Lake Yamanaka, Yamanashi
About the Lake Yamanaka Camera
This camera looks across Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi, the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the closest of them to the mountain itself.
It also sits highest, at around 980 metres, which makes it noticeably colder than the others. Parts of the lake freeze in hard winters, and the shoreline reeds hold frost well into the morning. That altitude is why the lake is a long-standing summer training base for university sports clubs — it is simply cooler than the plain below.
For Fuji watching the proximity cuts both ways. The mountain fills far more of the frame than it does from the other lakes, but cloud that forms on the peak obscures it just as readily. Late autumn and winter give the most reliable viewing, and the still mornings that produce a clean reflection on the water are worth waiting for.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: Mount Fuji above the lake, reflections on still mornings, frost and ice in winter
- •Nearby: Lake Kawaguchiko, Oshino Hakkai, Yamanakako village, Mount Fuji trailheads
- •Note: the highest of the Fuji Five Lakes at about 980 metres, and the coldest
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lake Yamanaka camera live?
Yes. Lake Yamanaka in Yamanashi streams live 24 hours a day.
Will Mount Fuji be visible?
Not always. The lake is close to the mountain so Fuji fills much of the frame when clear, but cloud forms readily on the peak. Late autumn and winter are most reliable.
What makes Lake Yamanaka different from the other Fuji Five Lakes?
It is the largest and the closest to Mount Fuji, and at around 980 metres it is also the highest and coldest. Parts of it freeze in hard winters.
When is the reflection best?
On still mornings, when the surface is calm enough to mirror the mountain.
