Quiet, deep lakeshore on Motosuko known for reflection photography, fishing, and camping.
Lake Motosuko, the westernmost and deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes, is best known for the reflected Mount Fuji view depicted on Japan's 1,000-yen banknote, visible from a marked viewpoint near the Panorama-dai ridge on the lake's northern shore. Because the lake's depth means it almost never freezes over, its surface offers a mirror-still reflection more reliably than the shallower lakes nearby, particularly on windless winter mornings when the air is driest. The shoreline itself remains quiet and largely undeveloped, dominated by a handful of campgrounds, lodges, and fishing access points rather than swimming facilities; wading is possible in the calmer coves near the campgrounds, but the lake is treated primarily as a scenic and fishing destination rather than a swimming one. Photographers gather in the pre-dawn hours during the clearest winter conditions to attempt to match the exact banknote composition from the marked viewpoint, while summer visitors are more likely to be anglers or campers making use of the quiet, forested shore. The lake's underground connection to neighboring Shojiko means both share similar water clarity despite sitting in separate basins.
Amenities
- Campgrounds, fishing access, a memorial viewpoint marker; minimal commercial facilities
Good to know
- Best for
- Reflection photography, fishing, and quiet camping rather than swimming
- Water
- Deep, rarely freezing freshwater lake; calmest and most reflective on windless winter mornings
- Facilities
- Campgrounds, fishing access points, a marked memorial viewpoint; minimal shoreline commercial infrastructure
Location
Motosu, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi 401-0336
35.4611, 138.5794 View on map
Highlights
- Source of the Mount Fuji reflection view depicted on Japan's 1,000-yen banknote
- Rarely freezes due to its depth, offering the most reliable winter reflections of the Fuji Five Lakes
- Quiet, largely undeveloped shoreline with campgrounds and fishing access
- Marked memorial viewpoint near the Panorama-dai ridge on the northern shore
Tips for visiting
- Visit before sunrise on a clear, windless winter morning for the best chance at the banknote-matching reflection
- Wading is possible in calmer coves near campgrounds, but this is primarily a scenic and fishing shoreline, not a swimming beach
- Bring warm layers for pre-dawn winter visits, when lakeside temperatures can drop well below freezing
- Combine a visit with nearby Shojiko, a short drive or bus ride away
When to visit
Windless winter mornings before sunrise for the clearest reflected Mount Fuji view.
Accessibility
The main lakeshore road and viewpoint area are paved and accessible; campground and fishing paths closer to the water are unpaved and uneven.
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Frequently asked questions
Can visitors swim at Lake Motosuko?
The shoreline is largely undeveloped and treated as a scenic and fishing destination rather than a swimming beach, though wading is possible in calmer coves.
Why does Motosuko rarely freeze?
As the deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes, its greater water volume resists freezing even in the coldest winter months, which helps preserve its reflective surface.
Where is the banknote-matching viewpoint?
A marked viewpoint near the Panorama-dai ridge on the lake's northern shore offers the closest match to the 1,000-yen banknote composition.