Yamanashi · Fujikawaguchiko · Mt Fuji By Nobu · Updated September 2026 · I walked up to the torii on 9 February 2026; the photographs are from that morning. The contribution, the bus fare and the trail closure were re-checked…
Do not climb Mt. Fuji outside official season Mt. Fuji’s official climbing season is early July to early September. Outside this window every summit route is closed, the huts on those routes are shut, no resident rescue team is on…
Field Value ID 1615 post_title Haha no Shirataki: A Sacred Frozen Waterfall Near Mt. Fuji post_modified 2026-09-18 15:42:11 In the mountains north of Lake Kawaguchiko sits Haha no Shirataki (母の白滝), the Mother’s White Waterfall. It is worth a visit in…
Dreaming of seeing Japan’s iconic peak draped in a pristine blanket of white? A winter trip to see the Mt Fuji snow is an unforgettable experience, but it requires careful planning. The crisp, clear air of winter offers the best…
Planning a trip to Japan’s most iconic peak? You might be wondering what the best time to see Mt Fuji is. While many assume summer is the ideal season, the recorded odds run the other way: winter mornings are the…
Written and verified by Nobu, a Fujiyoshida resident who checks and photographs Mt. Fuji from the base almost every day, usually in the morning and sometimes later in the day. When he has checked for the day, today’s status shows…
When exploring the area around Mount Fuji, the desire for an authentic, local dining experience often leads you away from the main tourist hubs and into the quiet backstreets. In Fujiyoshida, a city at the northern base of the iconic…
Fujiyoshida City officially cancelled the 2026 Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival on February 3, 2026 — a direct response to overtourism, with 2025 attendance reported above 210,000 and daily peaks of 10,000+. The park itself remains open, but the…
Witness thousands of candles, sky lanterns, and fireworks illuminate the winter sky against the silhouette of Mount Fuji at this magical one-day event. On a single, fleeting evening in February, the shores of Lake Yamanakako transform into a breathtaking world…
If you’re in the Mt. Fuji area and want a local, affordable meal, here’s a place I keep going back to. Tiger Shokudo is a diner in Fujiyoshida that I’ve eaten at many times. It serves Japanese home-style food, and…
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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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