Why Is Lake Kawaguchi Part of the Mount Fuji World Heritage Site?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to know why Lake Kawaguchi and the places around it are part of the Mount Fuji World Heritage Site. It explains how the lakes formed, which listed places lie in Fujikawaguchiko Town, and what each one stands for.

We used pages from Yamanashi Prefecture, the Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center, Fujikawaguchiko Town and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), all read on 2026-10-04. Opening hours and fees can change, so check before you go.

A town made by the volcano

Fujikawaguchiko Town lies at the northern foot of Mount Fuji. The town describes four lakes in its area: Kawaguchi, Saiko, Shoji and Motosu. All four were dammed by material thrown out by the volcano. Forest and open land cover much of the rest, with Aokigahara Forest the best known.

JMA's record of Mount Fuji shows how active the mountain has been. Lava flowed from its flanks between 864 and 866. In 1707, the Hoei eruption broke out on the south-east flank and dropped heavy ash as far as Edo, today's Tokyo.

What the World Heritage listing covers

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Mount Fuji in 2013 under the name "Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration". It is a cultural site, not a natural one. The decision came on 22 June 2013, at the committee's 37th session.

The Fujisan World Heritage Center gives two main reasons for the listing:

• Faith. People worshipped the gods and buddhas thought to live on the mountain. This grew into a tradition of living with the volcano and giving thanks for its spring water. It still shapes climbing and pilgrimage today.
• Art. Images of Fuji in early 19th-century woodblock prints were used again and again in Western art. They also became a widely known symbol of Japan abroad.

The site is made up of 25 nationally protected cultural properties, called component parts. Each one gives concrete proof of that value.

The listed places in Fujikawaguchiko Town

Yamanashi Prefecture's list shows eight component parts that lie wholly or partly in the town:

• Lake Kawaguchi (No. 12)
• Lake Saiko (1-7) and Lake Shoji (1-8)
• Lake Motosu (1-9), shared with Minobu Town
• the Yoshida Ascent Route (1-5), shared with Fujiyoshida City
• Kawaguchi Asama Shrine (No. 7)
• Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine (No. 8)
• the Funatsu Tainai lava tree molds (No. 21)

The prefecture's list of national designations names Lake Kawaguchi a Place of Scenic Beauty. Kawaguchi Asama Shrine is a Historic Site. Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine is a Historic Site, and the main hall of its upper shrine is an Important Cultural Property. The Funatsu tree molds are a Natural Monument.

Why the lakes are on the list

The prefecture describes the Fuji Five Lakes as scenic places closely linked to many works of art. Mount Fuji reflected in their water is known as "upside-down Fuji". A photograph of Fuji taken from Lake Motosu has been used several times on Japanese banknotes.

The lakes were also places of pilgrimage. Many followers of Fuji-ko, the popular Fuji faith groups, made a training circuit of eight lakes around the mountain. The prefecture says the Five Lakes were always counted among the stops, in every period.

Lakes Saiko, Shoji and Motosu are listed inside the "Fujisan mountain area", component 1. The prefecture says this area is set at about 1,500 m and above, the part most important to Fuji's value. It says the area includes the view from Lake Motosu used on the current 1,000 yen note.

Two shrines and a lava cave

Kawaguchi Asama Shrine. Tradition says it was the first Asama shrine built on the north side of Fuji, after an eruption in the late 9th century. From the late Middle Ages to the Edo period, Kawaguchi grew into a village of oshi. These were guides who looked after pilgrims. The shrine still holds religious events closely tied to the mountain. The prefecture lists the grounds as free to enter, about a 10-minute bus ride from Kawaguchiko Station and a 5-minute walk.

Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine. Tradition says it was founded in the early 9th century at the second station of the Yoshida Ascent Route. Some documents call it the earliest shrine on the mountain. Its main hall was moved to the lower shrine site in the 1970s. The prefecture lists it as open from 8:30 to 17:00, 16 minutes by sightseeing bus from Kawaguchiko Station.

Funatsu Tainai lava tree molds. In 1617, the Fuji-ko founder figure Hasegawa Kakugyo found a cave on the north side and enshrined the Asama god there. Fuji-ko followers found the present Funatsu tree mold in 1673. The goddess Konohanasakuya-hime is enshrined inside.

How Fuji became a cultural site

The Fujisan World Heritage Center sets out the long road to listing:

• Yamanashi and Shizuoka adopted the Mount Fuji Charter in 1998. It asks people to protect the mountain's nature and culture.
• In 2003 a national panel left Fuji off its list of candidates for natural heritage.
• Japan added Fuji to its tentative list for cultural heritage in January 2007.
• The formal nomination went to UNESCO in January 2012.
• In 2013 the site was inscribed as a cultural site.

Fujikawaguchiko Town also marks 23 February each year as "Mount Fuji Day". A town ordinance set the day to give thanks to the mountain and to protect it.

The World Heritage Center by the lake

The Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center stands in Funatsu, in Fujikawaguchiko Town. It explains the site and its component parts. By bus, get off at the "Fujisan World Heritage Center" stop from Kawaguchiko Station, then walk about one minute. Parking is free.

The center lists opening hours of 9:00 to 17:00. In July and August it opens 8:30 to 18:00, and from December to February 9:00 to 16:30. The North building is open all year. The South building closes on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Entry fees for the World Heritage Center. We did not find them on the pages we read.
• The last entry time at the center. The Japanese page says 15 minutes before closing, but the English page says 30 minutes.
• Prayer times and festival dates at the two shrines.
• Which stretch of the Yoshida Ascent Route lies in Fujikawaguchiko Town rather than Fujiyoshida City.
• Current access and fees for the Funatsu tree mold. The prefecture's page gives them, but we did not check them with the site itself.

Related guides

• How Do You Get to Lake Kawaguchi from Tokyo?
• How Do You Stay Safe Around Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji?

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. 「富士山」の構成資産紹介 (Yamanashi Prefecture) — (list of 25 parts and their towns; mountain area above about 1,500 m; lakes, art and pilgrimage; banknote view; the two shrines; Funatsu tree mold; access notes)
2. 構成資産一覧 (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (national designation of each part)
3. 世界遺産 構成資産ミニブック (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (inscribed 2013 under the name; 25 parts chosen as proof of value)
4. 世界遺産について (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (cultural site; faith and art as the two values)
5. 世界遺産登録までのあゆみ (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (Mount Fuji Charter 1998; 2003 natural heritage decision; tentative list 2007; nomination 2012; 22 June 2013 at the 37th session)
6. アクセス (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (address, bus stop, parking)
7. センターについて (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (opening hours; closing days; last entry in Japanese)
8. Home (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center) — (last entry in English)
9. 町勢概要 (Fujikawaguchiko Town) — (northern foot of Fuji; four lakes dammed by volcanic material; forests)
10. 富士山世界文化遺産登録 (Fujikawaguchiko Town) — (inscription decided 22 June 2013)
11. 富士山の日（毎年2月23日） (Fujikawaguchiko Town) — (Mount Fuji Day ordinance)
12. 富士山 (Japan Meteorological Agency) — (flank lava 864 to 866; 1707 Hoei eruption and ash)