From the dark fields at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the next meteor shower worth planning a night around is the Geminids on December 14, 2026: the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan expects about 60 meteors an hour from a…
Go early. That’s the whole secret to Kadoya Tofu (角屋豆富店), a family tofu maker in Oshino that calls itself the “Tofu Station.” Get there in the morning and there’s still-warm tofu — and, when I visited, a little counter where…
Most people come to Oshino for the eight famously clear spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai. I come for the tofu. A few minutes from the ponds, an old family tofu maker called Hakkai Tofu (八海とうふ / Asano Shokuhin) turns Mt.…
Renting a car near Mt. Fuji makes the Fuji lakes and quiet back-roads far easier to explore. But the roads here are catching a lot of visitors out: foreign cyclists keep riding onto the expressway because a maps app told…
A first-timer rescued after a night out at the 2nd station; a 58-year-old climber who didn't survive the Fujinomiya route — both in 24 hours. Five lessons on preparation, pacing and knowing when to turn back.
The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway climbs from Lake Kawaguchi to Mt. Tenjo in three minutes. Its new July 2026 Fuji Fortune Terrace, fares, hours, the smart set ticket, and how to get there without a car.
Lake Kawaguchi's new Oishi Park ferry (from 17 July 2026) crosses straight to the postcard Mt Fuji viewpoint, skipping the crowded bus. Route, set ticket and tips.
Vietjet's new Hanoi–Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport flight (2026): how far the airport really is from Fuji, getting to Kawaguchiko, and where Shizuoka Airport actually shines.
Mt Fuji is a UNESCO cultural — not natural — World Heritage Site. A Fujiyoshida local explains the 2013 listing, its faith-and-art story, and the 25 component parts.
Step-by-step English guide to reserving and paying the 4,000 yen Mt Fuji Yoshida-trail permit via Asoview, with real screenshots of the booking flow.
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Nearly every image on Hidden Japan Gems was photographed by me on a Sony α7 across five years of walking Japan; a few licensed photos fill the gaps. Please don't re-use my photos without permission — reach out if you'd like to.
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