5 Lakes in Yamanashi worth your time

The deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes, famous for its appearance on the back of the 1,000 yen banknote.

What it is

• The deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes located at the northwestern foot of Mount Fuji.
• A protected area within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• A high-altitude lake sitting at 901 meters above sea level with no natural river connections.
• A quiet destination where motorized boats have been banned since March 2006.

What to see

• The iconic view of Mount Fuji featured on the back of the 1,000 yen banknote.
• Clear waters reaching a maximum depth of 121.6 meters.
• Windsurfers and trout fishers active across the 4.70 square kilometer surface.
• Himemasu salmon originally introduced to these waters from Lake Towada in 1917.

Official site

motosuko.com

Read more about Lake Motosu

A deep volcanic lake and UNESCO site formed by Mount Fuji, featuring rare trout and the adjacent Aokigahara Forest.

What it is

• One of the Fuji Five Lakes formed by ancient volcanic activity from Mount Fuji.
• A designated UNESCO World Heritage site located at an elevation of nine hundred meters.
• A deep body of water separated from Lake Shoji by historic lava flows.
• The habitat where the previously extinct Kunimasu trout was rediscovered in 2010.

What to see

• The expansive Aokigahara Forest situated on the southern side of the lake.
• Clear waters reaching a maximum depth of over seventy-one meters.
• Rare Fujimarimo algae that grows within the lake ecosystem.
• An artificial drainage channel that connects the water to nearby Lake Kawaguchi.

Official site

www.saiko-kankou.jp

Read more about Lake Sai

A scenic UNESCO World Heritage lake at Mount Fuji's base offering hot spring resorts and the region's longest shoreline.

What it is

• One of the Fuji Five Lakes located at the northern foot of Mount Fuji
• A designated UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site within a national park
• Part of the Sagami River water system with the longest shoreline in the area
• Home to the Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen resort town

What to see

• Unoshima, a small island situated in the center of the lake
• The Niikura Dig-out, a 3.8-kilometer hand-dug tunnel completed in 1866
• Views of Mount Fuji from the northern shore of the lake

Getting there

• Public rail access is available via Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyuko Line

Official site

www.fujisan.ne.jp

Read more about Lake Kawaguchi

The smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes, offering a peaceful UNESCO-listed natural setting formed by ancient volcanic activity.

What it is

• The smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes by surface area.
• A UNESCO World Heritage site located within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
• Formed by lava flows from the Jogan eruption in the year 864.
• A high-altitude lake sitting 900 meters above sea level.

What to see

• Views of the surrounding mountains and the 15.2 meter deep waters.
• Local wildlife including crucian carp and smelt in the eutrophic waters.
• Shoreline views from Route 139 which runs along the edge of the lake.

When to go

• Visit during the annual national canoeing competitions held on the water.

Official site

shojiko-kanko.com

Read more about Lake Shōji

The largest and highest of the Fuji Five Lakes, offering World Heritage status and scenic views within a national park.

What it is

• The largest and shallowest freshwater lake among the Fuji Five Lakes.
• A World Cultural Heritage site located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
• The highest lake in the group and the source of the Sagami River.
• A former venue for road cycling events during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

What to see

• Natural marimo algae growing in the waters near the Hirano district.
• The only natural river outlet found among the five lakes surrounding Mount Fuji.
• Expansive views across a surface area of over six square kilometers.

Official site

www.yamanakako.gr.jp

Read more about Lake Yamanaka