Mt Fuji · Lake Kawaguchi · New Route
Lake Kawaguchi’s New Oishi Park Ferry: A Way to Skip the Bus to the Best Fuji View
From 17 July 2026, you can reach Oishi Park — the postcard Mt Fuji viewpoint on Lake Kawaguchi’s north shore — by boat across the water, instead of squeezing onto the crowded sightseeing bus that circles the lake.
Oishi Park has one of the cleanest Mt Fuji views in the Fuji Five Lakes — a flower-lined promenade on the far shore of Lake Kawaguchi with the mountain rising straight across the water. It is also a bottleneck: everyone arrives on the same lakeside “Retro Bus,” and in peak season that bus is packed. The new Oishi Park Line, a water shuttle launched on 17 July 2026, is Fujikyu Group’s answer — cross the lake directly instead of riding around it.
The Oishi Park Ferry: Quick Facts (2026)
| What | “Oishi Park Line” (大石公園ライン) — a lake shuttle boat |
|---|---|
| Route | Funatsu pier (near Kawaguchiko Station) ↔ Oishi Park, direct across Lake Kawaguchi |
| Started | 17 July 2026 |
| Operator | Fuji Five Lakes Steamship (Fujigoko Kisen), a Fujikyu Group company |
| Boat | The “Ensoleillé” (アンソレイユ号) |
| Set ticket | Ropeway + shuttle round-trip set: adult ¥2,500, child ¥1,500 |
| Standalone fare / timetable | To be announced on the official site — check before you go |
On this page
What is the Oishi Park Line?
It is a direct boat shuttle between Funatsu pier — the main jetty near Kawaguchiko Station, on the south shore — and Oishi Park on the north shore, using the existing “Ensoleillé” boat. Instead of the long road loop the buses take around the lake, it cuts straight across the water. Fujikyu Group has framed it explicitly as a way to ease the peak-season bus congestion to Oishi Park, which is one of the most photographed Fuji spots in the area. The older sightseeing boat, the “Appare,” keeps running its own scenic loop.
Why go to Oishi Park at all?
Because the view earns the trip. Oishi Park sits on the quieter north shore, where a low flower promenade runs right along the water with nothing between you and Mt Fuji. It is best known for its seasonal planting: lavender in early summer and the fiery red kochia (burning bush) in autumn, both set against the mountain. The Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center at the park has local food and a shop. It is the kind of place that looks staged in photos and is simply real in person — which is exactly why the bus to it gets so full.
How do I ride the Oishi Park ferry?
Board at Funatsu pier, a short walk or bus ride from Kawaguchiko Station, and cross to Oishi Park. The neat part is the tie-in with the hilltop viewpoint: there is a combined ropeway-and-shuttle set ticket (adult ¥2,500, child ¥1,500) that pairs the boat with the Mt Fuji Panorama Ropeway on the south shore, so you can do the summit-view swing and the north-shore park in one loop.
Please note: as of launch, the operator has said the standalone one-way fare and the full timetable will be published on the official site closer to and after opening. Check Fujigoko Kisen’s official page for the current schedule and price before you plan around it — I’m not going to guess a number here.
Practical tips
Weather matters: lake boats can be suspended in strong wind or bad weather, so keep the Retro Bus as a backup and don’t build a tight schedule around a single crossing. Mornings tend to give the clearest Fuji and the calmest water.
- Pair it with the ropeway. The set ticket makes a natural half-day: ropeway viewpoint on the south side, boat across, flowers and Fuji at Oishi Park.
- Season sets the scene. Come in early summer for lavender or in autumn for the red kochia; both frame the mountain.
- Check the official site. Because the standalone fare and timetable are being finalised, confirm times the day before rather than trusting a printed guide.
FAQ: the Oishi Park ferry
What is the new Oishi Park ferry on Lake Kawaguchi?
It’s the “Oishi Park Line,” a boat shuttle launched on 17 July 2026 by Fujikyu Group’s Fuji Five Lakes Steamship. It connects Funatsu pier near Kawaguchiko Station directly across the lake to Oishi Park, to ease the crowded sightseeing-bus route.
How much does the Oishi Park ferry cost?
The standalone one-way fare and full timetable are being published on the operator’s official site around launch. There is a confirmed combined ticket — the ropeway-and-shuttle round-trip set at ¥2,500 for adults and ¥1,500 for children. Check the official site for the latest standalone price.
Where does the Oishi Park boat leave from?
From Funatsu pier, the main jetty near Kawaguchiko Station on the south shore of Lake Kawaguchi. It crosses directly to Oishi Park on the north shore.
Is the ferry better than the bus to Oishi Park?
In peak season it can be, because it skips the crowded lakeside bus and goes straight across the water with a full Fuji view. But boats can be cancelled in bad weather, so keep the Retro Bus as a backup.
What is there to see at Oishi Park?
A lakeside flower promenade with an open Mt Fuji view — lavender in early summer, red kochia in autumn — plus the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center with local food and a shop.
Can I combine the ferry with the Mt Fuji Panorama Ropeway?
Yes. There’s a set ticket pairing the ropeway with the shuttle (adult ¥2,500, child ¥1,500), which makes an easy half-day loop of the south-shore viewpoint and the north-shore park.
Plan your Lake Kawaguchi day
Base yourself by the lake, sort a data plan, and browse Fuji-area activities and tickets.
Find Kawaguchiko hotels Fuji activities on Klook Get a Japan eSIMSome links above are affiliate links; if you book through them, Hidden Japan Gems may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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