Short History of Lake Saiko

Lake Saiko is not like Hakone, a well-known hot springs, which has been commercially

developed very long time. Here at Lake Saiko, which is least commercially developed

area with only three family names exist: Miura, Watanabe and Asahina. Their ancestors

were lost in the power struggles and fled from Kamakura 12th century, fearing massive killing

by the Kamakura and the Hojo government.  I do not know the current population at Lake Saiko

but I believe definitely less than 100 people probably even less than 50 people.  

Since three families got settled, the area had been totally secluded from other villages till very recently.  The roads and a tunnel were built after disastrous flash flood in 1966.  The nature of this area is uniquely reserved as most densely birds-living area in Japan and the quality of water in the lake is quite good and you could swim in the lake in summer.

There is no convenience store, no grocery store, and no full year operating restaurant.

You need to drive a car for grocery shopping at neighboring towns.

Kawaguchiko shopping center Bell

Supermarket Ogino (toward Kawaguchiko Bridge)

Max Value at Forest Mall on route 139

Or at convenience stores in Kawaguchiko Machi

 

At the lake,

Fishermen’s Union diligently cultivates artificial fish hatching. You can buy fishing license to enjoy fishing. Water quality is the best among five lakes and you can swim in the lake in the summertime.

 

The scale of fireworks at Kawaguchiko is spectacular.

I would suggest to ride the ropeway, Tenjozan Kachikachi yama Ropeway.

You will be surprised to find the fireworks down below from the top of the ropeway.

At the top you can enjoy watching Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchiko Lake simultaneously.

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Getting around

Either from Tokyo or Shinjuku, a Highway Bus leaves for Kawaguchiko every 30 minutes and it takes a little shorter than 2 hours.  Railway, bus and taxi services share the terminal of Kawaguchiko station.

 

Please choose the bus destination of Saiko-Minshuku, and get off at “Junigatake Tozanguchi” bus stop.  It takes about 25 minutes.  Ojihra bus stop is in the middle of Northeshore road at Lake Saiko or Route 21.

The departure time from Kawaguchiko: 7:23, 11:34, 14:29, 15:36 & last 17:29 

From “Ojihra” busstop to Kawaguchiko, following are the approximate departure time at the bus stop: 7:30, 8:10, 12:20, 15:10, 16:20 & last 18:10.

 

There is another bus service called Retro Bus which runs from 9:10 am and thereafter every 30 minutes a bus leaves from Kawaguchiko with the final departure of 16:40.    It takes 1hour and 8 minutes by detouring at several popular tourists’ spots.   For return from Junigatake Tozanguchi to Kawaguchiko, every 30 minutes from 10:18 and the last departure is 17:48.  It takes about 30 minutes to Kawaguchiko station.

 

There are many more sightseeing spots at Fuji 5 Lakes, if you like to visit several of these spots, renting a car is recommended.

 

You may witness wild animals, such as deer, boars, kamoshika (Japanese antelopes),

tanuki (dog-like-raccoons), flying squirrels, pheasants, woodpeckers etc.

It is really nice to find no mosquitos (and almost no snakes) around here due to high elevation over 900

meters from sea-level and relatively dry weather thanks to Mt. Fuji’s blocking the moist winds from the Pacific Ocean. The temperature is about 6 degrees lower than in Tokyo due to high elevation.

In the summertime, it is very hard to fend off spiders and other bugs completely as is

the other side of being in the nature. We are reluctant to use very strong insecticides

which could be harmful to a small child.  Please advise us if you rather like us to use

strong insecticides before you come.