The touristy town around Lake Kawaguchiko offers an assortment of museums along the lake's southern and northern shores, varying in themes from conventional arts to herbs and music boxes. Below is a list of some of the museums found in the area:
Art Museums
Kubota Itchiku Museum
A unique museum that displays kimono created by Kubota Itchiku, who spent his lifetime reviving the lost art of Tsujigahana silk dyeing. The kimono on display depict themes of nature and the cosmos and include his unfinished masterpiece "Symphony of Light", comprised of 80 kimono that together form a picture of
Mount Fuji.
Kawaguchiko Museum of Art
The Kawaguchiko Museum of Art houses temporary exhibitions of Japanese and foreign modern artists as well as a small permanent collection of paintings and photographs featuring
Mount Fuji.
Fujiyama Museum
The Fujiyama Museum is devoted to a wide variety of paintings and other illustrations of Mount Fuji. The museum is operated by and located just outside of the
Fuji Q Highland amusement park behind the Fuji Resort Hotel and next to the
Fujiyama Onsen.
Other Museums
Fujisan World Heritage Center
The Fuji Visitor Center at the entrance to the Subaru Line toll road to the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station contains a small museum with exhibits and a movie about the formation and ecology of Mount Fuji as well as the cultural history of the mountain.
Kawaguchiko Music Forest
More theme park than museum, the Kawaguchiko Music Forest is devoted to automatic musical instruments, such as music boxes and mechanical organs. The beautifully designed grounds with European styled gardens have nice views of Mount Fuji and are operated by the Ukai Group which also runs the
Glass Forest in
Hakone.
Yamanashi Gem Museum
The Yamanashi Gem Museum displays gems, precious stones, and large quartz crystals collected from Japan and around the world. Half of the museum is a store where you can purchase jewelry and other trinkets made with the same types of gems and precious stones on display.
Herb Hall
The Herb Hall is basically a store with a herb garden and greenhouse where you can view and purchase herbs, tea and dried flowers. Behind the Herb Hall stands the Perfume Hall where you can buy perfumes, aroma oils and soaps.
Kubota Itchiku Museum
Please see the Kubota Itchiku Museum page for details.
Kawaguchiko Museum of Art
Retro buses along the Kawaguchiko Line connect Kawaguchiko Station to the Kawaguchiko Museum of Art (30 minutes). Get off at the Kawaguchiko Bijutsukan bus stop in front of the museum.
Fujiyama Museum
Occasional retro buses along the Kawaguchiko Line connect Kawaguchiko Station to the Fujiyama Museum (10 minutes). Get off at the Fujiyama Onsen bus stop, from where it is a short walk to the museum.
Fujisan World Heritage Center
Please see the Fujisan World Heritage Center page for details.
Kawaguchiko Music Forest
Please see the Kawaguchiko Music Forest page for details.
Yamanashi Gem Museum and Herb Hall
The Yamanashi Gem Museum and Herb Hall are a few steps from the Kawaguchiko Herbkan bus stop along both retro bus lines. The bus ride from Kawaguchiko Station takes about 10 minutes.
How to get to and around the Fuji Five Lakes
Bus Network Map:
