12 Popular Attractions in Yamanashi: Home of Mount Fuji

Yamanashi is a prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan, known for its beautiful natural scenery, including the majestic Mount Fuji, which sits on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. Other popular attractions in Yamanashi include the Fuji Five Lakes, Kiyosato Highland, and Shosenkyo Gorge.

1. Chureito Pagoda

Chureito Pagoda is a five-story pagoda on a hillside that offers clear, beautiful views of Fujiyoshida City and Mount Fuji in the distance. The pagoda stands on the grounds of Arakura Sengen Shrine and was built in 1963 as a memorial to peace. Reaching the shrine's main hall requires climbing almost 400 steps.

2. Lake Kawaguchiko

Lake Kawaguchi is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes, connected to Tokyo by train and bus. The eastern shore has accommodations and onsen with clear, beautiful views of Mount Fuji.

3. Fuji-Q Highland

Fuji-Q Highland is one of the most popular amusement parks in Japan, thanks to its stunning location with views of Mount Fuji. It offers many rides, especially its four record-setting roller coasters: Fujiyama, recognized by Guinness World Records in 1996 as the fastest and tallest coaster of its time; Dodonpa, built in 2001 to break that record; Eejanaika, a 4D coaster added in 2006 whose seats rotate during the ride; and Takabisha, built in 2011, the world's steepest roller coaster at 121 degrees.

4. Oshino Hakkai

Oshino Hakkai is a small village built around eight ponds in Oshino, located between Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako. The site was once a sixth lake that dried up 200–300 years ago. The eight ponds are fed by snowmelt that flows down the slopes of Mount Fuji and filters through porous lava rock over a period of more than 80 years, making the water exceptionally clear.

5. Lake Yamanakako

Lake Yamanakako is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes, developed into a small town with hotels, homestays, campsites, and restaurants along its western and eastern shores. Mount Fuji can be seen from all around the lake, and the most popular viewpoint is Panorama Dai on the southwestern shore. This viewpoint sits next to a parking area on the mountain road southwest of the lake, but no bus goes there directly. Visitors need to walk about 30 minutes from the Mikuniyama Hiking Course Iriguchi bus stop.

6. FUJIYAMA Tower: The New Viewpoint at Fuji-Q Highland

Fuji-Q Highland 富士急ハイランド takes its name from its location near Japan's most famous mountain. The park's FUJIYAMA Tower is a viewing tower built within its roller coaster structure. From the Fujiyama Sky Deck, visitors get an impressive close-up view of Mount Fuji, perfect for photos with the mountain as a backdrop. The tower offers 360-degree views and stands 55 meters tall. FUJIYAMA Tower is located just outside Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park, about a minute from the Kawaguchiko interchange and the "Fuji-Q Highland" bus stop on the highway median. From the tower, you can see rolling ridgelines leading down to the base of Mount Fuji, with the ground below covered in a sea of green trees set against a deep blue sky.

7. Momiji Kairo Maple Corridor, Kawaguchiko

Momiji Kairo is a beautiful spot for viewing autumn leaves near Lake Kawaguchiko. Maple trees line both banks of the canal, turning orange and red. Fallen leaves collect on the water below, creating a tunnel-like effect of maple leaves above and below. At night, illuminations light up the pathway. The event is usually held in November, open from 9:00 to 19:00, with lights on until 22:00.

8. Mount Mitsutoge

Mount Mitsutoge is ranked among Japan's 200 famous mountains and has recently been designated as a year-round hiking route. It has long been considered a sacred mountain, worshipped by followers of Shugendo since the Nara period, more than 1,000 years ago.

9. Lake Shojiko

Lake Shoji sits between Lake Motosu and Lake Sai. It is the smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes. Lava flow from Mount Fuji once split a single lake into these three, but they appear to still be connected by underground waterways, as all three sit at the same elevation of about 900 meters.

10. Oishi Park: Flowers with a Mount Fuji View

Oishi Park is one of the most popular viewpoints for Mount Fuji. Visitors can enjoy a 350-meter flower path that blooms from late April to early May, when a pink carpet of moss phlox spreads across the park. At the same time, rapeseed flowers bloom alongside it, creating colorful photo backdrops with Mount Fuji in the distance. Walking along the flower path with Mount Fuji in view makes for a wonderfully relaxing stroll.

11. Shosenkyo Gorge

Shosenkyo Gorge, also known as Mitake Shosenkyo, lies just outside central Kofu and is one of the most beautiful gorges in Japan. It is part of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which spans over 1,250 square kilometers of forest, mountains, valleys, and rural towns across Yamanashi, Saitama, Nagano, and Tokyo.

12. Saru-hashi Bridge

Saru-hashi Bridge is also known by the nickname "Monkey Bridge." Located in Otsuki City, it is one of the area's must-see landmarks. This wooden bridge is also ranked among Japan's three most unusual bridges.