Best places to admire Mount Fuji from afar in Japan

Mount Fuji is one of the most photographed mountains in the world. From picturesque lakes to sandy beaches, find the mountain’s good side from one of these top viewing spots.

Hakone

Hakone is a popular onsen resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is home to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu, Japan’s most frequented national park. From here, visitors can capture clear views of Mount Fuji or landscape shots of the mountain peeking out over forests, lakes, and flowery hills. At the heart of the park is Lake Ashi—a scenic spot in its own right and home to Hakone’s iconic floating shrine.

Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko)

Lake Kawaguchi, or Kawaguchiko, is a lake in Yamanashi Prefecture on Mount Fuji’s north side. Surrounding the lake is a well-developed tourist area. Make your way to Kawaguchiko’s north side to capture that iconic view of the mountain reflected in the water’s calm surface. If you’re ready to see it up close and personal, you can access climbing trails for Mount Fuji from Kawaguchiko Fifth Station.

Lake Motosu (Motosuko)

If you’ve ever seen a 1000-yen bill, you might have noticed a little picture of Mount Fuji tacked onto the left side. This image is the view of the mountain from the north side of Lake Motosu (Motosuko), a picturesque lake west of Mount Fuji. The area is popular with kayakers, paddleboarders, hikers, and campers, but doesn’t see as much foot traffic as Lake Kawaguchi.

Lake Saiko

Saiko is another of the Fuji Five Lakes, along with Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Shoji, and Motosu. Here, make your way to Iyashi-no-Sato, an open-air museum that recreates an Edo-era farming village. Although views of the mountain are not as clear from here as the other lakes, it offers a lot of atmospheric charm and gives visitors a sense of what Mount Fuji looked like during the Edo Period.

Mount Takao

Mount Takao is close to Tokyo and home to some of the city dwellers’ favorite hiking trails. Located west of the city (and, therefore, closer to Mount Fuji), this mountain can offer climbers stunning views of nearby Fuji-san, especially on a clear day. A trip to Takao-san and back from central Tokyo can be completed in a single day.

See more: Top Japan destinations to visit during winter

Source: Internet