Lake Kawaguchi Audio Guide

Lake Kawaguchi: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to Lake Kawaguchi

   Welcome to Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, on the north side of Mount Fuji in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture. A quick note before we begin: this guide tells the story of the lake as a whole, its volcanic birth, its heritage and the ways people enjoy it, rather than the history of one particular spot on its shore. This lake has a reputation to live up to. It is considered the most famous of the five, and its image turns up again and again on posters and in advertising for the whole region. Of the five lakes, it is also the easiest to reach from Tokyo. On a still, clear day, you can see a mirror image of Mount Fuji floating on the water. Sit back and let the lake introduce itself. We will start with the lava that made it, then turn to its World Heritage setting and its one island, and finally to the views, hot springs and folktales that make it such a beloved getaway.

2. 02

   A Lake Born of Lava

   Every one of the Fuji Five Lakes owes its existence to Mount Fuji's past eruptions. Lake Kawaguchi is said to have formed naturally when lava flows from the volcano dammed rivers, and the water simply gathered behind those natural walls. Think of a bathtub filling up after someone has pushed a plug into the drain, only here the plug was molten rock. The neighborhood has a dramatic past. The Jogan Great Eruption of the year 864 greatly reshaped the Fuji Five Lakes. Its lava split a former lake called Senoumi into two, which became Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji. Lake Kawaguchi's own story belongs to the same volcanic family. Some numbers help you picture it. The lake sits at an elevation of approximately 830 meters and covers 5.7 square kilometers, making it the second largest of the five after Lake Yamanakako. It is also the second shallowest, with a depth of 14.6 meters. Lake Motosuko ranks third in size, yet holds about six times the water of Lake Kawaguchi, which shows how shallow this famous lake really is.

3. 03

   Sacred Mountain, Island and Bridge

   Lake Kawaguchi: Think about the lava that once held back these waters, and how the neighboring lakes Saiko and Shoji were carved from a single older lake.

   On June 22, 2013, the Fuji Five Lakes, including Lake Kawaguchi, were designated as part of the World Cultural Heritage site named Fujisan, Sacred Place and Source of Artistic Inspiration. Here the lake is not only scenery. It is part of a landscape valued for its spiritual and artistic meaning. In Fujikawaguchiko Town you will also find component assets of that same World Heritage listing, including Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine and the Funatsu Tainai Lava Tree Molds. Those lava tree molds are another reminder of the volcanic forces behind this whole region. Then there is the lake's special feature. It is the only one of the Fuji Five Lakes with an island, Unoshima, and it also has a bridge. Unoshima is an Important Cultural Property of Fujikawaguchiko Town. A very popular view shows the island from Oishi Park with Mount Fuji rising behind it, a composition worth looking for with your own eyes.

4. 04

   Views, Cruises and a Clever Rabbit

   Lake Kawaguchi is easy to enjoy in many ways. Hotels line its banks, and local people offer boat rides, so you can take a cruise for views of Mount Fuji from the water. You can also stroll the shore, rent a bicycle, or hop on a bus to visit the museums and art galleries around the lake. Many cultural events are held near the lake throughout the year, and hot spring hotels let you look at Mount Fuji from a steaming bath. For a higher view, look to Mount Tenjo, which towers over the east side of the lake. The Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway carries you up for sweeping views, and along the way you will meet monuments and kid-friendly scenes illustrating a local folktale in which a clever rabbit takes revenge on a scheming tanuki, or raccoon dog. Tenjoyama Park, at the southeast corner of the lake, is another great photo spot. For the best views, wake up early and head to the north side of the lake. Getting here is simple. An express highway bus from the south exit bus terminal at Shinjuku takes approximately 1 hour 45 minutes and costs 2,000 yen. By train, you ride the Chuo Line Limited Express Super Azusa, then change at Otsuki Station to the Fujikyuko Line. The whole journey takes 2 hours 5 minutes.

5. 05

   Before You Head Off

   Lake Kawaguchi rewards the curious. It is a shallow lake made by lava, framed by a mountain recognized for its sacred and artistic meaning, and busy today with boats, hotels, museums and festivals. Few places pack so many layers into one stretch of shoreline. As you look around, notice how the light changes the reflection of Mount Fuji, and see if you can spot Unoshima Island and picture the view from Oishi Park. Think about the lava that once held back these waters, and how the neighboring lakes Saiko and Shoji were carved from a single older lake. Then let your curiosity wander on. Lake Saiko, Lake Shoji, Lake Motosuko and Lake Yamanakako are all close by, and each has its own character at the foot of the same great volcano.