Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi Prefecture. Lake Yamanaka is the closest lake to Mt. Fuji among the Fuji Five Lakes, and you can see the majestic panoramic view of Mt. Fuji up close. This time, I would like to introduce its charm, highlights, motorcycle parking, etc.
Lake Yamanaka is a lake with an area of 6.46 square kilometers located at the northeastern foot of Mt. Fuji. It is the highest of the Fuji Five Lakes, at 980 meters above sea level. As a result, it is cool even in the summer, and can be snowy in the winter. Lake Yamanaka is also famous as a highland resort area rich in nature, where you can enjoy leisure activities such as fishing, sightseeing boats, and water sports. There are also museums, theme parks, and hot spring facilities nearby.
This time, I set out on my favorite Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide. The distance from central Tokyo to Lake Yamanaka is approximately 150 kilometers, or less than two hours. I took the Shuto Expressway Route 6 onto the Tokyo Loop Line and headed towards Shinjuku. Transferring from the Shuto Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Line to the Chuo Expressway, I entered the Higashi-Fujigoko Road at Otsuki JCT. I drove along Higashi Fuji Goko Road, got off at Yamanakako IC, and arrived at my destination via National Route 138.
The highlight of Lake Yamanaka is Mt. Fuji. There are many points from the shore of Lake Yamanaka where you can get a good view of Mt. Fuji. I recommend Nagaike Water Park. There is a large parking lot here and easy access. There is a promenade right from the parking lot, which leads directly to the lake. There is nothing to obstruct your view, so you can see the clear view of Lake Yamanaka and the towering Mt. Fuji in front of you. If it’s a clear day, you might even be able to see Mt. Fuji upside down.
I took photos of my car and Mt. Fuji here. Although the fence along the promenade was a bit of a hindrance, we were still able to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Looking at this photo, I think the bike ride was worth it.
Other attractions include Hananomiyako Park and Oshino Hakkai. At Hananomiyako Park, colorful flowers bloom in every season. The cherry blossoms and rape blossoms are especially beautiful in the spring, and the cosmos and autumn leaves are especially beautiful in the fall. Oshino Hakkai is a world heritage site of eight ponds formed by spring water. The water is so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom of the pond. The color of the pond changes depending on the angle of light and the season.
Fortunately for motorcyclists, Lake Yamanaka has plenty of free parking. The parking lot at Nagaike Shinsui Park that I used was also free. There is a dedicated bicycle parking space at the east end of the parking lot. You can also see Mt. Fuji and Lake Yamanaka from here. There are also free parking lots at tourist facilities such as Hana no Miyako Park and Mori no Alm. However, it can get crowded on weekends, holidays, and during the season, so we recommend going early or checking in advance.
This time, we introduced a motorcycle touring story from Tokyo to Lake Yamanaka. Lake Yamanaka is a scenic spot where you can see Mt. Fuji up close. It is a place rich in nature and flowers that soothes the soul. There are many free bike parking lots, so it’s great for bikers. Lake Kawaguchi and Fujiyoshida are also located near Lake Yamanaka, so be sure to check them out. See you again on the next tour.
