The first stop: the popular spots where you will never get disappointed.

When it comes to places to enjoy autumn foliage in Fujikawaguchiko, there are two popular spots that everyone would name.

One is “Momiji (Autumn Leaves) Corridor”. There are about 60 massive Japanese maple trees along the both banks of Nashigawa River, which is why it’s named “Momiji (Autumn Leaves) Corridor”. This is the main viewing spot for the “Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival” which is held in November every year. During the festival, those Japanese maple trees are lit up at nighttime until 10pm and look exceptional. You can get here by catching a Kawaguchiko/Saiko Sightseeing Bus from Kawaguchiko Station and get off at Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, which takes 21 minutes. You’ll find the Momiji (Autumn Leaves) Corridor just by the bus stop.

The other spot is called “Momiji (Autumn Leaves) Tunnel”. It’s about 15 minute drive away from the site of “Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves festival” and the Japanese maple trees spread the red foliage over the road and it literally looks like “a tunnel of Japanese maple trees”. The composition of this autumn foliage and Mt. Fuji you see here is excellent and tourists from all over the country visit here for the view. You can find Momiji (Autumn Leaves) Tunnel alongside Kohoku View Line that runs along Lake Kawaguchiko.

More hotspots for autumn foliage

Myohoji Temple: They have Japanese maple trees and ginkgoes here and when the leaves of those trees start to change colors is the best time to see. You can enjoy the beautiful contrast of different autumn colors on those trees on sunny days.

Lakeside Solitary Momiji (Japanese Maple tree): There is actually more than one Japanese maple tree here but it’s named that way because of the tree’s strong presence. Those trees are along the lakeside walking trail and it’s not a place where a lot of tourists visit so it might be kind of a secret spot. This is also a good place to take a photo of Mt. Fuji, Japanese maple trees and Unoshima Island all together.

Get active and enjoy the autumn foliage

In the autumn foliage season, how about enjoying the beautiful autumn colors while trekking at Mt. Fuji? There is a number of autumn foliage viewing spots but when you just drive there, take photos and call it a day… You’re missing a great opportunity! Why don’t you get active and try trekking? It’s nice and refreshing to go trekking in the season of fresh green, but it’s also great to go trekking enjoying the beautiful autumn colors.

The first spot on the list: “Mt. Koyodai”, one of the eight views of Mt. Fuji

As you can see it in the name (“Koyo” means autumn foliage), this is the first spot you should check out to see autumn foliage. But as it has “dai” in the name, which means “elevated area”, it is on top of a small hill. So you can’t just stop by here while having a nice drive around the area. But because of that, it feels like a secret spot and it’s been a popular place to enjoy the view of Mt. Fuji and the autumn colors at the foot of the mountain.

To get here, you can take a Fujikyu Yamanashi bus bound for Lake Motosuko/Shin Fuji from Kawaguchiko Station, and get off at Koyodai Entrance. From there it takes about 40 minutes to get to Mt. Koyodai so it’s a doable distance even for trekking beginners.

You can come back down on the same route, or if you’re still up for more trekking, you can keep going on the longer route that goes to Mt. Ashiwada (about 90 minutes from Mt. Koyodai), then to Mt. Danwa (about 25 minutes from Mt. Ashiwada) and down to Katsuyama bus stop (about 70 minutes from Mt. Danwa). There’s a route that you can come back down on from Mt. Ashiwada if you get too tired halfway as well.

Also, from Katsuyama bus stop you can catch a Fujikyu bus bound for Mt. Fuji Station to go back to Kawaguchiko Station.

Trekking gear covered with rentals

You might be thinking, “I want to go trekking but I’m not sure if I’ll be comfortable in my daily clothes and I can’t bring all the trekking gear I need…” Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. You can rent all the trekking gear you need just by Kawaguchiko Station.

The shop “Soranoshita Kawaguchiko” is the right place to go to. Located in front of Kawaguchiko Station, which is one of the starting points for Mt. Fuji climbers, this reliable shop has all the gear you need for mountain climbing. They also have many mountain climbing experts here and they offer a 30-minute detailed lecture to beginners and those who are after detailed information on how to use all the equipment, walking tips, how to prevent altitude sickness, breathing techniques and so on.

Have a relaxing time in a hot spring after trekking

One of the facilities that have a drop off window for returning rental items is “Fuji Chobo-no-Yu Yurari Onsen” (a hot spring with a view of Mt. Fuji). This is a hot spring facility where they have 16 different types of baths for you to enjoy including an outdoor hot spring with a stunning view of Mt. Fuji right in front of your eyes as the name of this place suggests. Soak in a hot spring and recover from all the trekking you’ve done! It’s not an accommodation facility so it’s convenient for anyone who just wants to relax and enjoy a hot spring.

Although you can’t stay at “Fuji Chobo-no-Yu Yurari Onsen”, there is an accommodation facility next door called “Fuji Midorino Kyukamura”. They offer a “Yurari package” which comes with a 1-day ticket for Yurari Onsen. Another option is “Fujizakura Inn” which is a reasonable “sudomari (stay without meals)” hotel. Although this accommodation is not located next door to Yurari Onsen, they have a free pick up service from Yurari Onsen to the hotel, which comes in handy.