Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INFORMATION
Fuji-Yoshida tourist o
ce
On the left as you exit
Mount Fuji station (daily 9am-5pm;
T
0555 22 7000,
W
www.city.fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp), with tons of infor-
mation, in English. If you're here to climb Fuji, pick up a free
copy of the
Mount Fuji Climber's Guide Map
(also available
at the Kawaguchi-ko tourist o
ce - see below); there's
similar information on the tourist o
ce website.
Kawaguchi-ko tourist o
ce
Outside Kawaguchi-ko
station, this branch (daily 8.30am-5.30pm;
T
0555 72
6700) is just as useful as its counterpart in Fuji-Yoshida.
ACCOMMODATION
Fuji-Yoshida and Kawaguchi-ko have plenty of good places to stay, including youth hostels and hotels. Fuji
climbers
could
consider overnighting in one of the mountain huts (see box, p.217), but the claustrophobic should stick to the roomier
accommodation at the base of the mountain. There are also several
campsites
around the lakes.
There's also a well-equipped kitchen, comfy lounge, internet
access, laundry and bike rental, as well as a small bar. They'll
even p
ick up fro
m the s
tation for free (8am-7.30pm). Dorms
¥2500
; doubles
¥6800
Sunnide Resort
αχʔσϦκʔτ
Kawaguchi-ko
T
0555 76 6004,
W
www.sunnide.com.
This attractive
complex of hotel and holiday cottages (sleeping 4) offers
spectacular views across the lake towards Mount Fuji. It
has lovely public baths too. It's on the north si
de of the
lake, to
wards the
Kubota Itchiku Art Museum.
¥12,600
;
cottages
¥16,000
FUJI
YOSHIDA
Daikoku-ya
େࠃ
Honchō-dōri, Fuji-Yoshida
T
0555
22 3778.
This original pilgrims' inn on the main road still
takes guests in its very traditional and beautifully decorated
tatami rooms (though the owner prefers guests who can
speak so
me Japane
se). Rate includes two meals. Closed
Oct-April.
¥14,000
Fuji-Yoshida Youth Hostel
࢜٢ాϢʔεϗεςϧ
2-339 Shimo Yoshida Hon-chō, Fuji-Yoshida-shi
T
0555
22 0533,
W
jyh.or.jp.
Small, appealing hostel with tatami
rooms in a family home. It's a 20min walk from Mount Fuji
station, but less from Shimo-Yoshida, the preceding
station. En
glish is
spoken and meals are available. Closed
Jan. Dorms
¥3885
20
FARTHER AFIELD
Earth Embassy Solar Café Farm & Guest House
Ξʔε
ΤϯόγʔιʔϥΧϑΣʔϑΝʔϜˍήετϋε
8529-
74 Narusawa-mura, on Route 139 towards Shoji-ko
T
0555 85 3329,
W
earthembassy.org; bus from
Kawaguchi-ko station (last bus around 5.30pm) to the
Koyodai-iriguchi bus stop - the farm is 300m beyond.
This rustic organic café and farm is run by volunteers, who
give cooking and farming workshops as well as providing
basic accommodation and camping space for those with
their own tents. Note there's no running hot water (the local
onsen is a 15min walk, and costs ¥1200) and that reservations
are ess
ential as it sometimes cl
oses in
winter. Tatami rooms
¥4500
per person; treehouse
¥2000
per person; camping
¥1500
KAWAGUCHI
KO
Ì
Fuji Lake
࢜ϨʔΫϗςϧ
1 Funatsu, Kawaguchi-
ko-machi
T
0555 72 2209,
W
fujilake.co.jp.
Large
lakeside hotel that dates back to the 1930s, making it one
of Japan's oldest such facilities. Its rooms are all large and
very stylish, and feature charming wash-rooms into which
onsen wat
er is pipe
d. There's another fantastic onsen
downstairs.
¥14,700
Ì
K's House Mount Fuji
,`Tϋε࢜ࢁ
6713-
108 Funatsu, Kawaguchi-ko-machi
T
0555 83 5556,
W
kshouse.jp.
Super-friendly hostel with a choice of either
bunk-bed dorms or private tatami-style rooms, some en suite.
EATING
FUJI
YOSHIDA
Ì
Menkyo Kaiden
໙ڐօ
849-1 Kami-Yoshida
T
0555 23 8806.
Though a little bit of a hike from the
station, this is the undisputed udon favourite with lunching
locals; you may have to wait for a seat. The menu can be a
little confusing, but staff recommend the
yokubari
, which
FUJI
NOODLES
Both Fuji-Yoshida and Kawaguchi-ko are renowned for their thick
teuchi
(handmade)
udon
noodles
.
Fuji-Yoshida
udon comes topped with shredded cabbage and carrot, and is usually
prepared and served in people's homes at lunchtime only; the tourist o
ce can provide a
Japanese list and map of the best homes and restaurants serving it. Most places serve just
three types of dishes:
yumori
, noodles in a soup;
zaru,
cold noodles; and
sara
, warm noodles
dipped in hot soup. In Kawaguchi-ko, be sure to try
hōtō
, a hearty broth served piping hot;
fillings vary, but sweet pumpkin is the local favourite.
