What other travelers are saying about Arakurayama Sengen Park & Chureito Pagoda
This was my second time visiting this place. This time, I went by bus with a Japanese co-worker who kindly arranged the transportation for us, allowing us to experience the scenic ride to the area.
The location is quite elevated, so I recommend visitors be prepared for some uphill walking. Doing regular physical activities like jogging, walking, or running beforehand can definitely help you handle the climb to the observation deck more comfortably.
We visited in June, and the number of tourists was noticeably lower compared to the peak months of March and April, making for a more relaxed experience.
There are public toilets and a drinking fountain (faucet-style) available in the area. You might notice warning signs about bears and monkeys, though we didn’t encounter any during our visit.
There’s also a small restaurant nearby that serves ramen, karaage (fried chicken), and sells souvenirs. A good spot to rest and enjoy a meal after the climb.
I visited Arakurayama Sengen Park today and walked up to the observation deck.
There was a queue of people waiting to take photos of Mount Fuji—some waited up to 30 minutes.
All the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom and looked absolutely beautiful.
Climbing to the top is a good way to test your stamina and get some leg exercise.
Most people choose the stairs, as they offer a shorter route than the walkway.
The walkway has a steep incline at the beginning, but the area around the observation deck is relatively flat.
It's a great place to visit and capture stunning photos.
All the toilets are not clean as other areas of Japan.
This is another iconic spots to observe Mount Fuji. I came here around 8am by car, you can park at the free car parking spot at the bottom of the hill. There's a free public restroom as well. If you come early you dont have to worry about the crowds at all, and it's easier to take photos. If you come by train, you can stop at Shimoyoshida station and walk and hike for 20 minutes to reach the top. To get to the top at the observation deck you can either climb up the stairs or you can take the hiking trail or winding road which is longer in distance but more friendly to your knees. And since I have bad knees, I took the winding road to the top, some parts are quite steep, therefore just relax and keep on hiking, eventually you'll reach the top. It took me 20 minutes to hike the winding road, I guess it would be faster if you take the stairs. Once you rech the top, you'll see the observation deck at which you can photgraph the view of Mount Fuji with Chureito pagoda in it. Honestly, it is very breathtaking and the view are so mesmerizing. I love every second of my trip here.
Highlyyyy recommend coming just after sunrise if you can. We arrived around 5:45am in June and only 5 of us were there. It was easy to take photos and enjoy the silence without the crowds. It was also much cooler and made the climb easy! It’s simple to find from the train station, well sign-posted so you can’t get lost. Just be aware, a bear was spotted in this area. The locals were carrying bear bells to deter it and I wish I had some of my own. Luckily, we did not see it!
Amazing view specially if Mt. Fuji shows during your visit. Always crowded so having a good photo without photo Bomber is hard to get.
Note: No Entrance Fee but long hard walk. Not suitable for little ones. You need to climb the 398 stone steps to reach the top of the shrine for better view. Drink lots of water .
Perfect time to visit: spring and winter
