From our final destination of last issue’s, our travel party could not resist taking another look lest we turned to stone! After all more than mere common virtues are required to ignore the generous lure of nature’s attractions in the vicinity Mt. Fuji. So before we, ourselves, take our leave of The Majestic it will serve us very well to linger and feast on the generous beauty of the nearby Five Lakes, or Fujigoko!

Indeed Fujigoko refers to the Five Lakes nestled around the northern foot Mt. Fuji Lake Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Sai, Shoji and Motosu. Again the travel literature on Yamanashi prepared by the Tourism Division of the Yamanashi Prefectural Government informs us that lava flow from Mt. Fuji’s volcanic eruptions "spread across the area, damming up rivers and resulting in the formation of these lakes" during ancient times. Today the seemingly inexhaustible virtues of Fujigoko offer constant fascination to countless tourists.

LAKE YAMANAKA (VIRTUE: ENDLESS WATER FUN)

The largest of the five, Lake Yamanaka is also the third highest lake in all of Japan situated at 3,217 feet above sea level. Summer is high season for this lake which is the most easterly located, known for offering endless opportunities for yachting, boardsailing, windsurfing, cycling, fishing, tennis and many other water sports for young people. It is also considered an ideal training site for athletes and the sports-minded and is home to a number of athletic schools and clubs that thrive in the area due to the existence of specialized amenities. Winter is not that forlorn either! Lake Yamanaka’s visitors can enjoy fishing for wakasagi or freshwater smelt. Although popular wisdom holds that Marimo grows only in cold areas, these spherical waterweeds were found locally in 1956. Named Fuji Marimo, it has been named a Prefectural Natural Species.

LAKE KAWAGUCHI (VIRTUE: UNIQUE LAKE ISLAND!)

This lake lies at the heart of all the others! Being thus located at the center of the Five Lakes, easy access to and from Lake Kawaguchi has earned for it "a major foothold for sightseeing around the Mt. Fuji area." Further proof of this popularity is the area’s plentiful tourist sightseeing and accommodation facilities boasting of superb amenities. One feature found here that is unique to it and not found in the others: an island within! This natural feature affords the most magnificent view hereabouts from the vantagepoint of the Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge. Also affording a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji, the lake has become a perfect and well-known subject for numerous artists and photographers. The magical reflection of the mountain on the lake in springtime or Sakasa Fuji and the sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom all along the water’s northern side have become a world-famous symbol of Japanese beauty.

LAKE SAI (VIRTUE: MAIDENLY MYSTERY)

True to form, quiet Lake Sai surrounded by lush, dense forests is also known as The Lake of the Maiden. Maybe it is the deep, blue colors of the water reminiscent of clear, deep blue eyes that has earned it a reputation for being mysterious. Or perhaps it could be the Aokigahara Jukai Forest that has bordered the western side of the lake for centuries. Whatever it is has not taken away from the fascination of the many camping grounds that dot the lakeside!

LAKE MOTOSU & LAKE SHOJI (VIRTUES: ANCIENT CURRENCY)

When the subject is temperature, the ninth deepest lake in Japan — Lake Motosu — does not freeze in winter and its temperature never dips below 39 degrees F. Three of the five lakes (including this one along with Lakes Sai and Shoji) once formed one enormous lake that dominated the area, created by "lava flowing across what is now Aokigahara Jukai Forest" and into this big lake itself. To this day, these three lakes situated at 2,951 feet above sea level remain connected by underground waterways. The next time you handle a five thousand yen bill by the way, the Mt. Fuji and lake motif that you will see is a view from Lake Motosu. Although the smallest of the five, Lake Shoji continues to be a popular tourist destination who flock to this spot to view the remains of lava flow which is observable even now. As way back as the Meiji Period in the 1800’s, local and foreign visitors have come for the plentiful catch of herabuna or crucian carp that the lake is well-known for!