Lake Yamanakako
ExploreJapanDaily Editorial Team · Last updated: October 9, 2026 · Facts verified: October 9, 2026
Lake Yamanakako (山中湖) is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes by area, at 980.5 meters above sea level on the mountain's northeast side. The shore is public and free, with free lakeside parking; the sightseeing boats, flower park and other businesses around it set their own fees and hours. Its best-known sight is Diamond Fuji, when the sun sets onto the summit, seen from different points on the shore from mid-October to late February.
Photo: Alpsdake, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized
- Area
- Yamanakako
- Best Time
- Mid-October to late February for Diamond Fuji at sunset; clear winter mornings for the mountain
- Best For
- Mount Fuji views, Diamond Fuji, Drivers, Quiet base
What Lake Yamanakako is for
Yamanakako is a different trip from Kawaguchiko. It sits on its own bus route east of Fujisan Station rather than on the Kawaguchiko side, it faces Mount Fuji from the northeast, and it is quieter and more spread out, with lodges, lakeside parks and sports on the water rather than a single town center. Choose it as a base if you have a car, want space, or are timing a Diamond Fuji sunset.
The lake is a dammed lake formed by Mount Fuji's volcanic activity, 980.5 meters up, with a maximum depth of 13.3 meters. Fuji-ko pilgrims once included it in a purification circuit of the lakes at the mountain's foot, which is part of why it is a component of the Mount Fuji World Heritage site. It is also home to Fuji marimo, a rare algae protected as a natural monument.
Photo by 663highland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized
There are no opening hours for the lake itself. The shore paths, viewpoints and lakeside lots are free to use; sightseeing boats, the Hana no Miyako Koen flower park, smelt-fishing dome boats and other businesses each run to their own schedules. If you are choosing between the lakes, the Lake Kawaguchiko guide covers the main base.
What to do at Lake Yamanakako
How to Get to Lake Yamanakako
Lake Yamanakako is on the northeast side of Mount Fuji in Yamanakako village, east of Fujiyoshida.
- •Buses run from Fujisan Station, not Kawaguchiko Station; Yamanakako is on a separate route from the Kawaguchiko side.
- •With a car, the free lakeside lots let you move between Diamond Fuji spots.
- •Panorama-dai is a 30-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.
Map
Best Time to Visit Lake Yamanakako
Best time to visit Lake Yamanakako: Mid-October to late February for Diamond Fuji at sunset; clear winter mornings for the mountain. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.
- •Mid-October to late February is Diamond Fuji season; check the date for each viewpoint before you choose where to stand.
- •Diamond Fuji happens between about 15:30 and 16:30 and needs a clear sky to the west.
- •Mount Fuji is clearest in winter and early in the morning; summer haze often hides it by midday.
- •The lake is 980.5 meters up, so it is cooler than Tokyo year-round and cold on winter evenings.
The sun sets onto the summit between about 15:30 and 16:30. Each point on the shore gets it on different dates, and only on clear evenings.
The clearest air and the most snow on Mount Fuji. Lakeside mornings are cold at this altitude.
Water sports, camping and cooler air than the cities, but Mount Fuji is often hidden by haze and cloud.
Entry Fee & Hours
- •The lakeshore, viewpoints and lakeside parking are free.
- •Sightseeing and fishing boats, the Hana no Miyako Koen flower park and other businesses each set their own prices and seasons; check each operator.
- •There are no lake-wide opening hours. Plan around daylight and around the hours of the business you want to use.
Nearby Attractions
On the same side of the mountain
Oshino Hakkai
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
Fuji-Q Highland
- •Oshino Hakkai (Both are reached by bus from Fujisan Station): Eight spring-fed ponds in Oshino village, fed by Mount Fuji's underground water, with thatched buildings and views of the mountain on clear days.
- •Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine (On the road between Fujisan Station and the lake): The cedar-lined Fujiyoshida shrine where the Yoshida Trail up Mount Fuji begins, a World Heritage component with 11 Important Cultural Property buildings.
- •Fuji-Q Highland (Bus to Fujisan Station, then one stop by train): A free-entry roller coaster park at the foot of Mount Fuji, with record-setting coasters, Thomas Land for small children and a variable-price One-Day Pass.
Yamanakako as a base
Yamanakako rewards an overnight stay: sunset on one side of the day, a clear morning on the other.
Afternoon and Diamond Fuji (mid-October to late February)
Early afternoon
Bus from Fujisan Station, or drive, to the lake; walk a stretch of the shore
Mid-afternoon
Move to the Diamond Fuji spot for that date
About 15:30 to 16:30
Sunset onto the summit, if the sky to the west is clear
Yamanakako and Oshino
Morning
Lakeshore and Panorama-dai while Mount Fuji is clear
Afternoon
Oshino Hakkai on the way back toward Fujisan Station
Frequently Asked Questions
References
View references
Yamanashi Prefecture
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