Lake Saiko (西湖) is smaller and much less developed than neighboring Lake Kawaguchiko. The views of Mount Fuji from Lake Saiko's shores are blocked by other mountains, except at the lake's western end from where there are beautiful, full views of the volcano.

Lake Saiko is surrounded by wooded mountains and a few camp sites, and is a popular destination for those interested in camping, boating, fishing and other outdoor activities. A network of hiking trails covers the mountains surrounding the lake and Aokigahara Jukai, an expansive forest south of the lake, infamous as a suicide spot and for people getting lost.

Several caves, formed during past eruptions of Mount Fuji, can be found around Aokigahara Jukai in the vicinity of Lake Saiko. Three of them, the Ice Cave, Wind Cave and Bat Cave, have been developed to be easily accessible to tourists. The area is also known for its autumn colors which are usually at their best around the first half of November.

  • Iyashi no Sato
    See the Iyashi no Sato page for admission details
  • Koyodai
    Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
    Closed: When there is a lot of snow
    Admission: 300 yen
  • Yurari
    Hours: 10:00 to 21:00 (until 22:00 on weekends and national holidays)
    Admission ends 60 minutes before closing
    Closed: No closing days
    Admission: 1400 yen (weekdays), 1700 yen (weekends)
  • Bat Cave
    See the cave page for admission details
  • Ice Cave
    See the cave page for admission details
  • Wind Cave
    See the cave page for admission details

Getting there and around

The Omni Bus Green Line (or Saiko Line) connects Kawaguchiko Station with Lake Saiko, circles the lake in a clockwise direction and stops at Iyashi no Sato, at the trailhead to Koyodai and near the three caves.

Apart from the omni buses, there are a few regular buses that operate between Kawaguchiko Station and Lake Saiko. Buses bound for Shin-Fuji and Lake Motosuko stop near Yurari Onsen and the ice and wind caves. There is one bus every 1-2 hours, and the bus ride from Kawaguchiko Station takes around 20-30 minutes and costs around 600 yen.

How to get to and around the Fuji Five Lakes

Hotels around Fuji Five Lakes

    • Glamping Village Fuji Kawaguchiko
      A glamping resort with Mt.Fuji views. Surrounded by the vast forests with luxurious villas and spacious domed tents. All rooms equipped with private hot spring.
      View site
      Sponsored
Top rated around the Fuji Five Lakes
Budget:
    • Fufu Kawaguchiko
      Luxury
      Set in Fujikawaguchiko, 4.8 km from Lake Kawaguchi, Fufu Kawaguchiko offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, room service and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can use the sauna and the hot spring bath, or enjoy mountain views. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a private bathroom with a bidet. Fufu Kawaguchiko features certain units with lake views, and rooms include a patio. At the accommodation all rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. Guests at Fufu Kawaguchiko will be able to enjoy activities in and around Fujikawaguchiko, like cycling. Fuji-Q Highland is 7.1 km from the hotel, while Mount Fuji is 28 km away. Tokyo Haneda Airport is 124 km from the property.
      View on Booking.com
      9.5Booking.com
    • Fujikawaguchiko Onsen Konanso
      Luxury
      Featuring great views of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, Konanso boasts natural hot spring baths and large Japanese-style rooms with traditional tatami (woven-straw) flooring. It is only a 2-minute walk from a ferry stop, where guests can board sightseeing cruises. Free WiFi is offered in all areas. Konanso offers indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, a private-use bath (charges apply), and a foot bath on the rooftop. Relaxing massage services can be arranged. Other facilities include karaoke rooms and a lounge bar. A souvenir shop can be found on the ground floor. Guest rooms at Konanso are fitted with futon bedding, a seating area and a flat-screen TV. A Fridge and an electric kettle are also provided. Guests can try on Yukata robes or enjoy free green tea in their room. Some rooms feature an open-air hot spring bath. The property is a 10-minute drive from Kawaguchiko Train Station. A free pick-up service from the station is available upon request. Mount Fuji 5th Station for climbing is a 1-hour bus ride from Kawaguchiko Station. Popular Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park is a 5-minute drive away, while Gotemba Outlet Shopping Mall can be reached within a 40-minute drive. Seasonal Japanese multi-course meals are served either in a private dining room or in the guestroom. Breakfast can be enjoyed at the dining room.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • Hotel Asafuji
      Mid-range
      Boasting views of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi for all rooms and hot-spring baths, Hotel Asafuji provides air-conditioned Japanese-style rooms with a green tea set. Free WiFi available throughout the hotel and free on-site parking is available. Free pick-up service is available from Kawaguchiko Station upon request. The air-conditioned rooms at Hotel Asafuji have Shoji paper screens and a low table with floor chairs and cushions. Each room includes a fridge, private toilet, and guests bathe at the hot-spring baths. Japanese-style futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor is provided. Yukata robes are offered for guests. Massages are available, and the reception can store luggage. The public hot-spring baths are open from 06:00-09:30 and from 15:00-23:30 daily. A Japanese set breakfast and kaiseki multi-course dinner are available at the on-site restaurant for an extra fee with an advance reservation. Kawaguchiko Station is a 10-minute drive, while Kawaguchiko Ropeway and Lake Kawaguchi's boat dock is a 3-minute drive away from the hotel. Kawaguchiko Music Forest and Kawaguchiko Museum Of Art is a 7-minute drive. Oishi Parkand is a 10-minute drive away, while Fuji-Q Highland amusement park is a 15-minute drive away.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • HOSTEL MICHIKUSA-YA
      Mid-range
      Set in Fujikawaguchiko, less than 1 km from Lake Kawaguchi, HOSTEL MICHIKUSA-YA offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a shared lounge. This 3-star hostel offers a shared kitchen and free shuttle service. The property is non-smoking and is located 4.6 km from Fuji-Q Highland. Featuring a shared bathroom with a bidet and a hairdryer, rooms at the hostel also have free WiFi, while selected rooms here will provide you with a mountain view. Mount Fuji is 25 km from HOSTEL MICHIKUSA-YA, while Fujiomuro Sengen Shrine is 700 metres away. The nearest airport is Shizuoka Airport, 121 km from the accommodation.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • Guesthouse Honobono
      Budget-friendly
      Renovated in September 2018, Guesthouseほのぼの offers an accommodation with free WiFi in Fujikawaguchiko, 1.3 km from Lake Kawaguchi. Free private parking is available on site on a first-come, first-serve basis as well as prior reservation. Free shuttle service is available upon prior request from the property to Kawaguchiko Station. There is a shared kitchen and lounge at the property. Guests can make some coffee and tea free of charge. Bath amenities including towels, toiletries and toothbrushes are available at the front desk for a fee. Mount Fuji is 16 km from Guesthouseほのぼの, while Shimobe Hot Spring is 26 km away.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • Fuji Guest House Ao
      Budget-friendly
      Located in Fujikawaguchiko, 1.7 km from Fuji-Q Highland, Fuji Guest House Ao provides accommodation with a shared lounge, private parking and a terrace. Featuring free bikes, the 1-star hostel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. The property is non-smoking and is set 3.7 km from Lake Kawaguchi. Guest rooms include bed linen. Mount Fuji is 22 km from the hostel, while Mount Kachi Kachi Ropeway is 1.8 km away. Shizuoka Airport is 122 km from the property.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • Hananoyado Yumefuji
      Luxury
      Situated in Fujikawaguchiko, 2.9 km from Lake Kawaguchi, Hananoyado Yumefuji features each room with a private garden with a terrace. Kawaguchiko Station is just a 5-minute walk away from the villa. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. At the hotel, all air-conditioned rooms are fitted with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom including free amenities. All rooms also boast a kitchenette with a fridge. Breakfast is served as morning basket (bento) daily at the property. A variety of popular activities are available in the area around the property, including skiing, cycling and hiking. Free public parking is available. On-site concierge service is available. Lake Kawaguchi Ohashi Bridge is 1.8 km from the accommodation. Fujikyu Highland is 1.17 km away.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • JINYA Fujikawaguchiko
      Mid-range
      Located within 2.8 km of Fuji-Q Highland and 3 km of Lake Kawaguchi, JINYA Fujikawaguchiko provides rooms with air conditioning and a private bathroom in Fujikawaguchiko. The property is around 1.2 km from Mount Kachi Kachi Ropeway, 1.8 km from Lake Kawaguchi Ohashi Bridge and 2.6 km from Fujiomuro Sengen Shrine. The property is non-smoking and is situated 23 km from Mount Fuji. All units in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. Featuring a private bathroom with a bidet and a hairdryer, rooms at JINYA Fujikawaguchiko also provide guests with free WiFi. At the accommodation every room is fitted with bed linen and towels. Oshijuutaku Togawa and Osano’s House is 4.5 km from JINYA Fujikawaguchiko, while Kawaguchi Asama Shrine is 4.7 km away. Shizuoka Airport is 121 km from the property.
      View on Booking.com
      9.4Booking.com
    • Mizno Hotel
      Luxury
      Offering beautiful Mount Fuji views from all rooms, public baths, and restaurants, Mizno Hotel is a 5-minute drive from Kawaguchiko Train Station. Located on a hilltop and overlooking Lake Kawaguchi, the hotel serves French dinner with an advance reservation. Guests at Mizno Hotel can sleep in Western-style beds, or experience traditional futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor in one of the Japanese-style rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned and have an LCD TV and Yukata robes. The shore of Lake Kawaguchi is a 2-minute walk. Fuji-Q Highland amusement park and Fuji-Omuro Sengen Shrine are less than a 15-minute drive from the hotel. On-site parking is free, and free pick-up from Kawaguchiko Station is offered from 14:00-18:00. Mount Fuji 5th Station for climbing is a 1-hour bus ride from Kawaguchiko Station. Guests can relax in the sauna or in the private open-air bath. The hotel has English-speaking staff. The bar, which also has a library, offers a variety of drinks. The sophisticated atmosphere is popular with couples.
      View on Booking.com
      9.3Booking.com
    • 7c villa and winery
      Luxury
      Located in Fujikawaguchiko, 3.8 km from Lake Kawaguchi, 7c villa and winery provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. With a restaurant, the 5-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The hotel features a hot tub and a concierge service. Guest rooms at the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a safety deposit box. 7c villa and winery features certain rooms with mountain views, and the rooms are equipped with a balcony. At the accommodation each room comes with bed linen and towels. Fuji-Q Highland is 6.1 km from 7c villa and winery, while Mount Fuji is 27 km away. Tokyo Haneda Airport is 122 km from the property.
      View on Booking.com
      9.3Booking.com

Experiences around Fuji Five Lakes

Top rated in Mount Fuji