Without doubt, summer is the most anticipated season in Japan for those with a spirit for adventure. After all, summer marks the start of Mt. Fuji’s climbing season. Its majestic view is known worldwide and everyone who pays a visit to the Land of the Rising Sun desires a photo with Fuji in the background.
Lesser known than Mount Fuji and its seasonally changing faces is its neighboring town of Fuji Kawaguchiko where Lake Kawaguchio and Lake Saiko are located. The cheerful atmosphere surrounding the two lakes makes a strong impression on those who visit the town. Residents take a particular delight in sharing their privileged surroundings, welcoming visitors everywhere with a smile.
According to a famous legend, Dandarabochi, or Dandarabou, was a giant who built Mount Fuji in one night by carrying land up to the summit. While walking, though, he tripped and fell and caught himself on one hand. When he got to his feet, there were five depressions, left from his five fingers, in the ground and these became the five lakes of the Fuji Goko region: Lakes Kawaguchiko (the largest of the five), Saiko, Shojiko, Motosuko and Yamanakako. According to geologists, however, it is believed that the formation of Fuji Goko goes back to ancient times when Mount Fuji used to be an active volcano. The lava from the volcano spread into the region and formed natural dams which created the five lakes.
Shops and restaurants in Fuji Kawaguchiko cater to all - in particular those searching for the town’s delicious memaki, a kind of dried fish (wakasagi, or smelt) wrapped in kelp which is usually eaten during traditional festivals, or the mouth-watering dish houtou, a specialty noodle dish of Yamanashi.
The town is a sightseer’s paradise with buses offering tourist trips leaving from Kawaguchiko station throughout the day, allowing you to explore every place at your own pace.
For museum lovers the town offers everything from traditional kimonos at the Itchiku Kubota Museum, dolls with life-like expressions at Kawaguchiko Muse Hall; a museum of the post-war Japanese fashion precursor Junichi Nakahara and music boxes at the Ukai Kawaguchiko Museum just to mention a few. Naturally, photos and portraits of Mount Fuji taken from all angles and many locations are also available for viewing at the Kawaguchiko Museum of Art.
Lake Saiko also known as “The lake of the Maiden” is located in the west of the town. Though not as big as Lake Kawaguchiko, this lake and its surroundings are always charming tourists with a natural beauty that provides a great sense of serenity. Calmness and tranquility have been long preserved in the town with the blessing of Konohana-Sakuya-Hime, a goddess who is said to reside in Kawaguchiko Sengen Shrine—built in 865 in order to preserve the area against Mt. Fuji’s eruptions. The shrine is protected by seven cedar trees at the entrance which are also considered natural treasures of Yamanashi Prefecture. One place definitely worth visiting on your way to Lake Saiko is Komori-no-ana, or Bat’s Cave. Visitors are given the opportunity to explore a cave formed by lava and find a surprise at the end of the path.
Events held year-round make Fuji Kawaguchiko a particularly enjoyable town. Further, make sure to check your calendar before paying a visit as depending on the season you can partake in a variety of activities: cherry, blueberry and strawberry picking; extreme sports such as canoeing and paragliding; fishing; hiking or climbing and playing golf on a fantastic landscape.
When spending time in the town, one is given the impression of being sheltered from the outside world by the splendorous mountains; being untouched by the technological age or the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, one can appreciate the late afternoon sun sparkling on a lake, school children cheerfully having picnics, serenading your loved one or just wondering around.
Fuji Kawaguchiko’s combination of Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Saiko and stunning views of Mount Fuji grant people the ability to appreciate the town in many views and no matter how many times you have seen Mount Fuji, in each location and time, one notices that natural beauty is harmonious and memorable. For anyone interested in unforgettable experiences, it is the perfect place to visit.