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7 Mt. Fuji photo spots on the tour
Our tour visits two Mt. Fuji locations in a single day: Lake Yamanaka and Hana no Miyako Flower Park. Within them are seven spots we photograph again and again, from the mirror image of the mountain on the lake to flower fields that swallow you whole. Look through the photos, tell us which spots you love, and we build the day around them.
The lakeshore of Lake Yamanaka
The inverted Fuji, a shallow sandbar and the best head-on view of the mountain
Lake Yamanaka is the highest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the one that looks straight at Mt. Fuji. There is a cape where the water turns into a mirror, a shallow sandy shore you can walk right down to, and a stretch where the mountain looks largest of all. Move a few hundred metres along the shore and the picture changes completely. Nothing stands between you and the view, which makes it perfect for wide skirts and long veils.
- Tip
- The inverted Fuji appears only in the moments when the wind drops. It is a composition you can get nowhere else.
- Address
- Lakeshore, Yamanakako village, Minamitsuru district, Yamanashi
- Best time
- Calm early mornings and late afternoons. On windy days we use the veil instead.
Boardwalk and woods
A boardwalk over the water, and trees that frame the mountain
A narrow wooden walkway reaches out over the lake, and a line of trees follows the shore. The straight boardwalk is ideal for photographing you walking towards the camera, and in the woods the branches become a natural frame with Mt. Fuji and the lake beyond. The shade stays cool even in high summer, and the soft light is kind to skin.
- Tip
- Putting branches in the foreground adds depth. Backlit silhouettes work well here too.
- Address
- Lakeside promenade, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi
- Best time
- A shaded spot that is comfortable even in strong sunshine.
The zinnia field
Flowers to your waist, and Mt. Fuji beyond them
From summer into autumn one corner of the park is a sea of zinnias in red, pink, orange and yellow. The flowers reach about waist height, so standing among them fills the frame with colour. Behind you, a line of trees and Mt. Fuji. The flowers in bloom change with the season, so the same spot gives completely different colours depending on when you come.
- Tip
- Zinnias peak from mid-July to early October, varying a little each year.
- Address
- Hana no Miyako Park, 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi
- By season
- Tulips in spring, mustard flowers and poppies in early summer, sunflowers in summer, cosmos in autumn.
The willow path
A quiet lane beneath a tunnel of green
Weeping willows arch over the path from both sides and close into a green tunnel. Sunlight falls through the leaves in patches, and the composition finds its depth by itself. A calm counterpoint to the colour of the flower fields. Shot vertically, the lines of the trees echo your standing figures and tighten the picture.
- Tip
- Works for kimono and dress alike, and looks good in every season.
- Address
- Hana no Miyako Park, 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi
- Best time
- Morning, when the dappled light is softest.
The salvia beds
Spires of blue-purple flowers
Blue-purple salvia stands in tall spikes in the park's flower beds. Because the flowers grow upwards, a vertical photo of you standing among them lines up the shapes and gives the picture a composed, elegant air. Behind the beds, the dome of the greenhouse and Mt. Fuji. A cooler palette than the zinnia field.
- Tip
- Blooms from summer into autumn. Timing varies year to year.
- Address
- Hana no Miyako Park, 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi
- Best time
- Summer, combined with the zinnia field.
The open lawn
Grass as far as you can see, and gentle green hills
The most open corner of the park. Almost nothing man-made enters the frame: just grass, hills and sky. Run, sit, lie down. This is the place for relaxed, natural expressions, and for photos with children and family. Place the two of you small in the frame and the photo becomes a landscape.
- Tip
- Wide compositions that use the space look wonderful across a double-page album spread.
- Address
- Hana no Miyako Park, 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi
- Good for
- Shoots with small children.
The garden terrace
Shade under a wisteria trellis and a white table on the grass
A corner of lawn with a white table and chairs, and a wisteria trellis beside it. Simply sitting across from each other turns into a garden-party scene. The shade makes it easy to shoot on bright days, and it doubles as a rest stop between the other spots.
- Tip
- For couples who like a natural, garden-wedding feel.
- Address
- Hana no Miyako Park, 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi
- Best time
- A shaded spot that works even in strong sunshine.
What is in bloom at Hana no Miyako Park
| Season | Mt. Fuji visibility | Main flowers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–May) | Some hazy days | Tulips (late Apr–early May), nemophila (early May–early Jun) | Snow still on the summit |
| Early summer (Jun–Jul) | Often cloudy | Mustard flowers, poppies, baby's breath | The widest variety of flowers |
| Summer (Jul–Aug) | Few clear days | Zinnias (from mid-Jul), sunflowers (mid–late Aug) | Deep green, lush atmosphere |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Clear days increase from October | Cosmos (late Aug–mid Oct), zinnias to early Oct | Lakeside autumn colour in early November |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Clearest of the year | Few flowers | Snow-capped Fuji and crisp air; shoot by the lake |
Bloom dates shift with the weather each year. As your date approaches we tell you what is in flower. The park's paid "Seiryu no Sato" area, where nemophila and hydrangeas grow, is included in the tour.