Fujinomiya City

Fujinomiya City is rather small and it’s one of those places where you find most things shut after 5 pm. It’s located almost right at the foot of Fuji-san. As far as I know, the best views of the volcano mountain are in autumn, sometime in November when there are more clear days than in any other season. Of course, Fuji-san can be seen in other seasons as well, but there is a higher possibility of clouds that hide it away.

There are two important places in Fujinomiya that share a connection with Fuji-san – the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center and the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha shrine. Both are worth the visit, especially before the pilgrimage ascent. There is a bus available from Fujinomiya Bus terminal to Fujinomiya 5th Station, which is located at a height of 2400 meters. This is the start of Fujinomiya Trail, open in July and August.

In addition to those two places, close to the shrine’s entrance torii there is a small street where you can try local dishes including Fujinomiya yakisoba. In the same way as okonomiyaki, the yakisoba is cooked on a hot plate and you’re allowed to watch the process of cooking before enjoying the dish itself. It’s very nice and different, indeed! Fujinomiya also boasts wonderful spring water, with a stormy river flowing across the city until it reaches the Urui River.

Fuji Takasego Sake Brewery produces special sake using the sub-soil water flowing from Fuji-san. Its taste is mild and sweet, and samples are available at the Brewery itself, located close to Nishi-Fujinomiya Station. In Fujinomiya you can find some nice shops selling kimono, Japanese tea grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, pickles and sweets, stationery and more. The smaller shops are open until 5 pm, but you'll find a big AEON Mall complex in the region which opens until 10 pm. It contains all kinds of shops and a food court located on the ground floor. My choice is always a traditional Japanese kitchen!