 Most viewed - Fuji Kawaguchiko-machi 富士河口湖町 |
On the nearby shore, a few more maple trees.570 views
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Manhole at Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi.480 views
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Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi.461 views
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The gourds grown here are used for decorative purposes. Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, Lake Saiko, Yamanashi.448 views
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Southern shore of Lake Kawaguchi with a statue of two sister goddesses dancing over the lake. The sculptor was Gakuryo Nasu.405 views
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If you visit Lake Kawaguchi, you might as well visit Lake Saiko or Lake Sai, a short bus ride away. There are a number of tourist attractions like ice caves and bat caves.398 views
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On 2010, Lake Saiko garnered national attention when the native species kunimasu, a type of salmon or black kokanee, thought extinct for 70 years, was discovered in the lake.390 views
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Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, Lake Saiko, Yamanashi.386 views
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383 views
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Restaurant where we had lunch. The building was designed to look like clouds or snow on Mt. Fuji. Houtou Fudo Kitamoto Branch (ほうとう不動) near Lake Kawaguchi.361 views
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Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, Lake Saiko.342 views
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339 views
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The gourds grown here are used for decorative purposes.333 views
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Lunch was Hoto noodles, famous in Yamanashi Prefecture. Thick, flat udon-type noodles in delicious miso-based broth, mixed with cut vegetables. Also came with Inari-zushi. 329 viewshttp://www.houtou-fudou.jp/english.html
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Stuffed bear319 views
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Decided to visit Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, an outdoor museum of thatched-roof houses. It is one of the stops on the tourist bus circuit. 西湖いやしの里根場 318 views
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314 views
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In front of Kawaguchiko Station are a number of bus stops. A convenient tourist retro bus goes around the lake and neighboring lakes. I visited in autumn.312 views
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Inside Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyuko Line. Buses from Tokyo stop at Kawaguchiko Station as well as local toruist buses. Kawaguchiko Station is the area's transportation hub.307 views
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307 views
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Aokigahara Forest is on the northwestern foot/slope of Mt. Fuji. This forest is also known as "Suicide Forest" since some people have committed suicide in Aokigahara.301 viewsBut apparently not in the part of the forest we hiked in. Our guides assured us that we wouldn't see any bodies...(and we didn't.) This is our English-speaking guide from this company:
https://www.the-highestpeak.com/english
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In 2006, they opened this outdoor museum as a testament to the old villagers here. Over the years, they expanded and added more houses. There are now 20 houses.297 views
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294 views
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Maple and ginkgo trees on the southern shore of Lake Kawaguchi.293 views
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They allow you to walk around like this.286 views
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Next to Kawaguchiko Station is this tourist information office. Get free pamphlets, maps, etc. English spoken. Many foreign tourists also visit the Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji.283 views
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There are five lakes at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji known as Fuji Goko (富士五湖). They are easily accessible by bus from Shinjuku, Tokyo, taking 2-3 hours for around 4,000 yen round trip.282 views
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I caught a retro bus to go to the other side of the lake.281 views
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There are mostly tourist souvenir shops selling food and local crafts. One house sold ancient mochi (dark and red colored) and had an irori fireplace. Another house rented samurai armor and kimono to dress up in for only 500 yen.281 views
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In 1966, a big typhoon bringing heavy rains caused a mudflow that destroyed the homes here, killing 94 residents. The entire settlement was destroyed so the survivors moved to the opposite side of the lake.281 views
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2nd floor of this house had woodblock prints.279 views
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Wasabi garden.277 views
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Gourd garden at Lake Saiko's Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba.276 views
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Aokigahara Forest is on a large lava flow of Mt. Fuji, so the ground is solid lava rock. 275 views
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273 views
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About Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba. There used to be a real village here until it was destroyed by a typhoon. Residents moved away, and the village was reconstructed with thatched-roof homes. The museum opened in 2006.272 views
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271 views
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What in the world is this doing here, I asked myself at the end of the maple tree corridor. That's what I like about Japan, always something totally unexpected.269 viewsA Japanese Zero fighter plane??
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Growing wasabi with very clean water at Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nenba.269 views
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Southern shore of Lake Kawaguchi with gingko and poplar trees. I saw quite a few foreign tourists, including Chinese. It's a great weekend getaway for Tokyoites.267 views
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267 views
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266 views
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266 views
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Corridor of maple trees (momiji), but I was too early in Oct.264 views
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Morning view of Mt. Fuji from my room at Lake Kawaguchi. This is the only glimpse of Mt. Fuji I got during a cloudy and sometimes drizzly weekend.264 views
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About Fukurokuju. This area of the lake has seven shrines for all of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. 262 views
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Gourds growing at Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba. I was soon to find out why they are growing these gourds. (Not for eating.) Whenever I see gourds, it reminds me of Hawaiian hula because they are used as hand drums.262 views
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262 views
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Entrance to Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba. 261 views
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Southern shore of Lake Kawaguchi with a statue of two sister goddesses dancing over the lake. The sculptor was Gakuryo Nasu.260 views
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260 views
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Forest of Japanese beech trees nicknamed "Climax Forest." ブナ林260 views
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View of Lake Kawaguchi's northern shore.259 views
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My room where I stayed at Lake Kawaguchi. It had a sun deck which provided a good view of Mt. Fuji. I paid only 4,800 yen for the night without meals.257 views
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The outdoor museum is not huge, but big enough to spend a good amount of time. On clear days, it gives good views of Mt. Fuji.257 views
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256 views
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There are five lakes at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji known as Fuji Goko (富士五湖). They are easily accessible by bus from Shinjuku, Tokyo, taking 2-3 hours for around 4,000 yen round trip.256 views
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Ancient varieties of rice.256 views
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A few food stalls.255 views
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255 views
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Bus stop for the retro tourist bus.254 views
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Fire watch tower.253 views
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252 views
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Bird house.252 views
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252 views
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A house with an irori where we could have tea and sweets.250 views
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249 views
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249 views
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This house rented samurai armor and kimono to dress up in for only 500 yen. 249 views
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The second largest of the five lakes at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi is well developed for tourists. This is Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyuko Line. From central Tokyo, going by bus is more convenient, although traffic delays a always possible248 views
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ABout the statue of two sister goddesses dancing over the lake. The sculptor was Gakuryo Nasu.248 views
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245 views
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Two types of retro tourist buses. One goes to the other side of Lake Kawaguchi and one goes to Lake Saiko.244 views
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Lake Kawaguchi holds its autumn foliage festival (Koyo Matsuri) from late Oct. to mid-Nov. on the northern shore where there is a long corridor of maple trees. 243 views
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Statue of Kajiwara Kagetoki (1140-1200 梶原 景時) at Lake Kawaguchi. A warrior against the Taira.243 views
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Forest of Japanese beech trees nicknamed "Climax Forest." ブナ林243 views
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242 views
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Imagine living in a town with a view like this. This is Fuji-Kawaguchiko town near Lake Kawaguchi.242 views
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Most of the maple leaves at Lake Kawaguchi were still like this when I was there. They are late in turning color this year. Give them 10 more days. 241 views
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Souvenir shop.241 views
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Bus stops in front of Kawaguchiko Station. 240 views
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240 views
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Autumn leaves at Lake Kawaguchi (northern shore). The trees are also lit up at night during the Koyo festival.239 views
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239 views
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Train display in front of Kawaguchiko Station.238 views
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237 views
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Adjacent to the maple trees was this park or garden featuring small thatched-roof houses.236 views
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Herb Museum at Lake Kawaguchi.234 views
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Fukurokuju, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, is the god of God of wisdom and longevity.. 福禄寿232 views
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You can also catch a bus to Lake Yamanaka and to Mt. Fuji's 5th Station which is about halfway up the mountain.230 views
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230 views
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Nice Japanese-style room, but no Internet connection. I needed a break anyway.229 views
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228 views
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228 views
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226 views
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Panorama of the southern shore of Lake Kawaguchi.226 views
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Maple trees at Lake Kawaguchi. One of the few that was red.225 views
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224 views
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224 views
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Lake Kawaguchi is quite well developed for tourists with lodging, shops, museums, onsen baths, and tourist buses. It's the second most popular Fuji Goko lake after Lake Yamanaka.222 views
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218 views
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218 views
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There would be a view of Mt. Fuji from here. Most hotels are on the northern shore so they can see Mt. Fuji across the lake.217 views
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Museum at Lake Kawaguchi.217 views
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Lots of wildlife here too. Deer, bears, boars, woodpeckers, and squirrels. But we didn't see any, only their foot prints, digs in the ground, chipped tree trunks, etc.214 views
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Remains from a commercial activity.214 views
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This part of the cave had ice all over the bottom.214 views
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211 views
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Fuji Wind Cave first appears to be a big hole in the ground. It's a lava tube. You need a permit to enter. That's why having a licensed guide is good.211 views
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Getting out.211 views
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A small shrine dedicated to Fukurokuju, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. He is the god of God of wisdom and longevity. 福禄寿208 views
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204 views
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After walking about 15 min., we got to the Fuji Wind Cave (Fuji Fuketsu). This is the stone marker for it. 204 viewsThere's no "wind" in the cave. It's just a name. 富士風穴 (ふじふうけつ)
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Despite its reputation, Aokigahara Forest didn't look or feel spooky or scary at all. It looked like any other forest in Japan. 201 viewsThere are distinct trails and signs to follow. It's possible to get dangerously lost if you stray too far (more than 200 meters) from the trails. The forest has multiple trail entrances, and I was told a few of them have signs trying to discourage suicide.
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201 views
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Our guide gave us overalls, a helmet with headlight, and rubber gloves for this excursion. The cave entrance is narrow, steep, and dark. 199 viewsBut once inside, you can walk upright most of the way. This lava tube is about 230 meters long, 5 to 10 meters wide, 5 meters high (except for the small entrance). Advance permission is required from the local Board of Education to enter.
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After the lava tube, we hiked further and came to a nice forest of Japanese beech trees nicknamed "Climax Forest." ブナ林197 views
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196 views
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Inside Houtou Fudo Kitamoto Branch restaurant (ほうとう不動).191 views
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Strolling along the lake is pleasant for tourists.186 views
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Evening view of Lake Kawaguchi and Mt. Fuji from a hillside hotel.185 views
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The helmet headlight was essential to see where we walked on craggy rocks and ice. 183 viewsWhen we all gathered here at the end of the lava tube, our guide told us to turn off our headlights to see how dark it was. Yes, it was pitch black. Our ears then concentrated on the water drops falling from the ceiling. Great place to meditate. The temperature was near freezing, but we had enough clothing. I wanted to ask the guide what would happen if there were a big earthquake while we were inside. But I refrained from doing so because I didn't want to alarm the others...
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There are many lava tubes around Mt. Fuji. 159 viewsThis one is less touristy, and not to be confused with the more touristy ones called Fugaku Wind Cave (富岳風穴) and Narusawa Ice Cave (鳴沢氷穴) near Lake Saiko.
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