shojiko and Motosuko (Car Strongly Recommended)

• Early morning, for the best light and calm water: drive or take an early Blue Line bus to Lake Shojiko for the Kodaki Fuji view, with an optional climb to Panorama-dai (about 50 minutes up).
• Midday: on to Lake Motosuko. Walk the north shore to the 1,000-yen note viewpoint, then climb to the Nakanokura Pass observation deck (about 20 to 30 minutes uphill from Koan) for the banknote composition.
• Afternoon: kayaking or SUP on Motosuko (seasonal), or a Yuru Camp stop at Koan Campsite.
• Without a car, staying on the east side: spend Day 2 at Yamanakako instead, with the swan boat, cycling, Hana no Miyako Park and Diamond Fuji in winter, using the Fujikko bus.

Because the Blue Line runs only every 1 to 2 hours, Day 2 works far better with a rental car. Without one, either commit to the bus timetable or swap in Yamanakako.

When to Go, and Bus or Car

Best Time for Lake-Hopping and Fuji Views

November to February gives the clearest views. In Fuji City's 2025 observations, the whole mountain was visible on 22 of 28 February mornings (about 79%) and completely hidden on only around 7% of days, while July and August had no view at all on 71% and 65% of days. December to February is best for a sharp, snow-capped Fuji; late October to mid-November for autumn leaves (the Kawaguchiko Momiji Corridor); late March to mid-April for cherry blossom; and mid-April to late May for the Fuji Shibazakura Festival near Motosuko, about 500,000 moss phlox plants with Fuji behind (in 2026 it ran from April 11 to May 24, with adult entry of ¥1,000 to ¥1,300 depending on the date). In season, a Fuji Shibazakura Festival day trip from Tokyo on Viator pairs it with the Saiko thatched village (4.7★ from 57 reviews). Mornings, before about 9 or 10 a.m., are almost always clearer than afternoons, as cloud builds around the summit through the day.

Diamond Fuji at Lake Yamanakako runs from roughly mid-October to late February, and the village holds its Diamond Fuji Weeks from February 1 to 22 each year, along with an Ice Candle Festival at Yamanakako Communication Plaza Kirara. At Lake Motosuko, Diamond Fuji happens at sunrise, notably around New Year's Day from Mt Ryugatake. The lakes are much cooler than Tokyo all year, and winter nights drop to around −5 °C. Our best time to visit Mt Fuji guide has the month-by-month detail.

Public Transport or a Car?

• Easy by public transport: Kawaguchiko (very easy) and Yamanakako (highway bus or Fujikko bus) are simple without a car. Saiko is on the Green Line, and the caves are on the Green and Blue lines.
• Car strongly recommended: Shojiko and Motosuko are served only by the infrequent Blue Line (every 1 to 2 hours) and ordinary buses, and the Nakanokura Pass trailhead and the lakeshore campsites are much easier with your own vehicle. Renting a car in Kawaguchiko or Kofu gives you the most freedom for the western lakes and back-road viewpoints. If you would rather not drive, a private Fuji Five Lakes tour on Viator takes in the western lakes by car (4.8★ from 61 reviews). Winter roads can be icy, and parking usually costs extra.

Which Lakes Suit You

• First visit, short on time or no car: base yourself at Kawaguchiko and add Yamanakako. Both are easy by public transport and cover the best-known sights. Buy the bus pass for the area you will use most.
• Photographers and anyone after solitude: put Shojiko (Kodaki Fuji, stargazing) and Motosuko (the 1,000-yen view, Motosu Blue) first, at dawn. Rent a car, go early, and visit between December and February for the clearest air.
• Campers and outdoor travelers: head to Motosuko (Koan Campsite for the Yuru Camp experience with Fuji views) or Shojiko, and combine it with the Aokigahara cave-to-cave hike from Saiko.
• Choosing a pass: if you are only hopping between lakes by bus, an area bus pass is far cheaper than the Mt. Fuji Pass. Buy the Mt. Fuji Pass (¥7,500 or more a day) only if you are also doing Fuji-Q Highland and several paid attractions, and the Fuji Hakone Pass only if you are adding Hakone.
• When the plan should change: if the visibility forecast is poor (check the SeeMtFuji or isfujivisible apps that morning), switch to the caves, the forest, an onsen or a museum, none of which need a clear peak. If you cannot rent a car, drop Shojiko and Motosuko from a 2-day plan and substitute Yamanakako, so you are not stranded by the sparse Blue Line timetable.

Before You Go: What Can Change

• Prices, hours and bus timetables change by season. The Mt. Fuji Pass prices are Fujikyu's figures as of November 2024. Check current fares before you travel.
• Some prices come from secondary sources and may vary, including the Koan camping fees and the Saiko Bat Cave admission (raised from March 20, 2024; some English guides still show the older ¥300 and ¥150). The Bat Cave's temperature of about 10 °C comes from visitor reports rather than an official figure.
• Lake measurements differ slightly between sources. Motosuko's depth, for example, is 121.6 m in most authoritative sources, including Yamanashi Prefecture, but 138 to 140 m in some older references; the figures here follow the prefecture's data.
• Trail status changes. The Mt Mitsutoge station-to-station trail was reported closed on AllTrails; check before you hike.
• Aokigahara is described here purely as a nature and hiking area. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support; in Japan, TELL Lifeline (English) is on 03-5774-0992.

Fuji Five Lakes FAQ