Chureito Pagoda – the best view of Mount Fuji
Chureito Pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park is one of the most iconic places in all of Japan. Seeing pictures on the internet does not take away from the moment you step onto the Chureito Pagoda viewpoint. The stunning views of Mount Fuji are simply iconic and the Pagoda itself lends to the indescribable charm. The shrine itself is extremely serene and peaceful, with people coming to pray and pay respects and homage to the soldiers that died in World War II. Here is the full travel guide to Chureito Pagoda.
Have a look at my other Japan travel guides here for an epic 10 day Japan itinerary including travel tips on Kyoto, the bowing deer of Nara and Mount Fuji!
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Best tours to Mount Fuji:
There are tonnes of tours to Mount Fuji, whether it is fruit picking, visiting the lakes, visiting an onsen, or of course, trekking up to Chureito Pagoda, there’s something for everyone.
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Chureito Pagoda
Chureito Pagoda, also sometimes known as Chureito Red Pagoda, is one of the most iconic landmarks in Japan which you absolutely must visit; located in the Fuji Five Lakes region of Japan it has the arguably the best view of Mount Fuji. It’s incredible at all times of year; from the cherry blossom season in March/April, to summer, to the snow capped tops of winter or the resplendent reds of autumn.
The walk up to the viewpoint of Chureito Pagoda is about 20 minutes uphill, nothing too strenuous and once at the top it give you the most breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Fuji. The pagoda overlooks the city of Fujiyoshida and the Chureito Arakura Sengen Shrine and includes cherry blossoms, forests, and, of course, the majestic cone-shaped volcano of Mount Fuji.
Don’t miss in the area…
Fujiyoshida is a great little town sitting at the base of Mt Fuji and has some excellent viewpoints. There’s also the Fujiyoshida Cenotaph Monument. If you get a chance, take a walk around Lake Kawaguchiko & Lake Kawaguchi. And of course, the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
There’s also Mount Fuji World, an incredible theme park!
Chureito Pagoda History
Chureito Pagoda is a fairly recent construction, all things considered; it’s a stunning five-story pagoda dating back 60 years as a part of Arakura Sengen Shrine which is actually several centuries old.
Our guide told us that the Chureito Pagoda was created in memory and in honour of the soldiers that lost their lives in World War 2, and it’s a serene place for prayer and reflection.
Despite it being a relatively new construction, it looks like many of the ancient pagodas that are dotted around Japan.
Churieto Pagoda Hike
The walk up to Chureito Pagoda is not too long, around 15-20 minute walk uphill.
Most people park at the bottom of the hill at the Arakura Sengen Shrine and the path to the pagoda is lined with approximately 400 steps that winds through the forest, however our lovely guide informed us that it is actually faster and more direct to walk up on the road. Along the way, you’ll encounter many of the famous torii gates, small shrines, and it is fairly peaceful on the way up.
When is Cherry Blossom Season in Japan at Chureito Pagoda?
One of the most popular times to visit Chureito Pagoda is during the cherry blossom season, the peak is usually around mid April, but cherry blossoms can bloom from around March and April. Don’t miss the Cherry blossom festival too! The pagoda and Mount Fuji is completely surrounded by cherry blossoms in full bloom, creating one of the most photographable, photogenic shots that’s fairly recognised worldwide. Expect it to be fairly busy though; this time of year draws large crowds of both locals and tourists who come to witness the beauty of the cherry blossoms against the backdrop of Mount Fuji.
A visit to Mount Fuji literally can’t be missed in Japan and Chureito Pagoda is the cherry on top of the cake! It’s only around 1 hour outside of Tokyo so it’s an easy day trip OR I would recommend staying at least 1 night if you can.
Have a look at my other Japan travel guides here for an epic 10 day Japan itinerary!
There are plenty of day tours you can do around this neighbourhood, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Hotels near Chureito Pagoda
There are a tonne of hotels in the area and I loved staying here and waking up to the most incredible views of Mount Fuji. I recommend staying nearby for at least one night, if not 2 so you can do some tours around the area.
Mount Fuji Glamping experience near Chureito Pagoda
We did an incredible Mount Fuji Glamping experience which I cannot recommend highly enough. We stayed 1 night in a bubble tent and we got to wake up to incredible views at sunrise. We also spent 1 night in their villa.
Everything is super thought out at Glamping Villa Hanz Kawaguchiko; they pre prepare all your food for you so you still have an authentic glamping experience but it is super luxury! They provide personal fires and BBQs for you and prep all your food, veggies, steaks and potatoes for you. It is, quite frankly, an incredible experience glamping at the base of Mount Fuji. Glamping Villa Hanz Kawaguchiko has 2 onsens; a private outdoor onsen, and a shared indoor onsen, read more below.
Mount Fuji Onsen Glamping
Onsens are essentially public baths or spas which are a traditional part of Japanese life, but make sure that you are aware of onsen etiquette, such as not wearing swimwear and adhering to specific rules in shared baths.
- Onsens are traditional Japanese hot springs, offer relaxation in mineral-rich waters, the decor is often very natural, mimicking the outdoors and rocky geothermal spas.
- Men and women are separated into two separate sections of the onsen.
- You are expected to enter the onsen naked. Nude. No clothes!
- Tattoos – this can be a bit contentious and you are unlikely to be allowed into an onsen with tattoos, unless. of course, it is a specific tattoo friendly onsen. Tattoos historically have been associated with gangs and gang violence. Onsens naturally wanted to avoid any fights inside, being local community areas, meaning most onsens will not allow you to enter if you have tattoos.
- These baths (onsens) are an integral part of Japanese culture and tradition, not only used to keep the body clean but also for the social aspect, the healing properties and soothing effects on both body and mind.
- There are plenty of different baths in the onsens and they can be steaming hot to warm, or ice cold. Heat therapy is great for the body!
- The mineral composition of each onsen water is meant to be unique, with therapeutic benefits.
- You are meant to properly scrub your skin thoroughly at the showers before entering the onsen, as a sign of respect and hygiene.
- Onsens often have indoor and outdoor baths, and when there is an outdoor section it is usually very scenic and beautiful; think Japanese gardens and rocky outcrops.
- Many onsens have saunas, relaxation areas, masseuses and even traditional Japanese meals.
- Onsen are found throughout Japan, with popular regions like Hakone, Beppu, and Kusatsu known for their hot springs.
- It’s generally fairly cheap. Most onsens cost between 1-5 GBP / 1.20-6 USD and are equal to some of the nicest spas I’ve been to around London and the UK.
Have a look at my other Japan travel guides here for an epic 10 day Japan itinerary!
Prayers at Japanese Shrinesn
I was taught about Japanese prayers or signs of respect when visiting temples by some locals; there are plenty of people that go to visit a buddha shrine Japan or buddha statue in Japan.n
Firstly, you are encouraged to toss a Japanese coin that is either 5 or, if you’re generous, 50 into the offering box. The reason behind this is because the Japanese word for 5 or 50 sounds similar to the words for good luck!
- 5-Yen Coin (Go-en): The 5-yen coin is known as “go-en” in Japanese, which, according to our tour guide, apparently sounds similar to the word for “good luck” or “good destiny.” This means that many people choose to make offerings with the 5-yen coin when praying and making wishes at shrines and temples in the hopes of garnering a little more good luck. If they’re not placing a 5 yen coin on a statue, you will also likely see people toss a 5-yen coin into an offering box (saisen-bako) and then clap their hands together twice to get the attention of the deities and make their prayer or wish.
- 50-Yen Coin (Gojū-en): The 50-yen coin is called “gojū-en” in Japanese which similarly to the 5 yen offering, sounds similar to the phrase of good luck, however this is said to be a more generous offering! Apparently, it’s less commonly used than the 5-yen coin for offerings and said to be used for more significant offerings.n
- After throwing the coin, the Japanese tradition is to clap twice, then to bow twice. When I asked our PR why this was the case, he wasn’t actually sure so I’ve looked this up on Google for you!
- Clapping twice is meant to get the Deities’ & spirits’ attention and others say that clapping is a cleansing ritual, meaning that when you clap twice you rid yourself of negative energy and negative thoughts.
Have a look at my other Japan travel guides here for an epic 10 day Japan itinerary!
Chureito Pagoda Opening hours
Chureito Pagoda is open 24 hours a day! It is accessible to the public at all hours and I certainly took advantage of this to visit at sunrise. Scroll down below to see sunrise time under the weather section.
Chureito Pagoda Entrance fee
Chureito Pagoda is completely free and open 24 hours a day! It is accessible to the public at all hours.
How to get to Chureito Pagoda?
Chureito Pagoda from Tokyo
Chrueito Pagoda is slightly off the beaten track but you will be able to access it by:
- Booking onto a tour
- Hiring a car and doing a road trip
- Getting a train: Get off at Fujiyoshida station. You can either walk 38 minutes, or take a taxi. It’s best to get the Japan Rail Pass if you’re in Japan for some time. The closest station to the Chureito Pagoda is Shimo-Yoshida Station on the Fujikyu Railway line. You can also take a bus: get off at the Gekkoji-eki-mae bus stop.
Chureito Pagoda to Kawaguchiko station is about a 10 minute drive.
Chureito Pagoda Map
It’s located in one of the suburbs just outside Tokyo called Fujiyoshida! Save the location to your google maps so you can come back to it later.
What is the best time of day to visit?
I personally went at sunrise, which was fantastic but it did involve me getting up at around 4am. I think any time of day is stunning, but just bear in mind that in the middle of the day there are likely to be a lot of tourists.
If you want to photograph at sunrise and sunset, scroll below to see the sunrise times and sunset times.
Best time of year to visit?
We visited in September and, although it was technically autumn, it was extremely hot, reaching highs of 36 degrees Celsius during the day.
The best time of year to visit is usually spring or late autumn, but winter is said to be good too, as all the pagoda gets covered with a sprinkling of snow. Cherry blossom season is extremely popular and this area tends to bloom around mid April.
Autumn is extremely beautiful with the auburn reds and depending on the year, this can be in late October or early November. Have a look at my other Japan travel guides here for an epic 10 day Japan itinerary!
Japan Weather
This incredible temple looks different and unusual throughout different times of the year, autumn is meant to be beautiful and in the snow the statues and buildings have an even more whimsical look!
Japan Weather in January:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 2-7°C (36-45°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 12
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 10 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 7:00 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM
Japan Weather in February:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 3-8°C (37-46°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 12
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:15 PM
Japan Weather in March:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 7-13°C (45-55°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 12
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:45 PM
Japan Weather in April:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 12-19°C (54-66°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 11
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 13 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Japan Weather in May:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 17-24°C (63-75°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 13
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM
Japan Weather in June:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 21-29°C (70-84°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 15
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:00 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Japan Weather in July:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 24-32°C (75-90°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 17
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 7:00 PM
Japan Weather in August:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 26-34°C (79-93°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 14
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 13 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM
Japan Weather in September:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 22-30°C (72-86°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 14
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM
Japan Weather in October:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 15-23°C (59-73°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 8
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:30 PM
Japan Weather in November:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 9-16°C (48-61°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 9
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 10 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM
Japan Weather in December:
- Average Temperature (Celsius): 3-9°C (37-48°F)
- Number of Rainy Days: 10
- Daylight Hours: Approximately 9 hours
- Sunrise Time: Around 6:45 AM
- Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM
There are plenty of day tours you can do around Chureito Pagoda, I always compare prices on Viator and Get Your Guide.
Travel resources for your trip that are actually really handy!
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That’s it! I hope you have an amazing time in Japan, it is truly an incredible country and I honestly can’t wait to go back. I will of course, be back with more guides.
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