Most people who visit Mount Fuji stop at a single lake, snap one photo, and rush back to Tokyo. But that’s never been my style. If there are five lakes around one of the most iconic mountains on Earth, you better believe I’m going to see all five.

So I rented a car, mapped out my route, fueled up on 7-Eleven snacks, and spent an entire day chasing Mount Fuji from every possible angle. The reflections, the hidden beaches, the quiet viewpoints… and one moment so unexpectedly Japanese that it ended up being my favorite surprise of the day.

This is the full journey — breakfast at my hotel, lake by lake exploration, the 1,000-yen viewpoint, my “perfect Instagram shot” formula, and the icy sunset I’ll never forget.

Let’s start from the beginning.

Fuji Morning: A Hotel View Worth the Flight

I woke up in my hotel room, peeled open the curtains, and there it was — Mount Fuji glowing in the early light, clouds gently wrapping around its peak.

Before hitting the road, I checked out the hotel breakfast buffet: tofu with vegetables, macaroni salad, miso soup, pastries, omelettes, salmon, and that rice-flour French toast that tasted… like bread with rice in it. Good, not great. But the view? Unbeatable.

After fueling up, I grabbed water, snacks, and a chicken katsu sandwich from the convenience store and hit the road. Today was lake day.

Lake Motosu — The 1,000-Yen View

My first stop: Lake Motosu, the famous viewpoint printed on Japan’s 1,000-yen bill.

Getting there was easy — a 45-minute drive through quiet mountain roads. The parking lot was practically empty… because this lake is the farthest away from the main tourist area. But that’s exactly why it’s so magical.

Mount Fuji was mostly visible except for a thin cloud covering the top. Even then, the view was jaw-dropping.

Standing there looking at the exact scene that appears on Japan’s currency felt surreal. No crowds, no noise — just wind, water, and a mountain that didn’t even look real.

If you want the calmest vibes around Fuji, start here.

Lake Shoji — Quiet, Empty, and Beautiful

Next stop: Lake Shoji, the smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes and one of the quietest.

When I arrived, the place was completely empty except for a couple taking wedding photos. On a warm day, this is where you’d see the perfect Fuji reflection. Today was too windy, but it was still beautiful in its own moody way.

Shoji feels abandoned in the best possible sense — no crowds, no traffic, no tour buses. Just you, the lake, and Mount Fuji staring you down.

If you love hidden gems, this is your lake.

Lake Saiko — Boats, Silence & the Perfect Foreground Shot

My third stop was Lake Saiko, one of the most underrated lakes near Fuji.

Immediately I could tell this was something special: a few boats pulled onto the shore, a quiet ridge in the distance, and Mount Fuji perfectly framed above the water. This is where I started applying my personal “perfect Instagram shot formula”:

Background: Mount Fuji
Midground: The lake and ridge line
Foreground: Boats hitting the sunlight

Once you start composing photos like this, Fuji becomes a playground.

Lake Saiko also has great hikes, peaceful viewpoints, and a calm vibe that makes you want to stay longer than you planned.

Lake Kawaguchi — Oishi Park & The Most Beautiful Sunset of My Life

Finally, I made it to Lake Kawaguchi, the most popular lake and home to Oishi Park — one of the most photographed Fuji viewpoints in the world.

Normally, I don’t put the main tourist spot as my favorite. But there’s a reason everyone comes here:

Mount Fuji looks absolutely perfect.

Flowers in the spring, golden light in the afternoon, calm water, and that energy of a place where everyone is collectively happy to be alive.

As the sun started setting, something hit me — I was witnessing one of those sunsets that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Not because it was the most dramatic, but because everything aligned:

A clear Fuji.
Still air.
Cold enough to hurt, beautiful enough to ignore the cold.
A day of exploring that I knew I’d never forget.

And then came the most Japanese moment of all…

The Surprise: A Coca-Cola Vending Machine in the Snow

Driving between lakes, something bright red popped out of the corner of my eye.

A Coca-Cola vending machine.

Just sitting alone on the side of the road.
No store.
No gas station.
Just snow, silence, and this glowing red box… with Mount Fuji rising behind it.

I had to stop. I pulled into someone’s driveway just to take photos.

It looked like a scene from a dream: the contrast of the red machine against pure white snow, with Fuji watching over it all.

The funniest part?
I don’t even drink soda.

And yet that moment — random, unplanned, and perfectly Japanese — stuck with me more than almost anything else from the trip.

Back to Oishi Park — The Snowfall Transformation

On my final night, I returned to Oishi Park. It had snowed overnight, transforming the entire landscape into something peaceful and quiet.

No flowers.
No crowds.
Just snow, stillness, and Fuji.

I brought a Fuji apple with me — yes, the apples named after the mountain — and used it as a foreground object for photos. Then I ate it while watching my final Fuji sunset.

The symbolism wasn’t lost on me.
A Fuji apple at Mount Fuji, on my final Fuji sunset.

Perfect.

Google Maps Pins (All Locations Mentioned)

Lake Motosu (1,000-yen Viewpoint)

Lake Shoji (Teshiko Hama Beach)

Lake Saiko (Nemba Beach & Boat Area)

Oishi Park (Lake Kawaguchi)

Random Coca-Cola Vending Machine Spot
(Approximate, along Fujikawaguchiko backroads)

Watch the Full Video

Want to see the exact views, roads, lakes, and that magical red vending machine moment?

👉 Watch the full vlog on YouTube here:
“I Chased Mount Fuji All Day and Found THIS | Japan Vlog”

Travel is about moments — planned and unplanned — and this video captures all of them.

I Visited Every Mount Fuji Lake — Here’s the Winner - Japan Blog