Japan and in this episode I’m going to  show you how and when to get here and  

so many other great locations  in this area. Let’s go!  

In my last video, we arrived here,  at Kawaguchiko station.  

If you haven't seen that video, take  a moment to click the card above to  

go back and see how we got here. Kawaguchiko station is kind of your main  

hub for getting around this area. Inside the station, you’ll be able to  

find connecting transportation to the  many local sites in this area.  

In this video, I’m going to take  you to, and show you how to get to,  

several of the most popular and most  photographed locations in this area as  

well as some insider tips to make the best  of your stay in the Kawaguchiko area.  

If you’re like me, although it  may be a little more challenging,  

you prefer to avoid package tours and do  things on your own schedule and pace.  

So this video is going to be focused on this  type of travel. If you’re looking for more of a  

package tour, there are many companies around  Japan who can assist you with this.  

When you first arrive at Kawaguchiko station, I  recommend checking with the tourist information  

office. They can direct you regarding the local  travel options such as public and private buses,  

as well as train schedules to see the  many sites around the area.  

After getting all your information, you can  then decide what fits your style best.  

I also recommend staying in the area for at  least two days. That way you can take your time  

and absorb the culture and surrounding area. But here’s a free tip from an insider: instead of  

staying in Kawaguchiko, I recommend staying in the  neighboring Fujiyoshida area, and here’s why:  

While Kawaguchiko is your travel hub for the  area, unfortunately lodging is much more expensive  

and everything seems to shut down after 5 pm.  Fujiyoshida, on the other hand, is less expensive  

and continues to offer great restaurants,  bars, and several after-dark activities.  

You can also walk to several of the famous  areas that I’m going to show you today.  

So, Let's get to it! Let's go see the  Kawaguchiko area of Mt. Fuji!  

We visited the area during the fall Momoji  Festival, and since it was after dark,  

we decided to make this our first stop before  heading to our Hostel in Fujiyoshida.  

For obvious reasons, the area is famous for  its fall leaf colors and festive atmosphere  

during the Momoji Festival.. Cheerful voices, along with the  

enticing fragrances of local food trucks  and street food, filled the air.  

Of course, everything was delicious and  all at a very reasonable price.  

If you visit the festival during the  daytime, you can catch live music and  

people enjoying the koyu season. But day  or night, you're sure to have a great  

time. If  

you’re interested in visiting this area  I’ll put a Google pin to it below.  

After visiting the Momoji  Festival on Lake Kawaguchiko,  

we took the 6 minute train ride to  Mt. Fuji Station in Fujiyoshida.  

From there, we took a 5 minute walk to our hostel  and went out for more dining in this area.  

We visited a local restaurant called Sakigake  

and had a delicious dinner with sushi,  beer, and local sake! The food and staff  

were amazing! I highly recommend trying  it. Check for a link to it below.  

After dinner, we retired back to our  Hostel because we had to get up very  

early the next morning to do everything  we wanted to do while in the area.  

…and yes, you guessed it. There's  a link to the Hostel below.  

If you want to see a more detailed video of the  Hostel, please check out my previous video.  

Since Mt. Fuji is prone to getting quickly  covered by clouds as the day progresses,  

we decided to get up before dawn to ensure  we got some amazing photographs.  

Yeah, that was another insider tip. Get  out EARLY to get your best photographs  

and not have to fight the massive  crowds of other tourists.  

Also, as the sun moves west, Mt. Fuji will  become backlit and unless you’re a real pro,  

it’ll be difficult to to capture  those amazing colors.  

This will be especially important when Sakura  are in bloom during the spring.  

Our first stop of the day was a place that  you’ve probably seen in pictures, but may not  

know how to get to. This is the location of some  of the most famous photographs of Mt Fuji.  

This is the Famous Honcho Street of Fujiyoshida.  This location is NOT advertised and not on any  

tour bus stop. So, you’re getting an inside scoop  today. I’ll put a Google pin to it below.  

Just a short walk from this spot, you'll find the  most photographed location in all of Japan.  

Since this is such a popular spot, signage  for finding it is easy to follow.  

But I’ll also put a google pin to it below. It’s a good hike up the hill and/or stairs,  

so just take your time and don’t overdo  it; especially in the summer months  

This is the Famous Chureito Pagoda with Mt. Fuji  in the background. This location is especially  

popular when sakura are in bloom. So  again be sure to get here EARLY!  

After taking in these amazing views of Mt Fuji,  

we decided to actually GO to  Mt. Fuji’s 5th station.  

So we made the trek back down to the  bus ticketing office at the Mt. Fuji  

train station to buy discounted tickets. You could actually use your Pasmo or Suica  

card for this, but you’ll get a much better  price if you pay for your tickets this way.  

The round trip ticket cost just ¥2,300, and  one leg of the trip takes about an hour.  

You could also catch the bus from Kawaguchiko  station, but here’s another insider tip!  

Since Kawaguchiko station is the 2nd bus stop  on the trip, if you board from Mt. Fuji Station,  

you're more likely to have a seat and not  have to stand up during the trip.  

The ticketing agent told me that I’ll  catch the bus at 9:30 at stop number  

5. This is just right outside the  office and very easy to find.  

As I said, the bus ride to Mt. Fuji takes about  one hour. So, if you took my advice and got a  

seat, just sit back and enjoy the views. As I’ve mentioned in other videos,  

talking while on Japanese buses and trains  is kept to an absolute minimum.  

If you talk loudly, you’re sure to stand  out as that obnoxious tourist.  

Before you know it, you’ll be arriving  at Mt. Fuji’s 5th station.  

The 5th Station is a small area where you  can buy a few souvenirs, get a bite to eat,  

and even send a few postcards from the post office  that has Mt. Fuji’s own unique postmark.  

We visited in the fall, before the first snow.  

Also be aware that if the weather is unfavorable,  the 5th station could actually be closed.  

But just take your time, enjoy the views, visit  the shrine and offer a prayer or two.  

If you’re feeling a little more  adventurous, they even offer  

different levels of horseback riding to  fit your budget or adventure level.  

And if you’re ready to hike to the  summit, you can do that too.  

But for us, we had to head back down the mountain  

to get to the next stop on our  Kawaguchiko adventure.  

The next place we’ll be visiting is the  traditional Japanese village of Saiko-no-Sato  

Nenba. I know that’s a big name to remember, so  again, there’s a google pin to it below.  

This small village of thatched roof  structures is sure to take you back  

in time. Now a world heritage site, it was  originally established over 500 years ago.  

If you’re ready to experience a full  immersion, you can even suit up in  

authentic Samurai armor or kimono. If you’re not renting a car, again, the  

cheapest and easiest way to get here  is by bus from Kawaguchiko station.  

It’s about a 45 minute ride from the  station, and the fare is only ¥710.  

There’s a link to the green, red,  and blue bus schedules below.  

After a full day visiting the area, we were very  hungry. This area is famous for Houtou udon. It’s  

a flatter and firmer udon, and it’s delicious. So  be sure to try it while you’re in the area.  

This was a full day and we were ready  for a good night’s rest before wrapping  

up this Kawaguchiko excursion the next day.  

On our final day, we were sure to wake  up early again to beat the crowds and  

catch the best views of Mt. Fuji. Again we took a local bus from Kawaguchiko  

station to another traditional Japanese  village called Oshino Hakkai.  

This village is famous for its  crystal clear natural spring water,  

perfect views of Mt. Fuji, and beautiful  Japanese koi in a natural environment.  

As you could expect, there’s always fresh,  

hot Japanese treats to enjoy  from local vendors.  

So, Check out Oshino Hakkai. And of course,  

there’s a google maps pin to  this location below..  

Our final stop before heading back  to Tokyo was actually unplanned. And  

this is one of the luxuries if you’re  able to travel Japan by car.  

If you rent a car, you’ll be able to experience  Japan and its culture like a local. You can go  

places and see things that most tourists,  trains, and tours will never reach.  

As we traveled past Lake Yamanakako, we  stumbled upon a lakeside festival with food,  

music, drinks, and even made  some new friends.  

Experiences like this are the hidden  gems of rural Japanese travel.  

We made friends with these fun  ladies from Ukraine who led us  

in a traditional Ukrainian toast. As you can see, no matter what your style  

or budget is, there’s plenty to  do in the Kawaguchiko area.  

We hope you enjoyed this video,  and if you found it at all helpful,  

please do us a favor and hit that like  button and subscribe to the channel.  

Those likes and subscriptions are  what keeps this channel going for  

you and those interested in  Discovering Japan.  

As Always… Thanks for watching. We’ll  see you next time on Discovering Japan.