Lake Motosu (本栖湖) is one of the Fuji Five Lakes located at the base of Mt. Fuji. The lake is located in Yamanashi Prefecture, and is known for two things: 1) the deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes and claims to have the clearest water compared to the other lakes; and 2) the view of the lake was photographed by Okada Koyo (1895-1972) in 1935, which was then the inspiration of the view of Mt. Fuji printed on the back of the 5,000-yen bill and the 1,000-yen bill.
When visiting the lake, the summer haze in the sky made it impossible to capture a tack-sharp composition of the lakeshore and Mt. Fuji. Landscape photography of this scene is best during autumn, winter, and spring when the air is dryer.
Access to the lake is best if you drive due to the lack of public transportation that reaches this lake. Although it took me about 4 hours to drive through the night to reach the lake before sunrise, it is actually a two-hour drive from Tokyo if you take the expressway.
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/QXMwVwbYVd2ct2oMA
Parking is free, but you had better arrive early to catch a spot!
Japanese Address: 〒409-3104 山梨県南巨摩郡身延町中ノ倉
English Address: Nakanokura, Minobu, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-3104
From the parking lot near the public restrooms, you can find a trailhead that will take you on an easily accessible mountain trail that leads to the Nakanokuratoge Observation Deck, which offers the best view of the lake and Mt. Fuji. The photo above was taken at this spot, where I was able to reach within an hour. The trail is not steep at all and is relatively smooth. The climb can be made in sneakers if you don't have proper hiking boots.
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