Fuji Central Park

There are about 150 parks in Fuji City but Fuji Central Park is one of the more special ones. In Japanese it's Fuji Chuo Koen. It's just across the street from the Rose Theater and any of the regular buses between Yoshiwara Chuo Station and Fuji Station will get you pretty close. It's a really good place to just sit and relax. You can watch skater boys or families playing catch. But the park is big enough that there are always private corners if you prefer.

During the colder months, there's an awesome view of Mt. Fuji and a nice duck pond. In fact, the view of Mt. Fuji at the top of this blog is from Fuji Central Park. In May, the roses come in and the colors and smells are fantastic. Actually, the rose is the official flower of Fuji City. Twice a year (April and October), according to the Fuji City website, the Green and Flowers Festival is held at Fuji Central Park. At this festival, you an buy flowers and plants and even receive free roses to celebrate the city's official flower.

The Rose Theater is located here. Fuji Central Park is just across the street.

Hiromi Park

Along with Iwamotoyama Park, Hiromi Park is one of the best places in the city for hanami. While Iwamotoyama Park has both plum and cherry blossoms, Hiromi Park is a mecca for only sakura - the beautiful, delicate stuff that lasts just a short while and then falls to the ground like pink snow.

You can get to the park by bike or foot or take the Obuchi Danchi bus from Yoshiwara Chuo bus station. This is the exact location.
Hiromi Park also has a museum and contemporary art sculptures. It's pretty all year round; not just in sakura season.

Iwamotoyama Park

Don't wait until the plum blossoms are almost gone like I did. The end of February is the best time to see them. Lots of photographers apparently go there to get that perfect shot of Fuji with ume blossoms in the foreground.

Iwamotoyama Koen is also a good place for cherry blossoms in the spring. There are hiking trails in the park itself. The walk there, from Fuji Station for example, is definitely not boring. There is also the Iwamatsu Kita community bus service to and from Fuji Station that costs only 300 yen (though I haven't taken it).

Interestingly, there is a group of volunteers who care for the many stray cats at the park. You might want to take some snacks for the hungry kitties if you're headed that way.

The exact location of Iwamotoyama Park is here.

Log house on the way to Iwamotoyama Koen

Trees making love

Purple plum blossoms

Early cherry blossoms (sakura)

Petals fall everywhere like snow

Many different kinds of blossoms

Lovers' stroll

And this is just the last of the blossoms

White plum blossoms

The perfect seat

Fuji Soko Undo Park

Also known as Fuji Soko Undo Koen. It's an athletic park just across the street from both Fuji Tohoka University and this giant shiny dome, which is actually the prefectural swimming complex (available for use by the public at a cost of 500 yen). Fuji Soko Undo Koen is a very big sports park with a stadium, tennis courts, walking/biking trails and more.

Here is the exact location.

The reason I went there, however, was for the great views of Mt. Fuji (not that that's generally a problem in this city). There's a viewing station at the top of a hill in a prime spot.

Here is a lava mound at the park from one of Fuji's past eruptions, with Fuji-san himself in the background.


There is a very limited bus to the park from Yoshiwara Chuo bus station. I'd recommend walking or biking there, though. There is some uphill involved but the views are epic, with vast tea fields laid out before you. Makes you feel very small. *Edit: There are regular buses from Yoshiwara Chuo Station to Obuchi that stop close (0.8 km) to Fuji Soko Undo Koen. You have to get off in Hiromi, about 5 minutes after the Hiromi Koen stop. You'll see a big road sign in English pointing the way.


This picture kind of sums up Fuji City to me: industry against the backdrop of intractable nature.