Lake Kawaguchi-ko and the Mt Fuji Vista

The Great Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is indeed one sight you should not miss when visiting the progressive East Asian nation.  Over the years, the name of this mountain has become synonymous to Japan.  If you are wondering what makes Fuji different from other peaks, we could think up of a couple of compelling reasons. But at the heart of it all, there’s one blatant truth that stood out when we saw the mountain for the first time – Mt Fuji’s sheer size, seemingly proportional dimensions and near perfect cone is truly a magnificent site to behold! If Mother Nature could write poems, Mount Fuji would be her masterpiece. It is no wonder that nature’s work of art, in turn, has inspired and became the muse for many poets and writers over the centuries. Because of its enormous size, the mountain can be viewed from multiple places, including on train rides to the capital Tokyo. But marveling at Mount Fuji from a lake that is almost comparable to its beauty is an incredible travel experience that we recommend to anyone.

In Search of the Perfect View

Now that we have established the breathtaking beauty of Mount Fuji, the other important thing for a traveler to know is that such a view is quite elusive. Like any high altitude attraction, Mt. Fuji is oftentimes covered from view because of thick clouds and mist.  Many tourists in the past, have felt disappointed for not being able to catch a glimpse of it. Thus, if this is really your main goal while visiting Japan, you need to plan the trip more carefully. Although it is not 100 percent guaranteed that if you choose the clearest time of the year, you will get to see Fuji and all its glory, visiting at the right time increases your chances.

It is said that the best time to see Mount Fuji is during spring and winter, when there is fewer clouds and moisture in the air. But arguably, the most iconic look of Fuji is when it features a snow-capped peak. The one tricky thing about visiting in winter, is that snowstorms can occur, which can be a big spoiler to your plans.  It is also important to note that the mountain is usually visible in the early morning and gets progressively covered by clouds.

We decided to take a chance and made our way to Kawaguchiko in December using our Japan Rail pass from Tokyo. And true enough, our first day in town was not something to be happy about.  There was a snowstorm that started early in the morning and well into the night. Even though it melted when it touched the ground it completed occluded the view.  Like many before us, we were fearing the worst — that the great Mt. Fuji would be out of our reach.  But strangely, the owner of the guesthouse we were staying in was quite optimistic that the next day would be much better. Nobody would have guessed that after the bitter storm, the next day would be bright and sunny. But like a miracle, it was absolutely perfect. When we woke up at around 5:30 am, there was Fuji staring at us through our window.  We quickly put our winter clothes on, and walked (almost jogging) straight to the Kawaguchiko Lake area.