Kawaguchiko 2 Day Itinerary: In the Shadow of Mt. Fuji

Mount Fuji is one of the most iconic places in Japan.  Images of Mount Fuji can be found all over Japan and it is used frequently in Japanese artwork.  Probably one of the most recognized depictions is that of The Great Wave off Kanagawa.  Mount Fuji is also known for its symmetry as a cone volcano and at 3,776 meters (12,389 feet) tall its peak is covered in snow for around 5 months of the year.  Mount Fuji is an active volcano and is the tallest mountain in Japan.  It last erupted in the early 1700’s, so if you fear when you hear that it is an active volcano, take comfort in that fact.  

There are multiple towns surrounding Mount. Fuji, and each offers a different view of the mountain.  There are many towns, but a few notable options of cities you can go to are: Fujiyoshida, Fujinomiya, Oshino Hakkai, and Kawaguchiko.

Where is Kawaguchiko

Mount Fuji is about 90 kilometers West-Southwest of Tokyo.  Kawaguchiko is a town on the Northern side of the mountain.  If you are in Kawaguchiko you can see the mountain from all around town.  But, of course, there are some “best” spots to view it from.  In this Kawaguchiko 2 day itinerary, you will learn from some of our family favorites from our visit used to create the best 2 days for you.

Day 1

Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway  

This is where, by far, you will get the best views of Mt. Fuji.  However, often the clouds are covering Mt. Fuji, and you can get up to the top of the Ropeway and not see anything.  We had to watch the clouds carefully during our visit and when we saw that it was a clear day we made our way to the Ropeway.  

I recommend trying to go up the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway the first thing in morning to make sure you have views without clouds!  If it is a cloudy day, you may need to move your itinerary around to fit in the Ropeway when there are no clouds.

The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway is open from 8:30-5:00.  You walk up to the ticket office and you can choose to buy round trip or one way tickets.  There is also a path leading back down the mountain, so if you choose a one way ticket up to the top, you can always hike back down.

Price

Round trip tickets are 1000 yen for an adult and 500 yen for a child.

One way tickets are 600 yen for an adult and 300 yen for a child.

After buying your tickets at the machine, you walk to the line to board the gondola.  The gondola takes you straight up the side of the mountain, so you can look out from the gondola and see the lake shining under you and the mountains in the distance.

Once you reach the top, you can see a temple, snacks, souvenirs and, of course, a lovely view of Mt. Fuji!  If you continue walking the path up the hill, you will get to an even better view of Mt. Fuji with less people.  Just follow the dirt path up the mountain until you reach another overlook.  We highly recommend leaving the crowds behind and taking the extra walk up the path to view Mt. Fuji from higher up the mountain.

Take your time walking around the top as you can leave whenever you want with your round trip ticket.  You just stand in line to get on the gondola again.

Ride on the Lake or Window Shopping

Once you arrive back down at the bottom of the Ropeway, you are back on the road that loops around Lake Kawaguchiko.  This is a wonderful time to experience the lake.  

You have several options

• Walk down the road and enjoy some window shopping, eating lavender soft serve ice cream, or looking out at the lake.  Kawaguchiko has many cute shops to peruse.
• Take a paddle boat or boat ride onto the lake.  The boats are on the water directly across from the ropeway entrance and you can get great views of Mt. Fuji from boating on the lake.
• Find a place to have lunch along the lake to enjoy sitting, eating, and looking out at the lake.

Dinner

There are numerous restaurants to choose from around the town of Kawaguchiko.  You can eat on the lake or along the main roads in town.  

As a family, we are always on the lookout for kid-friendly restaurants and we were highly impressed by Cafe Gusto Fujikawaguchiko.  We would recommend this chain of restaurants for those with kids because of their kid friendly menu, all you can drink buffet, and the robot who brings all your food to you!  

Day 2

Day 2 of your Kawaguchiko 2 day itinerary focuses on Japanese culture.  Children will love learning how to be a ninja and understanding the role ninja played in Japan in the past.

Ninja Village

Just a short bus ride from downtown Kawaguchiko is a ninja village, a perfect Japanese experience for kids!  Shinobi No Sato Oshino Ninja Village is a full experience to learn all about the art of being a ninja.  

From Kawaguchiko main station you can take the public bus directly to the ninja village in about 25 minutes.  It gives you a great view of the countryside surrounding Kawaguchiko and of course, Mt. Fuji will appear now and again throughout the trip in the distance, which is a treat! Read Stepping into the World of Ninja for a more detailed guide on this ninja village.

Oshino Ninja Village costs: 

Adults – Y1800

Elementary aged Children – Y1300

Preschool (3 and up) – Y1000

Under 3 – free

Opening hours in the summer are

9am-5pm.

There is a restaurant on site, but no other food in the area, so be prepared to eat an early lunch before you go visit or a late lunch after you are done.

The ninja village consists of:

• a ninja show
• ninja playground
• trick house
• gardens
• ninja lessons for the kids (for extra cost)
• ninja costume rental
• shuriken games (for extra cost)

This will take most of the second day of your Kawaguchiko 2 day itinerary.  You can choose to stop at another spot on your return trip to downtown Kawaguchiko or take the bus directly back to Kawaguchiko main station.  

Walk Across and Around Lake Kawaguchiko

If you have not walked across the lake yet, I strongly suggest finishing your second day with a walk over the lake.  The Kawaguchiko-Ohashi Bridge has a perfect view of Mt. Fuji when there are no clouds and the lake sparkles in the sun.  

The longer you have to walk around the lake, the more parks you can stop in to enjoy the views.  The parks are dotted along the lake, and several have shrines and signposts with information to read.

Dinner

Make your way back to Kawaguchiko for dinner, as there are many different options to choose from.  The town boasts a wide range of ethnic restaurants from Thai, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, and more.

If you are looking for Japanese options, those are also plentiful and walking through town, you will pass by a whole host of Japanese restaurants to choose from.

This Kawaguchiko 2 day itinerary gives you just a glimpse into this beautiful Japanese town sitting in the shadow of Mt. Fuji.  I didn’t understand just how magnificent Mt. Fuji was until I was there.  Use this itinerary to enjoy a trip to Kawaguchiko and you also can enjoy the wonder of Mt. Fuji.

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