Fuji Five Lakes, Group of lakes at Mount Fuji base, Japan.
Fuji Five Lakes sit in a semicircular arc north of Mount Fuji, each with different shoreline landscapes and water colors. Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Yamanakako, Shojiko, and Motosuko are connected by small roads that wind through forests and open fields.
Rivers were blocked by lava flows that poured from Mount Fuji centuries ago, turning valleys into natural basins. Later eruptions reshaped the contours and depths of each lake, creating the landscape seen today.
Each lake carries a name rooted in local geography and serves different purposes for recreation, from fishing to camping along the shores. Visitors can walk the waterfront paths and watch how residents hold seasonal festivals and summer fireworks displays over the water.
The region can be reached by bus lines from Tokyo, with Kawaguchiko serving as the most connected starting point. Visitors find lodging and rental bicycles at several lakeshores, allowing them to explore the area at their own pace.
Motosuko displays the precise view of Mount Fuji that appears on the reverse of the Japanese 1000-yen note. Photographers seek out this shoreline to recreate the image that passes through millions of hands each day.
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