Japan's Most Welcoming City

Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi praised by booking.com users

Kim Bergström   - 3 min read

If you've ever thought about what makes for a great travel spot, you may have considered aspects like the area's attractions, cultural richness, natural beauty, or culinary scene. Another super important – and oft-overlooked – element is how welcoming a destination feels, and it's something that travel website Booking.com recently delved into.

They released their Top 10 Most Welcoming Cities for 2024 in the past week, and Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture made the cut. The list was determined via the platform's massive collection of user reviews, and they provided a number of great reasons why visitors should check out this part of Japan aside from the obvious friendliness and hospitality!

The city was praised for its "perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural richness", with outdoorsy destinations like Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji's Yoshida Trail getting by-name mentions. For the culture vultures, a couple of recommendations were the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum and the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, but these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enriching museum experiences in the area.

The Kubota Itchiku Art Museum was one cultural spot that Booking.com suggested for the Fujikawaguchiko area
The Kubota Itchiku Art Museum was one cultural spot that Booking.com suggested for the Fujikawaguchiko area (Photo: TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋) / CC BY 2.0)

The area is also known for its many onsen, with a number of lodging spots having incredible views of Mount Fuji as you bathe. A couple of places to check out if you're looking for a special stay include Kozantei Ubuya and Konansou.

As always, our site is a great resource for planning your perfect Fujikawaguchiko trip. Check out some of the articles below to get you started!

Getting there

Fujikawaguchiko can be reached from Tokyo via the Fuji Excursion limited express train. The service runs directly from Shinjuku Station to the terminus at Kawaguchiko Station, with the travel time taking approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Bus services to Fujikawaguchiko are also available via providers like Willer Express, with several departure points across Tokyo.

Kim Bergström

Kim Bergström @kim.b

Almost 12 years living in Asia. Passionate about Japan's off-the-beaten-path spots, family-friendly travel, flower events (all of them!) and the amazing tea culture here.  🍵🌼🌸