We really went all-in this trip to paparazzi the heck out of Mt. Fuji. We’d earlier, during our 2019 trip, taken photos of the mountain from Hakone. This time around, our photos have centered largely on Kawaguchiko. So here’s a tidy summary, along with our notes on each location we visited during this 2023 trip.
Waking up to an early morning view of Mt. Fuji from our hotel.Arakurayama Sengen Park. Fairly easy to get to, and the 15-minute climb up to the observation deck is doable. Just take it slow!Shimoyoshida Honcho Street: pretty easy to reach too, but you need a decent lens to get shots like this, and use a technique called photo compression.From Gekkoji Station. On the station platform, walk to the far end and there’s a spot where you can get a picture with this framing. Wait for the train to approach, and snap away. 🙂Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway. Fairly close to Kawaguchiko Station, but queues form early and very fast.Lake Kawaguchi Sightseeing Boat. Easy to get to, and the boat can take a fair number of people each time. Still, crowds also form.Fuji-Subaru Line 5th Station: the easiest way to get a close look at Mt. Fuji’s peak. Do check the bus departure timings from Kawaguchiko Station, and if you’re doing an afternoon trip, make sure you leave on the last departing bus back to Kawaguchiko Station. Alternatively, self-drive.Mt. Fuji from the Panorama-Dai Lookout. If you’re driving around the Fuji Five Lakes, then this lookout is pretty easy to get to, and you’d get a fabulous panorama of the mountain and the surrounding area. If you’re spending at least a night in Kawaguchiko, I recommend that you try to set aside half a day—even if you’re not driving—to make your way to this spot, and return to Kawaguchiko thereafter.From Nagaike Water Park. The view of Mt. Fuji from across Lake Yamanaka is pretty decent, and you can couple this with a visit to Panorama-Dai and squeeze it all in 4 hours.Mt. Fuji as observed from the top of Mt. Takao on a clear day. The distance between the two mountains is about 55 kilometers.
Love your photos.
Thanks neighbour! :)