The lake below Mount Fuji is a beautiful one. The rope way journey near the lake gives fantastic view on the surroundings and Mt Fuji. The cruise in the lake is also very interesting

This is my 2nd visit to Fuji-Q Highland, and I was worried about how the day would pan out as my last visit was atrocious! However, let me say that today was a very pleasant surprise! I paid for the priority entrance, which gets you into the park 30 minutes early (which is massively worth it). Head for the big coasters first - Zokkon and Fujiyama, as they get the biggest queues! They have a lot of great attractions, but make sure you read the opening times of all attractions as some things do close at 1.30pm and some open later in the day. They do have a detailed maintenance schedule on their website, but the opening and closing times did catch me out on my last visit. Also, attractions will close early depending on the queue times (for which they make announcements around the park), so make sure to plan everything you want to ride in time. There are vending machines next to each ride to buy fast passes, which is handy at busy times! The food stalls in the middle of the park are great, I had the Indian food which was lush. They are well-priced, too. There are lots of vending machines all around the park. There are at least 5/6 gift shops with lots of cool merchandise. There is also a 7-Eleven outside the park! Great for fussy eaters or cheap snacks! When visiting, make sure to plan ahead and get there early for a head start as when it's busy, it can be very unorganised and stressful.

Oishi Park is a scenic park located in the Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan, near the shores of Lake Kawaguchi. It's famous for its stunning views of Mount Fuji, especially during the spring and autumn months. The park has beautifully landscaped gardens with walking paths, a lovely rose garden, and a great spot for picnics. One of the highlights is the Oishi Park Flower Garden, which blooms with a variety of flowers, including lavender, sunflowers, and chrysanthemums. During certain seasons, the park hosts various flower festivals. It's also a popular spot for photography, thanks to the breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and the tranquil setting around the lake.

I went at 5:30am in the morning thinking the crowd wouldn't be so bad. There definitely was a crowd there to see the iconic view of the pagoda and Mt Fuji. But the crowd wasn't too intense. Majority like minded "travellers". Too early for the mainstream tourist and influencer wannabes. The next time I think I would go just before daybreak and watch the sun rise over the majestic mountain. If you're thinking about taking the stairs up, it is a bit of a hike up, so be prepared. Don't be ashamed to have a stop and drink some water. There's a toilet at the top as well. And if you want the trail continue into the mounting going to the other side toward Lake Kawaguchi.

This remarkable attraction combines the charm of a meticulously crafted French village with an extraordinary collection of automated musical instruments, creating an experience that feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Modeled after French architecture, every building showcases beautiful Cinderella-castle-style design that provides endless photographic opportunities throughout the grounds. I arrived late in the day when Mount Fuji was completely obscured by clouds, having exhausted other sightseeing options, and entered more out of curiosity than expectation. What I discovered was far beyond anything I had anticipated. The admission fee includes access to scheduled musical performances featuring massive automated organs, live opera singers, and grand automated music organ concerts that demonstrate incredible engineering and artistry from a bygone era. What truly impressed me was witnessing the staff’s dedication during closing time, as they carefully maintained and adjusted the numerous antique automated instruments with obvious expertise and care. This daily ritual speaks to their commitment to preserving these mechanical marvels for future visitors, ensuring each performance maintains its magical quality. The gift shop offers an extensive selection of music boxes in various sizes and musical selections, plus unique items like violins. While perhaps not as comprehensive as Hokkaido’s famous Otaru music box shops, the quality and sound of their music boxes are genuinely beautiful and worth considering as souvenirs. The magical climax of my visit occurred when the clouds suddenly parted, revealing Mount Fuji in perfect view from the French village setting. This unexpected moment created an absolutely breathtaking backdrop that had every visitor frantically capturing photos of the stunning combination of European architecture and Japan’s most iconic mountain. The contrast between the French-style buildings and the majestic mountain created such a surreal, picture-perfect scene that it felt almost too beautiful to be real. This destination successfully combines cultural education, musical entertainment, architectural beauty, and natural scenery into one cohesive experience that appeals to visitors of all ages and interests.

Very nice BBQ Japanese setting serving a good variety of seafood and meats. I would recommend ordering ala carte unless you're a tofu, fishcake and rice ball person. The ambiance is relaxing and suitable for chit chatting or business executive discussion. Perfect place during winter.

We had lunch at this popular <i>tempura</i> restaurant after morning visit to Kawaguchi-ko area and about 30 minutes wait in queue in front of the shop. You just need to put your name on the wait list and when your number called, be ready. I ordered the assorted prawn / shrimp tempura with extra Yamanashi / Yoshida Udon. My wife got the cheap Udon + 1 shrimp tempura set, and an extra fried veggie <i>kaki-age</i>. All dishes are great, and the <i>tempura</i> were top notch. The batters were crispy but not oily so good frying technique is applied. The Yoshida Udon are thick, a bit firm and yet has nice chewy texture when you bite them. Good combo with the <i>tempura</i>. All dishes cost us around ¥ 5,300 after consumption tax. We got free cold water drink from the bar, so all costs are related to food dishes but they're still good value for your money considering good quality and portion. Please note that you can apply different salt condiments to your dishes as per your preferences, but we love the <i>yuzu</i> and <i>matcha</i> salts. You order dishes using the tablet ordering system and they have the English option. You can pay at the cashier using V/MC payment cards so another big plus for international customers. The restaurant is quite spacious and you can choose to sit on the bar like us or the table. The ambience is good and the place is bright and clean, good environment for family lunch.

I recently visited Hotokura Funari Kawaguchiko with my family and while the menu options were somewhat limited, the experience was still worthwhile. The highlight was definitely the stunning view of Mt. Fuji — absolutely breathtaking and a perfect backdrop for a meal. The food itself was decent, not particularly memorable but satisfying enough after a day of exploring. The hoto noodles were hearty and comforting. The restaurant is quite popular, so be prepared to queue for a bit, especially during peak hours. The interior has a warm, traditional feel, adding to the overall atmosphere. The staff were polite but seemed a bit rushed, likely due to the crowd. If you’re looking to enjoy a meal with a great view of Mt. Fuji, it’s worth a visit.

A little pricey, I thought at first. But then I realized it was definitely worth it! It cost 1,700 per person. Towels are included in the fee; there’s shampoo, conditioner, body soap, shaver in the baths. Not only is the view of Mt. Fuji great from the outdoor bath, but it was also so fun exploring the different baths they had - from the mist sauna and cave bath to the carbonated onsen and fragrant baths. Not sure if they change the herb in the fragrant baths, but it was lavender when we went, my favorite flower! Tattoos aren’t allowed, but no one’s checking and most people don’t mind nowadays as long as it isn’t too big and intimidating.

Was a rainy day around mt.Fuji and were just looking for something to eat. If you know me I love me some fluffy Japanese style pancakes 🥞. I mean you see it all over social media so it’s definitely worthy of a taste. Make no mistake this is some bomb pancakes, they do take 20 mins because they’re baked but nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I love blueberry but I’d have to say the plain is probably better because you can taste the sweetness of the pancake. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was too. You can grab your own refills of water and more parking on the side of the restaurant. If you’re in the area you definitely should check them out!