Fujiyoshida
富士吉田市
Things to Do in and Around Fujiyoshida
A highland city at the northern foot of Mount Fuji in southeastern Yamanashi Prefecture. The urban area sits at an elevation of roughly 650 to 900 meters, making for relatively cool summers. During the Edo period, the city thrived as a hub for Fuji worship, with over 80 oshi lodging houses welcoming pilgrims at its peak. Today, visitors from around the world come for the iconic view of Mount Fuji framed by a five-storied pagoda at Arakurayama Sengen Park, and for the city’s signature thick-noodle Yoshida udon.
Where is Fujiyoshida?
Fujiyoshida is located in southeastern Yamanashi Prefecture, on the northern slopes of Mount Fuji. It borders Nishikatsura and Tsuru to the north, Fujikawaguchiko to the west, and Oshino and Yamanakako to the south, serving as the eastern gateway to the Fuji Five Lakes area. The city stretches from north to south, with its southern edge reaching up the flanks of Mount Fuji, resulting in significant differences in elevation across the municipality.
As of 2025, the population is approximately 46,000. The main urban area sits on a plateau at around 750 meters above sea level, where average summer temperatures hover around 25°C, though winters bring bitter cold and occasional snowfall. Underground water from Mount Fuji springs up throughout the city, adding to the appeal of this well-watered highland.
Getting Around
The main station in Fujiyoshida is Fujisan Station on the Fuji Kyūkō Line. From Shinjuku, take a limited express on the Chūō Line to Ōtsuki Station in about one hour, then transfer to the Fuji Kyūkō Line for roughly 50 minutes to Fujisan Station. The Fuji Excursion limited express offers a direct ride from Shinjuku in about two hours with no transfer required. Highway buses from Busta Shinjuku reach Fuji-Q Highland and Fujisan Station in approximately one hour and 50 minutes, a convenient option when traveling with heavy luggage.
Local buses operate within the city but run infrequently. Fuji-Q Highland and Arakurayama Sengen Park are within walking distance of the station, though renting a car is the most efficient way to explore the wider Fuji Five Lakes area. Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka are just 20 to 30 minutes away by the Fuji Kyūkō Line or bus.
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About Fujiyoshida
This city at the foot of Mount Fuji brings together a history of mountain worship, shopping streets that retain echoes of the Shōwa era, and some of the finest views of Mount Fuji anywhere.
Arakurayama Sengen Park and the Chūreitō Pagoda
The most famous view in Fujiyoshida is the scene from Arakurayama Sengen Park, where the five-storied Chūreitō Pagoda and Mount Fuji fit perfectly into a single frame. Reached after climbing 398 steps, this vista has been featured in international guidebooks and tourism websites as an iconic image of Japan, drawing photographers from around the world. The park is planted with approximately 650 Somei Yoshino cherry trees, and the blossom season from early to mid-April is particularly spectacular. Autumn foliage and winter snowscapes are equally impressive, making it worth a visit in any season.
Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Shrine and Fuji Worship
Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Shrine, a component of the Mount Fuji World Cultural Heritage Site, is said to have a history spanning over 1,900 years as the starting point of the Yoshida Trail. Walking along the approach lined with towering cedar trees, visitors encounter the 18-meter-tall Fujisan Ōtorii gate. One of the largest wooden torii in Japan, it is rebuilt once every 60 years. Beside the main hall stands the Fuji Tarō Sugi, a sacred cedar estimated to be around 1,000 years old, lending the entire grounds a solemn atmosphere.
During the Edo period, pilgrimages to Mount Fuji surged in popularity among commoners, with Fuji-kō devotional groups numbering over 9,000 in the Kantō region alone. More than 80 oshi lodging houses once lined the area around the shrine, providing accommodation and guiding pilgrims up the mountain. A handful of these survive today, including the former Togawa family residence, preserving the memory of the era’s faith and way of life.
Strolling Shimoyoshida and Yoshida Udon
The Shimoyoshida district, stretching south of Fujisan Station, was once a thriving textile town. At its peak, the boom was known locally as gachaman, and the Nishiura entertainment district packed in around 100 bars and restaurants. After the decline of the textile industry, shuttered storefronts gradually took over, but in recent years renovated buildings have found new life as cafes, guesthouses, and galleries, breathing fresh energy into the Shōwa-era streetscape. The view of Mount Fuji rising above the shopping street is a sight unique to this town.
Yoshida's Udon / Photo AC
No visit to Fujiyoshida is complete without trying Yoshida udon, the city’s signature dish. At over 60 shops across the city, diners are served extremely thick, firm noodles with a chewy bite that demands serious chewing. The standard style features a miso-and-soy-sauce-blended broth topped with cabbage and horse meat. Adding suridane, a chili-based condiment, transforms the flavor entirely — well worth a try. At just 250 to 500 yen per bowl, the price is as appealing as the taste, though most shops only serve lunch and close around 2 PM, so plan to visit in the morning.
Fuji-Q Highland
Mt Fuji and FujiQ / Pixta
Fuji-Q Highland, where towering roller coasters stand against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, is just one stop from Fujisan Station on the Fuji Kyūkō Line. FUJIYAMA, a 79-meter-tall coaster that debuted in 1996, set Guinness World Records for height, speed, and maximum drop at the time of its opening. Other headline attractions include Eejanaika, whose seats spin in every direction as the coaster hurtles along, and Takabisha, which boasts a maximum drop angle of 121 degrees — among the most thrilling rides in Japan. Admission to the park is free, with charges applied per individual attraction, so even visitors with no interest in rides can enjoy a leisurely stroll around the grounds and its shops.