THE PARK — Restaurant in Yamanakako

Yes, this is the place from the infamous Instagram reel of jiggly fluffy pancakes overlooking Mt Fuji

However…. Do note that Mt. Fuji is covered for ~280 days of the year so the likelihood of getting that view is, well, unlikely. We unfortunately did not have that much luck.

Another note to mention, this was decently out of the way from Kawaguchiko Station so you’ll need a taxi. For a round trip, it’ll probably cost you around $70 usd.

The service was great! We got seated pretty quickly and we were able to switch to the terrace overlooking a cloudy Mt Fuji. There was a sign that discouraged people switching seats however they were very accommodating. The staff was very friendly. I tried to call a taxi but with my limited Japanese, I was unable to describe the pick up point. I asked one of the serves to call a taxi on my behalf and had the driver arrive all within 15 minutes.

Now for the food. Mediocre at best. I’ve had japanese pancakes from a few different places. These disappointed. They looked super pretty but were very runny in the center. The moment you stuck a fork in it, all the batter just flowed out of it. We had the tiramisu and an anko flavored pancake. The tiramisu barely had any coffee flavor to it. We also had their veggie burger which fell apart after the first bite and lacked flavor. The potato croquettes lacked flavor and salt as well. Would definitely not come here for the food. I did see someone get the plain pancakes and the batter held up much better, so maybe try that instead.

Anyways with all of that in mind, if you plan everything right, this could be a beautiful moment and worth the ~100usd it cost to eat here. I do hope you have a...

I’m so happy I decided to come to this cafe. I got to see a magnificent view of mount Fuji while enjoying delicious pancakes and coffee. If you’re not driving, you might have to walk a lot from the nearest bus stop to reach this cafe, but you can rent bikes and cycle instead. You will enjoy it so much more. The staff of the cafe are very friendly and accommodating. They all tried their best to entertain requests and serve all customers fairly. You have to wait a bit to get table and seats, once you have seated the staff will give you menu and take your order not too long after that. After they take your order, you have to pay right away at the counter which is understandable. I didn’t have to wait so long for my orders to arrive. The pancakes are so soft and delicious, I tried the chocobanana. It can get a little crowded at the terrace and noisy with tourists that are very fussy. Apart from that, my personal experience here has been great. It is a nice cafe and I had wonderful experience here. If I ever return to Yamanakako to see Mt Fuji, I will definitely come to...

The food here is exceptional, offering a delightful culinary experience. If you are fortunate enough to secure a seat by the window, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji while dining.

However, there are two areas that could be improved:

1. When we arrived early in the morning, the room was quite cold. It would be beneficial for the establishment to enhance its heating system to ensure a more comfortable experience for guests.

2. Customers who order only a drink are required to take it to go rather than being allowed to sit inside. While I understand the reasoning behind this policy (given the limited space and the need to accommodate more profitable customers), it does feel somewhat restrictive. Nonetheless, it is within their rights to enforce such a rule, but I just don't like the rule. Just to be clear, I followed the rule (see the food I ordered?) when I was there.

Additionally, the portion sizes are quite generous. The food shown in the picture is sufficient to serve two+ ...