Category: City Guides

11 Best Things To Do in Fujiyoshida (Other Than Mt. Fuji)

5/27/2024

Fujiyoshida is known around the world as being one of the best places to view Mt. Fuji - however there's plenty more to do in the area than just that! After our most recent visit we've put together this short list of the best things to do in the area - whether you're just visiting Fujiyoshida for one day or wanting to stay for a few nights - here's 11 things you won't want to miss.

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international!

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For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

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Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

Planning Your Visit to Fujiyoshida

Getting from Tokyo to Fujiyoshida is fairly easy once you know what to do (or have done it before). Because it takes about 2 hours, you can fit many things into a single day trip, but if you're able to I would recommend spending a night or two in the area - especially with how difficult the weather can be if you're hoping to see Mt. Fuji in all her glory.

In order to get your bus tickets, we recommend heading to the Shinjuku Bus Station early to purchase your tickets in person (you can also start the journey from Tokyo or Shibuya Stations). Our round trip tickets cost 2200 yen per person, and we were able to take the same bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko Station - the station located in downtown Fujiyoshida and within walking distance to many of the top attractions. Our bus made a few stops for bathrooms along the way and also had wifi during the entire journey - but it's important to remember the bus leaves right on time!

Our Favorite Tours in Fujiyoshida :
- Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway & Fruit Picking

Best Things to Do in Fujiyoshida

1. Cheurito Pagoda
Although this pagoda requires a 400 step climb to view it, it was honestly one of my favorite stops in Fujiyoshida and we would say it's 100% worth the physical exertion. . The views were incredible, and even though we had cloudy weather and couldn't see Mt. Fuji like you were supposed to - the view with the pagoda was exactly like one of the views you'd imagine when thinking of Japan.

The best part is the entire area is free to visit and is technically open 24/7, so you'll have no issues if you're wanting to go early or later in the day to avoid the crowds! To get here, we simply took a taxi from Kawaguchi Lake which cost us 2,000 yen.

2. Thomas the Train
Near the Cheurito Pagoda you'll find the Shimoyoshida Station (which is where you can catch the train back to the main Kawaguchiko Station in downtown Fujiyoshida). Here, you'll find the Thomas & Friend Train! There's one car that's permanently stationed here that you can tour while you wait for your train, and if you're lucky enough like us even your ride back downtown will be Thomas the Train themed!

3. Fuji-Q Highland Park
Honestly, just enjoying this theme park and seeing all that it has to offer could take you an entire day at minimum. There's Thomas Land, Fuji Konoha Village, Lisa & Gaspard Town, and epic rides in between. A one day pass averages about 8000 yen.

4. Fujiyama Onsen
The Fujiyama Onsen is open year round and costs between 700 and 1800 yen per adult depending on the day you visit. The amenities are very nice, and it's the perfect way to unwind and relax after dealing with the crowds of Fujiyoshida all day. They have two different admission times, a "morning bath" from 7am to 9am and "regular admission" from 10am to 11pm.

5. Enjoy the Fuji Shibazakura Flower Festival
Every year between April and June you'll find the Fuji Shibazakura Flower Festival - a festival celebrating the full bloom of Shibazakura, also known as pink moss. During the event you can find shibazakura themed products, souvenirs, and foods - and if you're lucky, expansive bright pink and purple fields of flowers with Mt. Fuji in the background.

6. Watch the Sunset
Unfortunately our bus back to Tokyo left right before the sunset. However, we could see the bright pink skies from inside the bus and could only wish that next time we'd have a better spot to view the epic sunset over Fujiyoshida. If you're planning to spend the night in this area or wanting to enjoy the sunset before heading back to Tokyo, I would recommend checking out the Cheurito Pagoda or near Lake Kawaguchi.

7. Fujiyama Cookie
If you're near the Panoramic Ropeway or Lake Kawaguchi, then of course I have to recommend stopping at Fujiyama Cookie. To be completely honest the cookies themselves weren't our favorite (it tasted like a plain sugar cookie) but because they were shaped like Mt. Fuji they were absolutely adorable. We tried the matcha and chocolate flavors, and honestly they tasted pretty similar.

8. Hotou Fudo
Chances are if you're planning to explore Fujiyoshida then you've heard of the famous Hotou Fudo (also spelled Hoto Fudo) noodle restaurant. Located right across the street from the bus station in downtown Fujiyoshida, in the off chance you haven't heard of it then you'll for sure see the line of people outside. At first we were a bit skeptical, but like we say usually the famous tourist spots are famous for a reason.

Their noodles bowls are huge and cost about 1,210 yen per bowl - with noodles that are all made in house and come with vegetables that are found locally. Honestly, Tyler and I both agreed that these were DELICIOUS - and is worth the wait.

9. Tempura Restaurant
If you're looking for another delicious place to eat, then head to Fuji Tempura Idaten - a.k.a. the best tempura ever. This spot can also get pretty busy, but if you're ok eating up at the counter and have a small group of just 1-3, then the service can be quick. Tyler and I tried the tempura shrimp, green pepper, zucchini, sweet potato, and fish cake - all of which were delicious - and they even have 3 kinds of salt to top it with! (Matcha, regular, and yuzu - aka lemon!)

10. Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
Unfortunately our ride on the gondola wasn't too panoramic
because of the cloudy weather, there was still a lot to do at the top that made for a fun little ride! Be warned, the gondola will be quite crowded, but if you're able to stand near the window then the views of the lake are quite beautiful. The ride takes about 3 minutes each way and costs about 900 yen for the roundtrip ride. At the top you'll find their little snack and tea house, swings with incredible views, and even a rabbit shrine!

11. Kawaguchi Lake & Boat Rides
Our very last recommendation if you're looking for something to do in Fujiyoshida is to check out the area surrounding Kawaguchi Lake. You can walk the shores, enjoy the views, or even get out on the lake! When we visited it was 1000 yen per person for the Pirate Boat ride, and 2000 yen per 30 minutes for the swan or flamingo paddle boats. If you visit in May, you'll also be able to catch the bloom of the pink & purple Shibazakura!

Watch our Adventures in Fujiyoshida here!