Lake Kawaguchi, located in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, is one of the Fuji Five Lakes and belongs to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Among the Five Lakes, it has the longest shoreline and the lowest elevation, ranking second in surface area and tied with Lake Shoji as the third deepest. In the lake lies a small island called Unoshima, and it is also the northernmost of the Five Lakes. With numerous hotels around its shores and the breathtaking view of Mount Fuji reflected on the lake surface on clear days, it has become a famous spot for viewing the inverted image of Mount Fuji, attracting countless visitors.
Ubuyagasaki on the lakeshore is a well-known viewpoint of Mount Fuji. Other scenic spots include Nyuzaki, Komagari Cape (Kodensaki), and Nagasaki (Ebosaki), all offering spectacular views where Mount Fuji harmonizes with the lake. On June 22, 2013, Lake Kawaguchi was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.”
Geographically, Lake Kawaguchi lies in Minamitsuru District, surrounded by the Mitsutoge Mountains, Misaka Mountain Range, Mt. Kurotake, and Mt. Settodake. Its southern side opens widely, providing excellent views of Mount Fuji. The lake has no natural drainage, and historically it often flooded due to heavy rains. During the Edo period, to address water supply issues in the nearby village of Arakura, the large-scale Arakura excavation project was undertaken over centuries and was finally completed in 1865. Today, the drainage system includes the Second Aokigawa (completed in 1917) and the Aokigawa Flood Control Tunnel (completed in 1994), formally linking Lake Kawaguchi to the Sagami River system.
As the first of the Fuji Five Lakes to be developed for tourism, the eastern shore of Lake Kawaguchi features the Fujikawaguchiko Onsen Resort and attractions such as the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway, sightseeing boats, monkey performance theaters, campgrounds, hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops. It also hosts Yamanashi Prefecture’s only rowing training course and was the venue for the Yamanashi Kokutai in 1986.
Lake Kawaguchi is also popular among anglers, especially for bass and trout fishing. However, due to the problem of soft bait pollution, the use of soft baits was banned in 2007, making it the second lake after Lake Ashi to implement such a restriction.
The lake has also attracted media attention due to changes in its water level. In 2013, the water dropped so much that visitors could walk to the normally floating Hexagonal Hall. A similar drop occurred in 2015, once again drawing public and tourist interest.
