KAWAGUCHIKO - A Lake of Autumn Foliage and the Shy Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, the iconic symbol of Japan, is notoriously shy, rarely gracing us with its full splendor. Those who manage to catch a clear view of Mount Fuji are considered exceptionally fortunate.

During the fall foliage season in Japan, there are many beautiful viewing spots, one of which is in the city of Kawaguchiko.

The journey began early in the morning at the Shijuku Expressway Bus Terminal, located on the upper floor of a building. It was surprising to see a bus terminal designed on an elevated level, an interesting concept that would likely only work in a country with good traffic discipline.

The scenic views from the bus revealed Mount Fuji intermittently. It wasn't shy at all! After enjoying the scenery for a while, we arrived at Kawaguchiko Station, which serves both buses and trains.

The station houses ticket counters for both trains and buses. We stopped by to check our return train tickets and purchase tickets for市内交通. The station also offers commemorative rubber stamps for visitors.

In front of the station, there is an old train on display for photo opportunities. The station's front displays the temperature, indicating a comfortably cool climate. The journey to the accommodation begins with a leisurely walk under the sun.

Along the way, there are also cute corners of the city. The traffic light poles have a hidden Mount Fuji symbol attached to them, letting you know that this is the city of Fuji. Even the fire trucks that pass by have the same symbol, in a bright red color.

After passing houses, we reached Lake Kawaguchiko, where our accommodation for the night was located.

Yamagishi Ryokan Hotel Fujikawaguchiko

Located by the lakeside, this ryokan-style hotel boasts a prime location, although it may be a bit dated.

Upon arrival, we left our luggage at the hotel and immediately embarked on a sightseeing adventure. Conveniently located near various shops and serving as a departure point for lake cruises, our hotel offered an ideal base for exploration. To combat the slight chill, we grabbed a hot canned coffee from Lawson. Initially skeptical about the quality of hot beverages from a vending machine, we were pleasantly surprised by both the taste and temperature.

Among the popular shops are Cheese Cake and Fujiyama Cookie, which offers a variety of Fujiyama-shaped cookies in different flavors. After indulging in the delicious treats, visitors can head to the bus stop in front of the shops to continue their sightseeing adventures.

The bus journey took us to the end of the line, allowing us to observe the overall atmosphere before retracing our steps to explore various points of interest. The bus came to a halt at the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center, which also houses a flower garden (although there were no flowers in bloom during our visit) and serves as a scenic viewpoint (though the view was obscured at that time, haha…). Additionally, the center offers snacks and souvenirs. We took a stroll and indulged in some soft-serve ice cream to combat the chilly weather. The wind there was quite strong, and the air was pleasantly cool.

Awarded World Beer Award (unknown organization) craft beer is also available for sale. So I bought a bottle to taste and then queued up to take the bus back. The first major tourist spot I visited was the Maple Corridor, a stream with maple trees lining both sides, gradually changing color, which is very beautiful.

"Nature, like a great artist, paints its beauty on this world for us to experience."

Walking along the riverside, some of the trees had already lost their leaves, especially the cherry blossoms, which were the first to fall.

While Sakura may not be showcasing her beauty today, each individual has their own time to shine and fade. Nature teaches us that every life must wait for its own moment.

I admire their concept of planting trees to decorate the city. The left side is lined with cherry blossom trees, while the right side is adorned with maple trees. Regardless of the season, people can visit and appreciate the beauty of both types of trees.

We stopped by the night market to grab a bite to eat. There were grilled fish, grilled oysters, grilled squid, and oden. The cool weather made us want to try everything.

As we strolled along, we came across numerous attractions. We stopped by the Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum, which houses a diverse collection of music boxes in various shapes and sizes. The museum also offers small concert performances, which have received positive reviews. However, I personally found the entrance fee of 1,500 yen per person to be a bit steep, considering our high expectations. The somewhat gloomy and subdued atmosphere may have also contributed to our disappointment.

Strolling through the scenic views, we spent the entire day at Kawaguchiko. Despite arriving, we couldn't catch a glimpse of the shy Mount Fuji. However, the surrounding landscapes were breathtaking. We decided to wait for the light-up show at dusk before returning to our hotel. During this time of year in Japan, darkness arrives early, with lights turning on around 4:30 pm. Our exploration was brief, as we needed to return for dinner at the hotel before 7 pm.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we entered our room, which was decorated in a traditional ryokan style. The beds were stored in a closet and would be laid out later. The room was simple and had a slightly retro feel. Fortunately, the hotel offered an onsen, but we decided to skip it for now. Instead, we quickly chilled some beers in the refrigerator, washed up, changed into yukatas, and headed downstairs for dinner.

After enjoying a refreshing beer, I soaked in the soothing hot springs and drifted off to sleep, hoping for clear skies the next day.

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Upon waking up this morning, I peered out the window to find myself enveloped in a thick blanket of fog. Oh, dear! It seems my trip may be devoid of the majestic views of Mount Fuji. How disappointing! With a heavy heart, I packed my bags and headed downstairs for breakfast.

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Eating only a bite or two of each dish. I feel sorry for the dishwashers.

After a satisfying meal, we ventured outside. The air had begun to clear, revealing a promising glimpse of sunshine. Eager to take in the panoramic views, we headed towards Mt. Tenjo, where the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway station was conveniently located within walking distance of our hotel.

Finally, the shy Mount Fuji revealed itself to us in all its glory. Some emotions cannot be captured by even the best photographs.

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After a while, we took the cable car down to explore and find a nice spot with a beautiful view to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Around noon, we returned to the hotel to check out and took the same bus back to the train station to return to Tokyo. This time, we traveled by train to experience a different atmosphere from the way we came.

Farewell to Mount Fuji this time

"We will meet again someday."

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