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Our guide
Lake Saiko is one of the Fuji Five Lakes, in Fujikawaguchiko near Mount Fuji — the fourth-largest by area and the second-deepest, up to 71.1 m. Its surface lies at 900 m, the same as Lake Motosu and Lake Shōji, and that is the clue to its past: the three were once a single lake, divided by a huge lava flow from Mount Fuji in the eruption of 864–868. The remains of that flow now lie under the Aokigahara forest, and there is evidence that the three lakes are still linked underground. Saiko has no natural outlet; a man-made channel now joins it to Lake Kawaguchi.
We have not checked a public-transport route, so plan the journey on the map and look for local information before you go.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Saiko Minshuku Mura @ Lake Saiko (10863162145) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Lake Sai and Aokigahara from Koyodai — Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Saiko Minshuku Mura @ Lake Saiko (10863161345) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Saiko Minshuku Mura @ Lake Saiko (10863312514) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Saiko Minshuku Mura @ Lake Saiko (10863313944) — Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 · source · resized
- Saiko lake 2022 Aug 27 5PM — Nesnad · CC BY 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Western Lake (西湖, Saiko), sometimes Saiko, is one of the Fuji Five Lakes and located in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in southern Yamanashi Prefecture near Mount Fuji, Japan. It is the fourth of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of surface area, and second deepest, with a maximum water depth of 71.1 metres (233 ft). Its surface elevation of 900 metres (3,000 ft) is the same as for Lake Motosu and Lake Shōji, confirming that these three lakes were originally a single lake, which was divided by an enormous lava flow from Mount Fuji during an eruption from 864 to 868 AD.The remnants of the lava flow are now under the Aokigahara Jukai Forest, and there is evidence to indicate that these three lakes remain connected by underground waterways. The lake is within the borders of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Saiko has no natural drainage, but an artificial channel now connects it to Lake Kawaguchi.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Lakes & falls
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
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