Lake Yamanaka Lake

Address: Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako), Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

Lake Yamanaka is one of the Fuji Five Lakes in Yamanashi Prefecture on Honshu and is the largest of the five by surface area. It lies on the eastern side of Mount Fuji and is a popular base for viewing the mountain, boating and lakeside recreation.

The shoreline has cycle routes, picnic areas, boat rentals and fisheries; sightseeing boats and short cruises operate from simple marinas and the nearby village supports accommodation and dining. The lake is frequented for day trips from the wider Mount Fuji area and for seasonal events such as fireworks and flower-viewing.

The lake is situated in Yamanashi Prefecture at the foot of Mount Fuji, with the village of Yamanakako providing the main visitor facilities and road access to the lake.

• Largest Fuji Five Lake: It is the largest by surface area of the Fuji Five Lakes and provides extensive, unobstructed views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
• Best viewing times: Early mornings on clear, windless days offer the best visibility of Mount Fuji reflected on the lake surface; winter months often provide the clearest views.

What to See#

• Yamanakako village: The main lakeside village and administrative centre that provides accommodation, boat hires, bike rentals and tourist information for visitors to the lake.
• Boat terminals and marinas: Public and private boat terminals on the lake that operate sightseeing cruises and rental boats for short trips around the shore.

Lake Yamanaka (Yamanakako) is one of the Fuji Five Lakes about 100 km west of central Tokyo and is commonly reached by car or by highway/local buses. By car it’s roughly a 1.5-2 hour drive from Tokyo via the Chuo Expressway/Otsuki direction and then local roads (Routes 138/139) to the lake; parking is available around the lake.

By public transport you can take JR Chuo Line from Tokyo to Otsuki, transfer to the Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko Station, then catch a Fujikyu bus that serves Yamanakako (bus terminal stops around the lake). There are also direct highway buses from Shinjuku that stop at Yamanakako; from the Yamanakako bus stops it’s typically a 5-15 minute walk to lakeside points and village facilities.

• Aim for early morning on the northern/eastern shore for the best chance to catch Mount Fuji reflected in the lake on calm days - photographers often stake out these spots at sunrise.
• Use the public buses that circulate the Fuji Five Lakes and the cycling path around Yamanakako to reach different viewpoints; the lakeside parks and smaller bays give better, less-crowded perspectives than the main tourist piers.