FUJI FIVE LAKES

Fuji Goko is the name of the area on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of Mt. Fuji encompassing five lakes, each with its own unique character. Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchi-ko) is popular with tourists, Lake Yamanaka (Yamanaka-ko) is shaped like a whale at 1,000 m elevation, Lake Motosu (Motosu-ko) is known for its clear water and depth and is popular among divers, Lake Shoji (Shoji-ko) is the smallest of the five with a perimeter of 6.4 km, and Lake Sai (Sai-ko) shares its banks with the Aokigahara Jukai forest and is surrounded by rich natural environments. These lakes were formed by previous eruptions of Mt. Fuji, its lava flows damming rivers. During the Meiji era, British national Harry Stewart Whitworth discovered Lake Shoji as a result of his pursuit of “the best place to view the beautiful Mt. Fuji” and built a hotel exclusively for foreign nationals on the lakeside. He introduced the area overseas in 1895 as the “Switzerland of the Far East,” making the area known as an international resort. The scenic beauty of the lakes was recognized by the international community long before they were designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.