Lake Yamanaka

If you’re looking for a more peaceful, less crowded alternative to the busier Lake Kawaguchiko this is the place to be. Getting here was very straightforward. I took the Fujikyo Loop Bus which is very convenient. It circles the lake and stops at all the major scenic points and accommodation hubs. I highly recommend getting a 1-day or 2-day pass if you plan on exploring the area. It gets much colder here especially in the evening so definitely pack an extra layer. (I visited here in Autumn) ​Recommend heading out for a early morning walk. It’s the quietest time.

First thing first, for those who has the need to go to toilet often, if you are coming here by joining open trip from Tokyo, then the first thing you can do is go to the toilet first or you will spend your time in waiting line because another participants will go too. They only have 2/3 rooms for female (it should be 2, iirc). After that, you can freely roaming around the lake. The lake, is the prettiest lake I've ever seen. It looks like a crysta navy blue. I was lucky to experience where the color of the lake and sky were same. I really recommend you to visit this first in the morning. You can find the open trip who puts this location as their first destination of the tour (I used the package tour from Trip, this is not an endorsement). If you are lucky, you can see swans here! They got one of the prettiest swans I've ever encounter. And if you are lucky again, you can see Mt.Fuji from here too! It was really a wonderful experience. *the swan cruise looks really elegant but I don't know how to hop inside. But it was unlikely to hop due to tour time limit.

Views of Mt Fuji all along this lake is so beautiful on a clear day! Walking along one side of the shore looking at Fujisan is very relaxing.

I have been traveling since February 2025. The atmosphere there is very impressive. I recommend coming before 4:00 PM to enjoy the café and the view.

Cool quick stop on the way back to Tokyo. You get nice views of Mount Fuji along the drive, though some parts are a bit blocked by service lines. We managed to find a spot where you can feed the swans, and that area had a much clearer, unobstructed view of Mt. Fuji. The kids enjoyed feeding the swans. Worth a short visit.

Yen200 / pax to buy food for swan. Better view of Fuji peak in the morning. Tip: check their live cam on their website to make sure the view is clear before coming.

This is a bit out of the way from other four lakes and quite a challenge bicycle ride from Gawaguchiko station, but it’s quite worth it. The bike path along the lake side is well maintained and less car traffic. There are many restaurants and cafes to take a break. Swans are very beautiful and they can be easily spotted.

Stunning spot for views of Mt Fuji, swans, and boats. Largest lake in the area.