Lake Kawaguchiko is the easiest first choice from Tokyo. The other four lakes suit a longer stay, a quieter trip or a particular interest.
The Fuji Five Lakes, or Fujigoko, lie north of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture. They are Kawaguchiko, Yamanakako, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko. Many visitors see the name on a map and assume they can easily visit all five in one day. In practice, each lake has a different feel, and the buses between them are not one continuous sightseeing loop. Japan's national tourism organisation identifies the five and describes their different attractions.
If you are travelling from Tokyo for the day, choose Kawaguchiko and perhaps one additional area with a deliberate transport plan. If you have two or three days, the other lakes become much more appealing.
The five lakes compared
| Lake | Best for | What to expect | Without a car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawaguchiko | First visit, convenient Fuji views, museums and cafés | Most developed sightseeing base | Easiest: train and highway buses reach Kawaguchiko Station; local Red Line bus |
| Yamanakako | Open water, activities, a longer lakeside stay | Largest lake, separate side of the area | Reachable by regional bus, but not on Kawaguchiko’s Red Line |
| Saiko | Forest, caves and a quieter lakeside | More nature-focused, fewer resort-style stops | Green Line bus from Kawaguchiko area |
| Shojiko | Small-scale scenery and a less built-up setting | Smallest of the five lakes | Blue Line service; check return times carefully |
| Motosuko | Clear water, camping and the famous ¥1,000-note view | More remote western lake | Blue Line/regional services to selected stops; plan precisely |
These are trip-planning recommendations, not rankings of natural beauty. Mount Fuji's visibility depends on weather at every lake.
Lake Kawaguchiko: the best first lake
Choose Kawaguchiko if this is your first visit to the Fuji area or your only day away from Tokyo. It has direct transport from Shinjuku, a station that functions as a regional hub, and several different ways to spend the day. The north shore gives the familiar lake-and-Fuji composition; near the station you can reach the ropeway and sightseeing boat; museums, cafés and accommodation offer alternatives when clouds hide the mountain. The national tourism organisation describes it as the easiest of the lakes to access from Tokyo.
Its convenience is also its drawback. Oishi Park, the ropeway and buses can be busy in blossom season, autumn foliage and good viewing weather. Go early, walk a little beyond the most crowded viewpoint, or stay overnight so you can enjoy the lake at a slower pace.
Best one-day plan: A lake viewpoint and one activity, with time for lunch. See our one-day Lake Kawaguchiko itinerary. If you would prefer someone else to handle the transport, the Tokyo day tour with the Kawaguchiko ropeway and Oishi Park covers the ropeway and the north-shore viewpoint in one booking.
Lake Yamanakako: the largest lake
Yamanakako is the largest Fuji Five Lake. It suits visitors who want more space around the water, an overnight base or a few days of outdoor activities. The JNTO Fuji Five Lakes itinerary suggests it as a place to stay and explore.
Yamanakako is not the next stop on Kawaguchiko's Red Line bus. It lies in a different direction from Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko. If you are using public transport, check regional buses via Kawaguchiko or Fujisan Station and choose one part of the shore instead of assuming you can casually circle the lake. A car is useful if your plan includes several stops around the perimeter.
Without a car, the simplest way to see both lakes in one day is a guided coach: this Tokyo day tour that starts at Lake Yamanaka and later stops at Oishi Park on Lake Kawaguchi reaches Yamanakako first, for the morning reflection. For activities based at the lake itself, browse Lake Yamanaka tours and experiences.
Choose it over Kawaguchiko if: You want the largest lake and a more outdoor-centred stay, and are willing to plan transport around your chosen activity.
Lake Saiko: forest, caves and a quieter day
Saiko sits west of Kawaguchiko and has a noticeably more nature-focused feel. The surrounding Aokigahara forest, lava caves and lakeside areas give you more to do than simply photograph Fuji. The town tourism office's four-lakes feature highlights the lake's woodland setting and nearby caves; JNTO notes that Fuji views from Saiko are best sought on the western shore, since they are not visible from every spot around the lake.
The Green Line Saiko sightseeing bus links Kawaguchiko Station with selected Saiko stops. Check the current bus timetable and the final return before heading into an area where cafés and transport may be spread out.
For a guide in the woods, compare the Aokigahara Forest walks and tours; most have only a handful of reviews so far, so read recent feedback before booking. Private day tours that can add the Narusawa Ice Cave, one of the lava caves near Saiko, are listed under Narusawa Ice Cave tours; most build a custom itinerary, so confirm the cave is on yours. The Tokyo day tour with Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba gives you an hour in the traditional village beside Saiko, but it does not visit the caves.
Choose it if: You want a forest-and-lake day, perhaps with a cave or traditional village visit, after you have seen Kawaguchiko's main sights.
Lake Shojiko: the small, quiet lake
Shojiko is the smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes, with a largely undeveloped feel compared with Kawaguchiko. JNTO describes its quieter setting in its Fuji viewing guide. Its Fuji views have a different scale: the mountain appears beyond nearer ridgelines, often described locally as a “child-hugging Fuji” composition.
This is a rewarding stop for someone who prefers scenery to shops and attractions. It is less forgiving of a spontaneous no-car visit: identify your intended shore access and check the Blue Line bus in both directions. If services are sparse for your date, a car or an organised excursion makes the outing easier.
Choose it if: You are spending more than a day in the region and want a quiet viewpoint, not a full menu of activities.
Lake Motosuko: clear water and the ¥1,000-note view
The westernmost lake, Motosuko, is known for clear water and for the Mount Fuji scene associated with Japan's ¥1,000 banknote. The national park's Lake Motosu guide identifies the banknote landscape; JNTO's viewpoint guide notes the lake's rural setting and more difficult public-transport access.
Crucially, getting to “Lake Motosu” does not automatically put you at the precise banknote viewpoint. Check which bus stop or parking area serves the scene you want, and allow for the onward walk. If you are travelling without a car, build the day around the published Blue Line or other applicable bus schedule; do not try to fit Motosuko in after several other lakes.
Choose it if: The banknote view, clear water or a more remote lake experience is a particular goal.
Can you see all five lakes in one day?
With public transport: no sensible first-time itinerary should try. Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosuko have sightseeing bus routes, while Yamanakako lies on a different branch of the wider network. The official bus map shows separate Red, Green and Blue Lines; JNTO describes transferring via Kawaguchiko Station when travelling between the Yamanakako area and Saiko.
A car makes a five-lake circuit physically possible, but that does not leave much time to experience the lakes. For a one-day trip, focus on Kawaguchiko. With two days, pair Kawaguchiko with Saiko or Yamanakako. With three days or a car, add Shojiko and Motosuko at a pace that allows actual stops.
The easiest lake combinations
- Kawaguchiko + Saiko: The most natural progression westward for visitors interested in woodland and caves. Use the Green Line or a car. A guided day with Oishi Park and the Saiko village covers both from Tokyo.
- Kawaguchiko + Yamanakako: Better for two days or a trip with specific activities at each lake; check the connecting buses instead of treating them as neighbouring stops. The Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi day tour links them by coach.
- Saiko + Shojiko + Motosuko: A nature-oriented western-lakes day works best with a car, or a carefully planned bus itinerary with few stops.
- All five: Reserve for a longer stay if you want the visit to mean more than briefly seeing five stretches of water.
Where should you stay?
Kawaguchiko is the most convenient base without a car: trains and buses converge at the station, and there is a broad choice of accommodation and meals. Choose Yamanakako if your plans centre on that lake's activities or lodging. The smaller western lakes suit a quieter stay when you are comfortable with limited nearby services and have arranged your transport.
If Mount Fuji is your chief reason for coming, staying overnight also gives you another early morning for a clear view. You can use a cloudy afternoon for a museum, cave or lakeside walk, so the whole trip is not spent searching for a gap in the clouds. Our Kawaguchiko ryokan and hotel guide covers stays with Fuji views near the station and the lake.
So which lake is best?
For most people asking this question before their first trip, Lake Kawaguchiko is the answer. It is easier to reach and offers the most straightforward mix of Mount Fuji views and things to do. For a second day, pick Saiko for forest scenery, Yamanakako for a larger activity-focused lake, or Shojiko and Motosuko for quieter western views. The five lakes are more enjoyable as distinct places than as a checklist.
For the first stop, see things to do at Lake Kawaguchiko and the best Mount Fuji viewpoints around the lake.
Information checked September 2026. Confirm bus routes, operating dates and access to your specific viewpoint before travelling.