Mt. Fuji shows us a variety of images in every season, at each time, and from each viewpoint.
You cannot encounter the same mountain-scape twice. When you visit Arakurayama Sengen Park, do not forget to take pictures of the only images of Mt. Fuji as a memory of your visit!
Map of photo-shooting spots around Arakurayama Sengen Park
1. Shimoyoshida Station
The station building is filled with a retro atmosphere designed after Nagoya Station at the end of the War by the renowned industrial designer, Mr. Eiji Mitooka. There is an exhibition of rolling stock for the Fuji sleeper express blue train (type Suhanefu 14, sleeper train), loved by many people.
2. Thomas Locomotive
Visitors can enter Thomas Land. The inside is decorated with characters from the story of Thomas the Tank Engine. You can take a good picture with seats decorated with the face of Thomas or Percy or in the driver’s seat with Sir Topham Hatt.
3. Along the railway
It’s a hidden photo-shooting spot out of the route to Chureito Pagoda. You can take pictures of the trains of Fujikyu Railway running on the tracks with Mt. Fuji standing behind. Check the train schedule and use the continuous shooting function!
4. Arakura Fuji Sengen Jinja-Shrine
Torii (archway)
After climbing up the stairs and walking under the torii (archway), you are in Arakura Fuji Sengen Jinja-Shrine. If you look back from there, you can find Mt. Fuji in the frame of the torii.
5. Arakura Fuji Sengen Jinja-Shrine
Before climbing up to Chureito Pagoda, please stop here. The main shrine and Kaguraden Hall (hall for Shinto music and dance), built using Japan’s shrine construction method, are worth taking pictures of.
6. Shiogama Shrine
You can view the city of Fujiyoshida and the Chuo Expressway below.
7. Sakuya-hime Stairway (398 steps)
Linear 398-step stairway to Chureito Pagoda, a new tourist destination in Arakurayama Sengen Park. In spring, the stairway turns into a tunnel roofed with cherry blossoms.
8. Chureito Pagoda
You can take pictures of the pagoda with Mt. Fuji standing behind from a low angle.
9. Observation Deck
You can enjoy, among many, one of the most popular views of Mt. Fuji. In around April every year, Mt. Fuji, Chureito Pagoda, and cherry blossoms in pink produce a picturesque scape. This is the place that represents the symbol of Japan.
10. Fuji Panoramic Platform
A five-minute climb from the observation deck. From the platform equipped with a wider view, you can enjoy views of Mt. Fuji that differ from those on the observation deck.
11. Arakurayama Sengen Park
You can view both Mt. Fuji and the city of Fujiyoshida below. In spring, visitors can take pictures of Mt. Fuji decorated with cherry blossoms.
To enjoy Mt. Fuji photo shooting
Tips on Mt. Fuji photo shooting
Mt. Fuji shows a variety of beautiful images each season of the year, but a beautiful image may disappear in a short time. Check the weather and the live camera information in planning the date of the visit.
Best time for Mt. Fuji photo shooting
The park is open 24 hours, so you can shoot it anytime. However, Mt. Fuji can seldom be seen at nighttime. As Yamanashi Prefecture, in which Chureito Pagoda is established, locates at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, the park visitors need to hold their cameras to the sun during the daytime. So, shooting it from the park might be a bit hard unless you prefer to add the essence gained from shooting into the sun. The best time for photo shooting is early morning and from sunrise to before noon. Photographs taken in the evening to nighttime might be emotional.
Best season
Mt. Fuji’s attraction changes each season of the year. The best season is mid-April when cherry trees are in full bloom. Another recommendation is the autumn leaves season from late October to early November. But the chance of viewing Mt. Fuji is the highest in winter. Although the trees look dull, visitors can take pictures of beautiful Mt. Fuji topped with white snow and Chureito Pagoda against the clear blue sky.
Recommended equipment and setting
If your camera is a single lens reflex type, you are advised to use an ultra-wide-angle lens, such as a 16-35 mm. To include the image of the skirts of the mountain, select the ultra-wide angle of view. To take a picture of Mt. Fuji and Chureito Pagoda with less distortion, set the angle of view around 30 mm. Set the depth of field to deep to focus on Chureito Pagoda, cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, people, and Mt. Fuji standing behind. While taking pictures by holding your camera in hand would be fine in the daytime, it is better to do it with a tripod in the evening and at nighttime. Bringing a small mobile tripod is recommended because you need to climb more than 500 steps in total to the photo-shooting spot, which will be packed with visitors. You can, of course, take beautiful pictures with a smartphone or compact digital camera.
Photo shooting during the event
During the Cherry Blossom Festival in April, visitors to the observation deck might be required to book reservations depending on the time of the visit. Please check the festival period and timeslots that require booking. The park will be packed with visitors, especially during the cherry blossom season. We ask for visitors’ cooperation to limit the time of photo shooting to a short and compact time.