Mt. Minobu & Minobu-san Kuonji temple

Shizuoka prefecture borders beautiful Yamanashi prefecture so it's a good place for a day trip. From Fuji Station, the Minobu Line train will take you to Minobu Town or further on Kofu (both excellent Yamanashi destinations). The trip from Fuji Station to Minobu takes about 85 minutes and costs 820 yen each way. This train ride covers an absolutely beautiful stretch along the Fuji River and through the mountains.


When you get off the train at Minobu, you will find yourself in the quaint, quiet downtown strip of the mountain town. Very much like something out of the past. Fall is particularly nice, when everything is wrapped in fog and the leaves are blazing red and yellow. Have yourself some ramen or udon with mountain vegetables and catch the bus to Mt. Minobu (about 15 minutes away).

Mt. Minobu and Minobu-san Kuonji temple are historically important. The temple was built by Nichiren Shonin, founder of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism in 1282. Among other things, Nichiren asserted the novel proposition that woman could attain enlightenment. His ashes are enshrined at Kuonji temple.

Entrance to Minobu-san

The never ending stairs that must be conquered before you reach the temple.
The local high school's baseball team uses it to train.
(There's also an easier trek through the forest for those who can't make it.)

Minobu-san Kuonji temple

Five story pagoda

The temple compound has many gardens.

Part of the view.

These cherry trees are hundreds of years old.

Fall leaves

There's also a parking lot for cars in case you're driving. If you're interested, you can also take a cable car further up for a view of the mountains all around.

Shiraito waterfall

Shiraito means white silk threads and that's exactly what these falls look like. The pool of water into which they fall glows a lovely blue green in the sun. Behind the falls are dark woods, and behind that the peak of Mt. Fuji.


This is one of many popular tourist destinations around Fujinomiya. The area around the falls is good for hiking as there are great views of Mt. Fuji. Lake Tanuki is just one of the other places to see nearby, about a one hour trek (5 km) or shorter bus ride. Generally, the falls are crowded during summer but if you go on a weekday, you can have a less touristy experience. Like most other places of interest in Japan, food stalls and souvenir shops abound.

Regular buses leave from Fujinomiya Station. The earliest bus is at 7:15 a.m. on weekdays and 7:35 a.m. on weekends. The latest bus back to Fujinomiya Station is at 7:47 p.m. on weekdays and 5:10 p.m. on weekends. The entrance to the falls is a two minute walk from the bus stop. Here is a map in case you're driving.

Yoshiwara Chuo Station

This rather dingy bus station is a major transportation hub in Fuji City. Here you can get buses to suburbs of the city including Fujimidai, Obuchi, Imaizumi, Sobina and others. You can also catch regular buses to Fujinomiya Station, Rose Theatre, Fuji Central Hospital and Fuji Station, as well as Shin Fuji Station, Numazu Station and JR Yoshiwara Station.

There are only a couple of buses daily to Fuji Soko Undo Park and the popular family destinations of Fuji Children's Park, Safari Park and Yeti ski park. There are three buses every morning directly to Tokyo Station. Also, shuttles to Fuji AEON Mall stop here a few times a day. Finally, you can get a taxi here at almost every time of the day or night. The Tenjinya right next door has cheap (and often greasy) breakfast and lunch.

To get the full bus schedule, simply ask the woman at the window: "Jikokyu-hyou kudasai." If you don't speak Japanese though, you'll need some help to make sense of it.

Joy Plaza recycle shop

In Japan, recycle shops are places where you can get secondhand items for good prices. This includes a lot of stuff in almost perfect condition. If you've just moved to Fuji City and need to furnish your apartment quickly, recycle shops are the way to go.

And Joyland Plaza is probably the best one in the city because of range of things you can get - bicycles, scooters, kitchen wares, furniture, appliances, electronics, musical instruments, shoes, clothes, old records and whole host of things that can only be classified as "other".

Check it out here, close to Fuji High School. The closest train station is Tatebori on the Minobu line. It's about a 20 minute walk from Fuji Station but there are also buses that go along that road. Home delivery is available.

Kappazushi restaurant

Also also called kaiten sushi or conveyor belt sushi. It's cheap and fun. Just grab whatever you want from the belt as it goes around.


You can also order exactly what you want by using the computer screen next to your table. In that case, your order will come straight to you on a plastic shinkansen :) It's very easy to use the computer screen even if you don't speak Japanese because the pictures show you what you're getting and the prices are clearly marked.

Plates at this particular restaurant are mostly between 100 and 200 yen and green tea and water are free. When you finish, the waitress will count your plates to determine your bill. In addition to sashimi and nigiri, you can get soups, desserts and fried dishes.

The restaurant is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. It's about a 10 minute walk from from Fuji City Office. Click here for a map.

Horse karaage is surprisingly tender