The Perfect Kawaguchiko 2-Day Itinerary (Fuji, Japan)

Endless views of Mt. Fuji, hot spring hotels, and delicious Hoto noodles are what you can expect on a weekend trip to Kawaguchiko. If it’s your first time in Fuji Five Lakes, you must steal this Kawaguchiko 2-day itinerary!

Fujikawaguchiko (or Kawaguchiko) is arguably the best place to stay in the Fuji Five Lakes area, thanks to its connectivity and array of ryokans and restaurants.

One of the main draws of Fujikawaguchiko is Lake Kawaguchi, one of the biggest and closest lakes to Mount Fuji (and the easiest to reach from Tokyo).

But what is there to do and see besides photographing the lake?

If you’re like me, you’ll want to get out and explore a quieter, local side of Fujikawaguchiko while still seeing the must-dos and sees. This is where this itinerary comes in!

In this guide, I’m sharing my insider tips and recommendations for spending two days in Kawaguchiko.

Whether you are coming to Kawaguchiko from Hakone or on a weekend trip from Tokyo, here’s what you need to know before you go. Read more below!

How to Spend 2 Days in Fujikawaguchiko

🎟️ Mt. Fuji Pass: Purchase a Mt. Fuji Pass (1, 2, or 3 days available) to get unlimited rides on the Sightseeing Buses and free entry to top attractions!

🏡 Stay: Book your ryokan in Kawaguchiko on Booking.com—get discounts and free cancellation as a Genius Member.

🗻 Visit: Search for unique, guided tours to include in your Fujikawaguchiko itinerary—my favorite sites for Japan tours are Klook, Viator, and GetYourGuide.

📱 Connect: Stay online with an easy-to-use Japan e-sim for international data.

🚙 Get around: While you can use the bus and trains to visit the Mt. Fuji Five Lakes area, you’ll have more flexibility if you rent a car (international driver license required).

Day 1 in Fujikawaguchiko Itinerary

For your first day, get to know the views, coffee shops, photo spots, museums, art galleries, and parks around Kawaguchiko!

After checking into your accommodation in Fujikawaguchiko, head back to the station area to rent bicycles for the day and do a loop around the lake.

You can also follow the below-suggested route by rental car or bus (via the sightseeing buses) if you have a large group or are with small kids.

But if you want a classic Kawaguchiko experience, I recommend renting a bike!

Rent a Bike

There are a few places around town to rent bikes, but I found the best rates and service down the street from the station at 81 Cafe.

For a half-day, bike rental prices cost around ¥2000 ($13).

While the route around Lake Kawaguchiko is flat, the distance is quite long, so consider whether an e-bike or regular Japanese road bike is best for you.

A half-day bike ride around Lake Kawaguchi is about 20km and will take around 3.5 hours, not including time for breaks, visiting, or lunch.

Things to see and do on your first day in Kawaguchiko (either by bike or bus!) are:

• Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine — Mt. Fuji’s oldest shrine (699 AD), which was originally built on Fuji’s 2nd station before relocation to Lake Kawaguchi’s lakeside forest.
• Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway — stop for a break to ride the ropeway! (🎟️ get your ticket here)
• Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center (and museums) — A great area on the north side of the lake with museums and restaurants.
• Oishi Park — A beautiful lakeside park filled with flowers in bloom from spring to fall.
• Lawson Mt. Fuji store — A fun photo op on a clear day (ft. crowds!).

Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

Whether you start or end the bike loop at the ropeway, don’t miss it! This 3-minute ropeway ride takes you up to the peak of Mt. Tenjo where you can explore the hillside Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park.

On the north side of Kawaguchiko, beyond the ropeway, you also have the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum (kimono silk displays), the Living Center (where you can see Mt. Fuji and make local berry jam), the Music Forest Museum, the Konohana Museum, and the Maple Corridor, a beautiful area to visit during the fall.

Of course, on your way there, don’t forget to stop and snap a photo as you cross Kawaguchiko-Ohashi Bridge!

Oishi Park

Keep going, and you’ll find Oishi Park.

This park is one of the top places in Kawaguchiko to photograph Mt. Fuji, thanks to its rows of flowers (“Flower Road“), tall pampa grass, and fields of lavender (in the summer).

On the opposite side of the lake (south end) is Yagizaki Park, another great area to stop for photos, but this time of Rokkakudo—a little temple island you can reach on foot during low tide.

Fuji Sengen Shrine

My favorite stretch of road was on Kawaguchiko’s south side, between the town and Fuji’s oldest shrine, Fuji Sengen.

Along the way, grab the scrumptious maple butter toast at CISCO Coffee. Later, after the shrine, keep biking to follow up with tea and a pastry at Gris—one of the cutest coffee shops in Kawaguchiko.

I parked my bike at Fuji Sengen and spent 1.5 hours meandering the forest paths and “getting protection from evil” by tossing a Yakuwari ball into a bowl of the Satomiya.

From what I understood, the yakuwari ball is for warding off bad luck, similar to the kawarake nage, which is throwing small earthenware dishes (or balls) to break them. There is a little area in Fuji Sengen Jinja where you can purchase one for ¥200 and throw it in a basin!

If you’re feeling adventurous and get a head start on the day, you can e-bike all the way to Saiko Lake, where you can visit the bat cave and the Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba (Traditional Japanese Village).

Day 2 in Fujikawaguchiko Itinerary

Now that you know what Kawaguchiko offers, hop on the green or blue sightseeing buses to reach other lakes and attractions.

Onsens & Hoto Noodles

Alternatively, if you want to hang back in Kawaguchiko on day two, I recommend visiting a day-access onsen for non-guests and slurping down a piping-hot, cauldron-sized bowl of Hōtō noodles, an udon specialty of the Yamanashi Prefecture.

For a public hot spring with views of Mt. Fuji, check out Yurari.

There’s so much to choose from in the Fuji Five Lakes area, so be mindful of how you spend your time!

Unique things to do in Fuji Five Lakes

For more of an off-beat itinerary, visit:

• The Ice Cave in Aokigahara Forest (and the Wind Cave)
• Bat Cave (Lake Saiko)
• Fujisanhongu Sengen-taisha (Fujinomiya)
• Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba (Japanese traditional village, Saiko)
• Shiraito-no-Taki Waterfall

Popular things to do that you’ll find in most Fuji Five Lakes itineraries (but that get tons of crowds) are:

While these are beautiful areas and popular for a reason, they aren’t absolute must-sees (in my opinion). If the weather is gray and cloudy, you won’t get the iconic view of Mt. Fuji at Chureito Pagoda, and the effort it takes to get there isn’t worth fighting the bus and train crowds for.

Similarly, Oshino Hakkai is a traditional village famous for its eight ponds that fill with Mt. Fuji snowmelt. However, it receives an overwhelming amount of tourists. If you’re looking for something similar—and I’d say even more impressive—then journey to Lake Saiko, where you can walk back in time in the traditional Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba village.

What to Know Before You Visit Kawaguchiko

First, Kawaguchiko is one of the five lake towns around Fuji.

The other four lakes (left to right) are Motosu, Shōji (then Kawaguchiko), Saiko, and Yamanaka.

Fujiyoshida, the city closest to Mt. Fuji, lies between Yamanaka and Kawaguchiko, providing great accessibility and attractions if you’re based in either lake town.

Fujiyoshida is a city like any other, but its main attraction (other than Mt. Fuji itself and the Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park) is the world-famous Chureito Pagoda inside the Arakurayama Sengen Park, which you can reach in twenty minutes by train from Kawaguchiko Station.

And these towns and lakes are not clustered together or close by—it takes quite a bit of a bus ride (or drive) to reach all five, and you won’t be able to see and do it all simply due to travel times and crowds.

The second thing to note is that Kawaguchiko itself is large. Walking across town can take an hour on its own, so you will need to arrange some mode of transport.

I recommend bicycling around the lake as the main activity/mode of transport for your first day and carpooling or riding the Fuji Five Lakes shuttle bus lines (green, red, and blue) to reach other areas on the second day.

Lastly, eateries are limited and close early (sometimes even as early as 7 pm or 8 pm). Making reservations in advance is recommended, and you should expect long wait times at popular lunch and dinner spots.

Getting Around Kawaguchiko & Fuji Five Lakes (On Your Own)

Getting around Kawguchiko and the Fuji Five Lakes Area is a little overwhelming if you don’t have your own car.

Everything is fairly spread out, so getting to any one attraction will require using Fuji’s Sightseeing Buses. Crowds can be a headache, but if you know what to expect, it’s easier to navigate.

First, you’ll need to get a Mt. Fuji Pass or purchase tickets on the sightseeing bus routes. There are three lines, each color-coded:

Mt. Fuji Five Lakes Sightseeing Buses:

• Red
• Green
• Blue

On the Red Line, you can visit Mt. Fuji Ropeway, Kawaguchiko Herb Hall, Living Center/Oishi Park, and more. Essentially, this line takes you from town to the north side of Lake Kawaguchi.

The Green Line takes you along the south side of Lake Kawaguchi, stopping at the Fuji Omuro Sengen-jinja Shrine, and continues to loop around Lake Saiko and back. Take this line to visit the Fuji Shrine, Nenba traditional village, and the Saiko Bat Cave.

Next, the Blue Line will take you to Lake Shojiko and Lake Motosuko, the MotoMichi-no-eki Katsuyama shopping area, and the Ice Cave and Wind Cave.

Here is a map to view all of the stops!

Finally, there is the brown Fujikko-go F Line for Oshino Hakkai, Hana-no-Miyako Park, and Lake Yamanakako.

Local bus routes bound for areas beyond Fuji, such as Gotemba or Kofu, are available at Kawaguchiko Station, too.

Best Time to Visit Fujikawaguchiko & Five Lakes

Finally, remember that the availability (or closure) of attractions around Mt. Fuji Five Lakes varies depending on the season you visit.

For example, in spring and summer, expect lots of crowds, open hiking trails, and even Lake Kawaguchi boat tours, while in winter, the hot springs and Fujiten Ski Resort will be open and popular choices for things to do over places like Oishi Park and cycling.

Where to Stay for the Weekend in Kawaguchiko

Unsurprisingly, Mt. Fuji’s lake towns are loaded with ryokans and hotels with hot springs—most are located in Kawaguchiko because of its ease of access.

I suggest staying centrally in Fujikawaguchiko for convenience or on the north side of the lake, where you can easily take a bus back to the station.

Accommodation in Kawaguchiko isn’t cheap, but if you’re traveling on a budget, there are hostels (like this one) where you can crash and meet other travelers.

For hotels with hot springs, I recommend:

I stayed in an Airbnb outside of the center (about a 25-minute walk), and regretted it because there were zero dinner options which meant a trek back in the dark to my quarters each evening.

That said, if the purpose of your stay is to go a bit off-grid and enjoy Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji’s serenity, you’ll find great little cabins and tiny homes in the woods where you can rest and recharge.

If you’re looking for something a bit more rustic, check the numerous campgrounds and glamping sites speckled around the lakes, in particular Lake Saiko and Lake Motosuko, which are less developed.

If you don’t have a vehicle, being near Kawaguchiko Station for a quick 2-night getaway will make your trip much smoother as you’ll be conveniently located to the bus and trains.