Lake Kawaguchiko to Lake Yamanakako, Mt Fuji, Japan

Friday 13th June 2025
Well, we had a very early start this morning! I woke at 3.30am and checked to see if I could see Mt Fuji, then again at 4.15am as it was now light. And we were finally lucky again at 5.15am. Mt Fuji was just poking out the top of the clouds. I should have got out of bed to take a better photo but I could barely keep my eyes open. So, I didn’t and fell straight back to sleep. David dozed for a little while but then started researching the days adventure. We headed off at about 9.30 on a drive beside Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Saiko, which was a very pretty dive. We went for a short walk on the nature trail and then drove to the first of three caves we were visiting today.

First cave wasthe Bat Cave, a short but interesting cave. It had very small tunnels which were caused by lava flow. We didn;’t see any bats there today.

Then we drove to the Wind and Ice Caves which were very cold, they both had ice stalactites and stalagmites. It was also very interesting.

From here we went back to drive the southern side of both Lake Saiko and Kawaguchiko. It was a very nice drive although the wind had got up a bit rippling the water. We were lucky to catch a 5 second glimpse as we arrived at Lake Kawaguchiko.

Our next stop was Lake Yamanakako which had a different out look for Mt Fuji but unfortunately she was even more elusive today. There was too much cloud cover. e decided it was time for some exercise so enjoyed a 10km walk around the lake. It was a pleasant evening for a walk. The views were beautiful but once again, mt Fuji stayed hidden. We are staying here tonight and will cross our fingers that we will get a better view of Mt Fuji tomorrow but unfortunately the weather forecast isn’tr very promising.

“The Saiko Bat Cave is located in the Aokigahara Jukai Forest at the southwest of Lake Saiko. The total extension is over 350 meters and is the largest in the lava cave at the foot of Mt.Fuji. It was created by the eruption of Mt.Fuji, which occurred from 864 to 866.”

The Fugaku Fuketsu Wind Cave is a lava cave surrounded by the abundant greenery of the Aokigahara Jukai forest near Mt. Fuji, and has been designated as a Japanese Natural Monument. This lateral-type cave, formed by the flow of lava, has a gentle slope and is easy to walk. It is 201 m long and 8.7 m high, and has an average temperature of 3℃. Even during the summer, it remains pleasantly cool inside. It was once used as a naturally refrigerated warehouse to store silkworm eggs when sericulture was flourishing in Japan.

: It was a beautiful night sky over Lake Kawaguchiko even without Mt Fuji peaking through the clouds..

: ..this is at about 5.15am, there were a few tourists around already….

: ..a close up..

: ..and a tourist construction for those who don’t get to see the real thing..

: ..the fishermen were out early as well..

: ..our prime position for viewing Mt Fuji from bed this morning..

: ..this couple were enjoying their early morning stroll around the lake..

: ..the lake was so smooth early today..

: ..the buses came with many tourists from Tokyo, this was at about 9am..

: ..a few fishermen on the ledge of Lake Saiko this morning..

: ..as we walked the nature trail the views were beautiful..

: ..as we saw more fishermen..

: ..this one framed by a tree..

: ..as we headed back to the car I loved this little bridge and the scenery behind..

: ..David humoured me by getting in the Bat Frame at the Bat Cave..

: ..entrance to the Bat Cave..

: ..the big entry cavern..

: ..was followed by a very tiny lava tunnel..

: ..it required a duck waddle..

: ..and a very low crouch..

: ..David tried to see the bats but there were none to be seen today..

: ..standing on a Lava Ledge..

: ..whilst on the phone in a carpark DB saw this Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake in the bush..

: ..its brown friend was at least 2m long..

: ..the Wind Cave stairway was decorated with wind chimes..

: ..they were made of glass I think..

: ..at the entrance to the cave, only in Japan would the money be left untouched at the SHrine..

: ..A big block of ice and some ice stalacmites, it was very cold down there ..

: ..no wonder it was so cold down here..

: Information about the Natural refrigerator..

: ..for the silk worms..

: ..info about the silk industry..

: ..and the storage of tree seeds..

: ..and some info about the seeds..

: ..the big storage house for the silk worms and the seeds..

: ..we then walked from the Wind Cave through a lovely forest..

: ..covered in moss..

: ..with many small caves as well..

: ..entry to the Ice Cave..

: ..with its moss garden..

: ..and its ice blue caves..

: ..and another shrine..

: ..it was very cold down here as well..

: ..the ice blocks were very large

: ..and the stalagmite was almost to the ceiling.

: ..This is a tent camp ground on Lake Saiko..

: ..and another in prime location to view Mt Fuji..

: ..the drive was very green and pretty all the way around the lakes..

: ..as we arrived at Lake Yamanakako which has many swan activities, the swan passenger boat and swan paddle boats..

: ..we enjoyed a lovely walk about 10km rreturn, the plan was to go all the way around it which was 14km, but we ran out of time..

: ..just at our turning point we saw some white swans..

: ..who were not camera shy at all..

: ..they were very bust catching food..

: ..the beautiful autumn colours of the maple leaves..

: ..and the lovely lilac flowers..

: ..this was the perfect vantage point for a Mt Fuji viewing..

: ..a memorial for the 2021 Olympics, Yamanakako was the site for the Cycling events at the Tokyo Olympics..

: ..as we continue home on our walk..

: ..our first 7eleven dinner, they even heat it up for you. It was okay, not restaureant quality but still quite tasty.