Fuji Shiba-sakura Festival Observation Deck — Attraction in Fujikawaguchiko

Visited on May 5 Golden Week

1 - need not to buy ticket even in GW, just purchase the Liner/Bus ticket at the Kawaguchiko station bus stop

2 - the online ticket purchase procedure is damned complicated for foreigners!!! You need to first register as a member of Fujikyu. Then receive an email to login and select date of travel. You need to enter all details including all traveling companions their Japnese names (片假名) which is a difficult trick to many foreigners. Then thirdly you receive an email to ask you to pay. But they receive not foreiegn credit cards! You need to select pay at convenience stores. You need to fourthly select which convenience store you are going to pay your fees. Then receive QR code for payment. Finally you use that QR code and the Loppi machine in the convenience store to pay the fees in cash! How troublesome and complicated they are!!!

But at last, you will find out you need not to buy in advance online, but easily right at the bus stop! What a joke it is!!

3 - seems that the local government cares not how to adopt measures to control crowd and number of private cars into the sightseeing spots. The traffic in the GW is super super terrible!!! It is because there are too many private cars driving there instead of taking Public transportation!! The car parks of many spots there are of limited slots, so the cars are queuing up to enter it, resulting the queue eventually jammed the road and as a result the public bus cannot enter neither!!! It is simple to limit number of cars driving there by applying permit in advance online. Thus encouring people, even local people to take public bus to the sightseeing spots!! Like what is now, the private cars jammed the road, banning every one to enter there!!!

But the local government cares nothing about it and just know how to promote their places to draw the crowds there, without thinking or doing something to control the flow of people. E.g. more public bus during peak season + limited cars permit, etc.

4 - there is no information how much congestion there is! How much time you need to be jammed to go there. For example, if there is advance notice at the kawaguchiko station that I need to take 3 hours to be jammed to go there, I definitely will NOT go there!!!! But there is no communication at the two sides (the venue and the bus stops). Police, bus company, venue/festival organizer all can do something to control people flow and the crowd and private cars number.

All in all, Japanese local governments should do more about...

The entrance fee is ¥1,300 for adults, plus ¥1,000 if you're coming by car. But honestly, it's totally worth it because the place is super beautiful!

Right at the entrance, you can grab a brochure — and yes, they have one in English too! There are so many photo spots (like A LOT), and they’re all really popular so expect some lines. There’s even Doraemon’s Anywhere Door, a “Mt. Fuji” sign with a heart shape, and more cute stuff (some I already forgot because there were so many haha).

There are tons of food stands too — seriously, a foodie's paradise! But here’s the thing: you don’t buy food directly at the stands. You first need to get a meal ticket from the machine (they accept both cash and cashless), then line up and give your ticket to the stand staff.

Aside from food stands, there’s also a cafe and a souvenir shop.

The parking lot is spacious, so no worries there! As for toilets… the outdoor ones are a bit smelly and not very clean, but the indoor toilets are much nicer — just be ready...

I recently visited the Shibazakura Garden near Mount Fuji, and it was absolutely magical. The sea of pink moss phlox flowers with Mount Fuji in the background is a sight to behold. It's like stepping into a fairytale!

The park is well laid out, with paths that make it easy to explore all the beautiful areas without stepping on the flowers. There are plenty of great spots for taking photos, so make sure to bring your camera. One of my favorite parts was the small lake, which adds to the serene atmosphere.

There’s also a charming Peter Rabbit park that’s perfect for kids and adults alike. The subunit shop offers delightful local treats and souvenirs, making it a fun stop after exploring the garden.

Overall, the Shibazakura Garden is a must-visit if you're near Mount Fuji, especially during the blooming season. It’s an enchanting place that offers both relaxation and incredible photo...