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).
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.
Yuki Atae is a renowned Japanese doll maker who creates incredibly lifelike dolls of children, mythical creatures such as fairies, and people in traditional Japanese clothing. At this small museum devoted to his work, children and artistic grown-ups alike will enjoy browsing the collection of about 100 of Atae’s dolls.
