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Yamanashi ⛰ Mountain 📷 10

Lake Yamanaka

山中湖

High ground with alpine air, big views and trails for every level.

See the photos How to get there Open in Maps
Best season Late May–October (autumn colour peaks Sep–Oct at altitude)
Time needed Half a day
Admission Free to hike; ropeway roughly ¥1,000–3,000 return (≈ $6–19)
Opening hours Ropeways typically 9:00–16:30, weather permitting

What this place is

Lake Yamanaka (山中湖, Yamanaka-ko, 'Lake in the Mountains') is located in the village of Yamanakako in Yamanashi Prefecture near Mount Fuji, Japan.Lake Yamanaka is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes in surface area and the highest in elevation.It is the third highest lake in Japan, with a mean surface altitude of 980.5 metres (3,217 ft).It is also the shallowest of the Fuji Five Lakes, with a maximum water depth of 13.5 metres (44 ft).It was formed by lava flows from an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.It is drained by the Sagami River and is the only one of the Fuji Five Lakes to have a natural outflow.Carp, dace and smelt were introduced to the lake in the Meiji period, although early efforts to introduce sockeye salmon were not successful.In more recent years, introduced exotics such as black bass and bluegill have increasingly displaced native species.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • Panoramas that open up above the treeline — on clear days you can trace whole valleys and distant ranges.
  • Vegetation that changes with altitude, from cedar forest to alpine flowers within a single climb.
  • Ropeways, toll roads or mountain buses that put the scenery within reach of casual visitors, not just hikers.

What you can do here

  • Ride the ropeway or mountain bus to the upper station and walk the easy loop trail at the top.
  • Photograph the sea of clouds or sunrise — early morning is usually the clearest window.
  • Hike a marked course matched to your time and fitness; most trailheads post an estimated round-trip time.
  • Combine the visit with a nearby hot spring to finish the day.

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

Getting there by public transport

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Temperature drops roughly 0.6°C per 100 m of elevation — bring a windproof layer even in summer.
  • Mountain transport stops early and pauses in winter or bad weather; check the last downhill service.
  • Bring cash: summit shops and mountain huts often have no card readers or signal.

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