Lake Tanuki

About the lake

Lake Tanuki (Tanukiko) is a man-made lake sitting at around 650 m above sea level on the Asagiri Highland, at the western foot of Mt. Fuji. It began as a small marsh known as Tanuki-numa, but after the Great Kanto Earthquake reduced the flow of the Shibakawa River, an embankment was built in 1935 to enlarge it and secure water for farming. Today it measures roughly 1 km east to west and 0.5 km north to south, with a shoreline of about 3.3 km, and Mt. Fuji rises squarely across the water.

What to look for

The water is shallow and the wind is usually gentle, so the lake is celebrated for Sakasa-Fuji, the upside-down image of the mountain mirrored on its surface. For about a week around 20 April and again around 20 August, the morning sun climbs directly out of the summit in the phenomenon known as Diamond Fuji. When conditions line up, that light is reflected on the lake as well, producing a Double Diamond Fuji that glows both above and below.

Season by season

Spring brings some 350 Somei-Yoshino and wild cherry trees, early summer brings fireflies, and autumn brings colourful foliage, so the scenery shifts through the year. The shore offers crucian carp fishing, boat hire and a campground, and in 2024 the observation deck Tanukiko Fugaku Terrace reopened after renovation in front of Kyukamura Fuji. On crisp winter mornings you may also catch a snow-covered Mt. Fuji mirrored on the water.

Fees and time needed

Walking the shore and parking are both free. The 3.3 km loop path takes about an hour on foot, or roughly 20 minutes by rental bicycle. Rental bicycles are 300 yen for 30 minutes or 500 yen per hour, and a three-seat rental boat is 1,000 yen per hour (boats run from June to November). Camping and fishing are charged separately, and reception hours change with the season. All figures are a guide as of 2026, so please check the official website for details.

Getting there from our hotel

About 45 minutes by car. Take the Nishi-Fuji Road towards the Kamiide interchange, then follow Prefectural Route 72 and Prefectural Route 414 to the lakeshore. Parking is spread between the north side and the rest house area among others, with more than 200 free spaces in total. It fills up during the Diamond Fuji season and on early holiday mornings, when cars sometimes queue along the roadside, so please allow plenty of time.