[Japan Trip 2024] Yamanakako, Oshino Hakkai, Mt Fuji slowly revealing itself, 山中湖, 忍野八海

[Japan Trip 2024] Yamanakako, Oshino Hakkai, Mt Fuji slowly revealing itself, 山中湖, 忍野八海

00:00 Oike Park
00:33 Fujikyu Bus Fujikko-Go
00:49 Lake Yamanaka
02:14 Coffee Break at Jura Noire
03:09 Oshino Hakkai
06:19 Sengen-jinja Shrine
06:43 Mt. Fuji
06:57 Sunset
07:53 Dinner at Corner House

Day 2 at the Fuji Five Lakes region. We took the Fujikko-Go bus to visit Yamanakako (Lake Yamanaka), Oshino Hakkai, and Sengen-jinja Shrine.
– Lake Yamanaka is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the closest to Mt. Fuji, which looks like the shape of a whale. We walked along Nagaike Shinsui (Water) Park, from where Mt. Fuji looked so huge.
– Oshino Hakkai (translation: Eight Seas of Oshino) consists of eight ponds that are filled with melted water of Mt. Fuji. We were able to see seven ponds. It seems that you need to pay an entrance fee to see the one we did not see (Sokonashi-ike pond). Naka-ike pond is not one of the natural ponds since it is man-made.
– Sengen-jinja Shrine, formally known as “Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja”. Sengen-jinjas are a type of shrines which circle a mountain (in this case, Mt. Fuji) to worship the Shinto deity of volcanos. This shrine is located in the north of Mt. Fuji. We are not sharing our photos/videos of this site to respect their photography policy. This place is surrounded by historic wooden structures and tall old trees and makes you feel tranquil and peaceful. I believe it is worth a visit.

At the end of the day, the clouds cleared up. Mt. Fuji finally revealed itself to us. It was incredibly exciting to see the mountain, especially after waiting for this moment a day and a half. Its elegant slopes were visible from the Lake Kawaguchi Ohashi Bridge. The color of the sunset accentuated its beautiful shape as well. It was one of the unforgettable moments of this trip.