Things to do in  Fujikawaguchiko-machi

Located near Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi is the most easily accessible and developed of the Fuji Five Lakes. A popular day trip from Tokyo, Lake Kawaguchi offers plenty of natural beauty, access to Mt. Fuji and a variety of outdoor activities, as well as proximity to hot springs, museums, and other tourist attractions and amenities.

The dense Aokigahara Forest lies at the northwestern base of Mount Fuji, the iconic, near-symmetrical cone-shaped mountain that rises in eastern Japan. It's also the second-most popular destination for people intent on dying by suicide. Nevertheless, the forest is a peaceful place to hike and enjoy nature.

Lake Motosu (Motosu-ko) is the largest and deepest of the Fuji-go-ko (Fuji Five Lakes); most travelers in Japan will see it on the ¥1,000 bill. Fewer see it in person, though, as it’s fairly undeveloped and furthest from the popular towns around Mt. Fuji. That’s great news if you’re into outdoor adventures like hiking, fishing, and camping.

One of many temples across Japan associated with Mt. Fuji, the full name of this Shinto shrine—Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja—translates as the shrine on the mountain’s north side. It’s a traditional starting point for mountain climbing expeditions, but casual visitors can enjoy the serene 17th-century temple within a cedar forest.

For unobstructed views of the perfect snow-capped cone of Mt. Fuji, ride the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway from the eastern shore of Lake Fujikawaguchiko. It ascends 1,312 feet (400 meters) to an observation deck atop Mt. Tenjo at around 3,280 feet (1,000 meters). You can choose either a return ticket, or buy a one-way ticket up and walk the hiking trails down.

This open-air museum near Lake Saiko stands on the site of a once-thriving farming village that was destroyed in a landslide in the 1960s. The thatched-roofed buildings, modeled on the original farmhouses, are now home to craft workshops, restaurants, museums, galleries, and shops. Visitors can wander around and learn about traditional life and handicrafts.

Oishi Park is a small landscaped park on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi that offers great views of Mt. Fuji—when the weather’s clear. This inviting space is also known for its flowers, including lavender, tulips, and pink moss phlox, depending on the season. The on-site shop sells local berry products and ice cream, there’s a café, and you can pick berries in the summer.

The Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mt. Fuji is pockmarked with underground caves, created when Fuji erupted about 1,100 years ago. The Fugaku Wind Cave is one of these and is well set up for visitors. It is tube-shaped inside, formed when lava flowed through, and is quite cold, with an average temperature of about 37°F (3°C).

Itchiku Kubota was a renowned 20th-century textile artist who revived lost kimono-dyeing techniques. This museum in the Mt. Fuji area displays some of his wonderful textile work, and the setting itself is an attraction, with buildings made of wood, limestone, and Okinawan coral, surrounded by beautiful gardens and red pine forest.

Families and travelers who appreciate quaint, unusual collections will enjoy visiting Kawaguchiko’s Music Forest Museum, a small theme park dedicated to music boxes and automatic musical instruments. Peruse the antique music boxes and mechanical organs in the indoor exhibition spaces, then stroll through pretty European-style gardens with great views of nearby Mt. Fuji when the weather’s clear.

Lake Kawaguchi’s Maple Corridor (Momoji-kairo) is a row of beautiful maple trees framing either side of a canal. When the weather’s clear, line up the views properly and you can enjoy the sight of Mt. Fuji in the background and picturesque red leaves in the foreground. An annual leaf-viewing festival is held here in October and November.

Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace, on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi, beside Oishi Park, is a small shopping, dining, and landscaped garden complex. The herb and flower gardens are a pleasant place to sit with a drink or snack and admire views of Mt. Fuji, when the weather’s clear. It’s also an ideal place to shop for high-quality Japanese souvenirs.

Many underground caves were created at the foot of Mt. Fuji when the volcano erupted about 1,100 years ago. The Saiko Bat Cave is the largest of these, at over 380 yards (350 meters) long, and while you may not see a bat during your visit, you can admire the lava formations.

Lake Shoji (Shoji-ko) is one of the Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) around Mt. Fuji. It’s the smallest of the lakes, and largely undeveloped, especially in comparison to the busy Lake Kawaguchi. You can find a few hotels dotted along the northern shore, as well as a campsite, but it’s mostly a destination for peaceful hiking, fishing, and boating.

Many Fuji Sengen shrines are located throughout Japan—they’re Shinto shrines dedicated to the deity of Mt. Fuji. The Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine is the oldest of its kind in the Mt. Fuji area. Originally established more than 1,300 years ago, it has been rebuilt over the centuries following Fuji eruptions. The current building dates from the early 17th century.