How to Enjoy Kawaguchiko During the Rainy Season: Where to Go and What to Do

• Table of Contents
• When is the Rainy Season in Kawaguchiko?
• Rainy Season in Japan
• 1. Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari Onsen: The Unique Hot Springs 
• 2. Lake Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center: Cherry and Blueberry Picking
• 3. The Lake Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum: Photogenic Spot 
• 4. Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba: Traditional Japanese Crafts
• 5. Kubota Itchiku Art Museum: The Combination of Nature and Art 
• 6. Stone Museum: Indoor Treasure Hunt 
• 7. Fujisan Culture Gallery:  Calligraphy, Origami and Tea Ceremony Experience
• 8. Narusawa Mount Fuji Museum: Meet the Giant Dinosaur 
• 9. Lake Kawaguchiko Muse Hall and Yukikan: Creative Dolls 
• 10. Bat Cave: The Largest Lava Cave

When is the Rainy Season in Kawaguchiko?

The month with the most precipitation in the Lake Kawaguchiko area is September due to typhoons and other factors, followed by June due to the rainy season.

On the other hand, in winter, the area is covered by the Pacific high pressure system, so there are many sunny days from November to February.

For more information on typhoons, click here

Rainy Season in Japan

Japan has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The rainy season front forms in the south of Japan from June to July when spring is fully transitioning into summer. This causes more rainy and cloudy days. The rainy season usually starts in early June and ends in mid- to late July. During the rainy season, the average high temperature is 23°C and the average low temperature is 13°C, so it can feel chilly in the mornings and when it rains, so be sure to bring a jacket.

1. Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari Onsen: The Unique Hot Springs 

At Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari Onsen, you can enjoy a bath while admiring the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji. In addition to the open-air bath, there are 16 unique baths available, including a cave bath and a carbonated spring.

In addition to the baths, there is also the "Okariba" where you can enjoy a meal in the atmosphere of the Taisho period of Japan, and the "Oashisu" body refreshment room to soothe your tired body after your trip. Even in the rain, you can enjoy bathing and meals in a Japanese atmosphere. After your bath, be sure to try the local Yamanashi dish "Houtou" at Okariba, where a mini steam locomotive train delivers your meal.

Fuji Chobo no Yu Yurari Onsen

2. Lake Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center: Cherry and Blueberry Picking

Lake Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center is located within the extremely popular Oishi Park, which offers a panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko. It houses a souvenir shop and a cafe where you can try the local specialty lavender soft serve ice cream.

The Lake Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center serves as an information desk for the farms operated by the Oishi district association, where you can enjoy cherry picking every year from mid-June to early July, and blueberry picking from early July to early August. Cherry picking, which can be enjoyed in a greenhouse, is a recommended activity that can be enjoyed even in the rain.

Lake Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center

3. The Lake Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum: Photogenic Spot 

The Lake Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum has a wide variety of music shows and events, including an exhibition of rare music boxes and automatic musical instruments. The world's largest dance organ and an automatic musical instrument that was planned to be installed on the Titanic have impressive sounds.

Even in the rain, you can still have fun with activities such as the "Music Box Making Experience" where you can create your own original music box, or the "Princess Experience" where you can choose your favorite dress from over 100 types and stroll around the museum.

Lake Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum

4. Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba: Traditional Japanese Crafts

In order to restore the original scenery of the beautiful thatched roof village that was lost in a typhoon disaster in 1966, 40 years later in 2006, "Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba" was established, centered around 20 thatched roof houses.

In the thatched roof houses, you can experience traditional Japanese crafts such as pottery, painting, and incense making, as well as purchase crafts and local specialties and taste foods such as irodango and soba. Be sure to enjoy Japanese craftsmanship as a wonderful memory of your trip to Japan.

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba

5. Kubota Itchiku Art Museum: The Combination of Nature and Art 

The Itchiku Kubota Art Museum displays a number of representative works by dye artist Itchiku Kubota. This beautiful museum where art and nature coexist, features a pyramid-shaped main building made of 16 pillars of "hiba" (Cypress) that are over 1,000 years old. It displays kimonos with a Fuji theme, including the series "Hikarikyo," Kubota's life work.

Inside the museum, there is a teahouse where you can relax and enjoy a cup of matcha tea while watching the Ryumon Falls, which changes its appearance with the seasons, as well as a museum shop with a wide selection of products such as dragonfly jewel accessories and Japanese goods.

Itchiku Kubota Art Museum

6. Stone Museum: Indoor Treasure Hunt 

The Stone Museum is an indoor place where you can enjoy a whole lot of "gem hunting" activities.

The museum is divided into three areas: "SAGASO," an outdoor mining area of ​​approximately 1,650 square meters; "HOTTE," an indoor area where you can enjoy gem hunting; and the "Stone Museum," which displays gems and minerals collected from all over the world.

The "HOTTE" area, which can be enjoyed even on rainy days, is divided into attractions for adults and children. The "Naughty Gem Hunt" is aimed at children aged 3 to 6th grade, and involves digging up natural stones such as crystals from a special area, while the "Adult Gem Hunt" is aimed at elementary school students and above, and involves excavating cut gemstones from a special excavation box. You can also collect the gemstones you have excavated and create your own original bracelet.

Lake Kawaguchiko Stone Museum

7. Fujisan Culture Gallery:  Calligraphy, Origami and Tea Ceremony Experience

At the FUJISAN Culture Gallery on the second floor of Fujisan Plaza in front of Lake Kawaguchiko Station, you can experience various Japanese cultural activities such as wearing a kimono, tea ceremony, and calligraphy.

There are also experiences that can be tried in 15 to 30 minutes, such as calligraphy, tea ceremony, and origami, so why not make good use of the time you have while waiting for the bus or train and give them a try?

We also have many plans available that you can enjoy without making a reservation.

You can also try Yoshida's Udon Soft Serve and Blue Mt. Fuji Curry Bread at the FUJISAN PLAZA on the first floor. Local Yamanashi specialties are also available for purchase, so be sure to stop by.

Fujisan Culture Gallery

FUJISAN PLAZLA

8. Narusawa Mount Fuji Museum: Meet the Giant Dinosaur 

The Narusawa Mt. Fuji Museum is located inside the Narusawa Roadside Station. As soon as you enter the museum, you will be greeted by a giant dinosaur. Inside the museum, you can see aerial shots and computer graphics that explain the origins of Mt. Fuji, the nature at the foot of the mountain, and the state of the summit. You can also learn about the inside of Mt. Fuji through models, and find out weather information such as clouds that appear on Mt. Fuji and the weather.

At the attached museum shop, you can purchase souvenirs unique to the area, such as crystal rough and natural stones associated with the crystal polishing technology, a local industry in Yamanashi.

Narusawa Mount Fuji Museum

9. Lake Kawaguchiko Muse Hall and Yukikan: Creative Dolls 

Located in Yagisaki Park on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi, the Lake Kawaguchiko Muse Hall and Atae Yuki Hall were listed in the Michelin Green Guide Japon with two stars in 2009. The building is made up of three areas: an exhibition room, a shop, and a cafe. The exhibition room has a permanent display of works by creative doll artist Atae Yuki. Around 100 dolls are on display at all times, from kimono-clad dolls to fantastical fairy dolls.

After viewing the dolls, you can enjoy coffee, tea, herbal tea, sweets, and more at the attached Doll Cafe.

Lake Kawaguchiko Muse Hall

10. Bat Cave: The Largest Lava Cave

Located in the primeval forest "Aokigahara Jukai" where ancient nature remains, the lava cave "Bat Cave" boasts a total length of 350m, making it the largest lava cave at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Inside the cave, you can see stalactites and rope-shaped lava, which were created by the components released by the explosion when the lava that flowed from the eruption of Mt. Fuji came into contact with the outside air.

At the adjacent Kunimasu Exhibition Hall, you can observe the Kunimasu, which was said to be extinct. The Kunimasu only lives in Lake Saiko, no matter where in the world you look. Please take your time to look at this precious fish.

Lake Saiko Nature Center