Fuji-Goko Area富士五湖エリア
Yamanashi山梨県
Five lakes at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. A wide selection of museums and outdoor activities for every tourist.
Fuji-Goko is a collective term for the five lakes along the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, which towers at the border of southern Yamanashi and Shizuoka. The lakes are Lake Yamada, Lake Kawaguchi, Like Sai, Lake Shoji, Lake Motosu. The largest is Lake Yamanaka, the smallest is the Lake Shoji, the one with the highest surface altitude is Lake Yamanaka, and the deepest one is Lake Motosu.
Lake Yamanaka is a popular summer resort offering camping spots around the lake.
Lake Kawaguchi is the easiest to get to from Tokyo and is the core of sightseeing in the Fuji-Goko area. A classic-style bus runs along the lakeside carrying visitors to all the different museums and amusement facilities. Lake Kawaguchi is also known as the starting point for climbing Mt. Fuji, as well as a mecca for sports fishing.
Lake Sai is also called the "Lake of Otome (maidens)." In the surroundings, there is Aoki-ga-hara-jukai or the sea of forest that spreads all over the northwestern foot of Mt. Fuji, Sai-ko Bats' Nest Cave that is warm even in winter and Fugaku-fuketsu, or the wind caves of Fuji, where icicles bristle even in summer.
Lake Shoji has a great view from the Eboshi-dake Panorama Platform at the southwest. The reflected image of Mt. Fuji on the lake surface is known as the "Upside-down Fuji."
Lake Motosu is the deepest among the five lakes, with a depth of 138 meters, and prides itself on the outstanding clarity of its water. You can enjoy the same sight of Mt. Fuji from the north shore as it is drawn on the 5,000 yen bills.
Directions
From Tokyo :
[Rail] 1h 50 min from Shinjuku (Tokyo) via Otsuki Station (JR Chuo Line, limited express) to Kawaguchi-ko Station by Fujikyuko Line.
