Mount Fuji’s Worst Destination… and Its Best Meal
Every trip has that stop.
The one that looks incredible on paper, shows up in every guidebook, and promises the perfect postcard version of Japan — but completely collapses once you arrive.
This Mount Fuji day started with my biggest travel regret in Japan… and somehow ended with one of the most authentic meals and experiences I’ve had anywhere in the country.
From total chaos to total redemption — this is the Mount Fuji trip that had it all.
The Promise: Oshino Hakkai
My first stop was Oshino Hakkai, also known as the Eight Seas of Oshino — a small village famous for eight crystal‑clear ponds fed by snowmelt straight from Mount Fuji.
On paper, it sounded perfect.
Traditional wooden buildings. Quiet walkways. Water wheels turning slowly. Mount Fuji standing tall in the background.
I’ve visited similar villages around Fuji and absolutely loved them. This felt like a guaranteed win.
The Reality: Tour Bus Chaos
The first red flag?
The buses.
Dozens of them.
Then the crowds spilling out — all at once.
Within minutes, it was clear this place wasn’t a hidden gem at all. Oshino Hakkai is a full‑scale tour bus stop, packed shoulder‑to‑shoulder with visitors before 9 a.m.
The village itself is beautiful. The ponds are crystal clear. The water mills are charming. Mount Fuji looks incredible from here.
But experiencing it peacefully? Almost impossible.
Bridges were closed due to crowd control. Photo spots were clogged. The atmosphere felt rushed, loud, and overly commercial.
After barely 15 minutes, I knew.
This was it.
The worst destination I visited around Mount Fuji.
The Only Saving Grace: Street Food
Before leaving, I grabbed some grilled Japanese beef from one of the food vendors lining the entrance.
Rich. Juicy. Delicious.
Honestly? I could’ve eaten ten of them.
But even the large food court was completely packed — no tables, no space, no break from the noise. And this was still late morning.
With that, I officially crowned Oshino Hakkai my biggest travel regret in Japan.
Time to move on.
Redemption Through Food
After chaos like that, redemption usually comes in one form in Japan:
A quiet, local restaurant.
Kosaku Kawaguchiko (houtou)
I found it just a short drive away in Kawaguchiko — a traditional spot known for serving rare meats and classic mountain dishes.
I arrived just before the dinner rush.
Perfect timing.
When I left, the line stretched out the door.
One of the Most Authentic Meals in Japan
Shoes off at the door. Tatami seating. Locals quietly eating around me.
No tourist menus. No English chatter.
This immediately felt different.
I came looking for bear meat — something famously served in the region — but they were sold out. Instead, I ended up ordering horse sashimi and wild boar dumplings.
Not exactly everyday travel food.
The horse sashimi was surprisingly mild — closer to beef than anything else. The wild boar soup was hearty, earthy, and perfect for a cold Mount Fuji evening.
Not cheap. Not flashy.
But deeply authentic.
Hands down one of the most memorable meals I’ve had in Japan.
A Hidden, Family‑Run Sake Brewery
Just when I thought the day was complete, it delivered one more surprise.
Tucked deep inside a quiet neighborhood was a small, family‑run sake brewery that’s been operating for over 60 years.
Finding it felt like unlocking a secret.
The parking lot fit maybe two cars. The building looked more like someone’s home than a business.
Inside, sake bottles were being cleaned, filled, capped, and packaged — all right in front of me.
This wasn’t a tourist attraction.
This was real Japan.
I didn’t have time for a full tasting or tour (a mistake — budget at least an hour here), but I picked up a bottle as a souvenir for people back home.
Absolutely worth the stop.
The Final Test: Making the Last Bus
And then came the sprint.
I’d lost track of time at the brewery — and missing the last bus back to Tokyo was not an option.
Running through Mount Fuji with a backpack, racing the clock, hoping I’d planned just well enough.
I made it.
Barely.
At exactly 11:20, the bus pulled away, Mount Fuji fading into the distance.
The Honest Takeaway
Some places around Mount Fuji are completely overhyped.
Others — the ones you don’t see plastered all over social media — are the reason this region is special.
Oshino Hakkai? A miss.
That quiet restaurant. The family‑run sake brewery. The moments in between?
That’s why I love Japan.
📍 Google Maps Links
Oshino Hakkai (Eight Seas of Oshino)
Kawaguchiko Traditional Restaurant Kosaku Kawaguchiko (houtou) (Rare Meats)
Family‑Run Sake Brewery (Kawaguchiko area) Ide Sake Brewery
Lawson Convenience Store (Mount Fuji view)
🎥 Watch the Full Adventure on YouTube
Want to see the crowds at Oshino Hakkai, the incredible local meal, the hidden sake brewery — and how close I came to missing the last bus to Tokyo?
👉 Watch the full video on Alex Travels Far on YouTube.
As always — travel far.