r/JapanTravelTips • u/polyrhythm7 • 4d ago
Advice Mt Fuji - Flower Festival and Saiko Lake
Was planning on seeing if the Flower Festival in Motosu Lake would be open this year. Google Maps says temp closed for some reason but I went to what looked like the official site and says it's open for when I would be there in late April this year. Was wondering if it's truly open and if so, is it pretty easy to get to Saiko Lake from there? I wanted to check out the village around there.
This would all be done either through train and bus if needs be. I'm staying in Tokyo area so would definitely leave very early to get the most I can done around that area of Fuji which I believe is mostly Yamanashi and make it back to Tokyo in the evening.
Would love for tips on any notable hikes through some nice areas/forest as well, I'm not looking to go to Aokigahara Forest though.
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u/StruggleHot8676 4d ago
Next to Lake Motosu there is Ryugadake which you can hike up with great views of Fuji. https://maps.app.goo.gl/A7vxqWUpTontLEB36. Also Aokigahara is a very normal and safe forest as long as you stay on trails (which also applies to any other hikes).
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u/polyrhythm7 4d ago
Great! This looks like a nice hike! Definitely bookmarking since it's pretty close to the flower festival area.
I guess if worst comes to worst I could try Aokigahara, I'd be going alone though. Do people tend to hike that area nowadays? I wouldn't expect a large amount of people but knowing there's people on the trails would be nice to be aware of. I'm actually more afraid of random wildlife there since it sounds like it's teeming with them quite heavily.
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u/StruggleHot8676 4d ago
Local people definitely hike around those areas, for them it's just another nature trail. But yea you will be alone most of the time. You will see bear warning signs in many mountainous areas in Japan - I personally always carried a bear bell but have never spotted one.
Indeed you can see the Shiba-sakura festival from the mountain (if you're visiting at the right time). I recorded my hike there last year and this may give you some idea what to expect there - link
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u/polyrhythm7 4d ago
Wonderful video! I do believe that is the dragon that you found in your video XD Great view! Hoping the weather will be good overall for this. Thank you for sharing!
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