Yamanashi sights: check fees and access first
Choose the ropeway for elevated Fuji views or Oishi Park for lakeside walks. For a lake boat trip, choose Appare. Indoors, compare rough and worked gems at the gem museum or explore Fuji's nature and culture at the World Heritage Center. For Millet and castle ruins, visit Kofu's art museum and Maizuru Castle Park. Ropeway and boat operations depend on weather.
Attraction fees and access
Oishi Park
大石公園
Walk Oishi Park's lakeside paths and look towards Mount Fuji. Flowers and plants change with the seasons; clouds may hide the mountain.
- FeesPark walks have free admission. Shopping and activities are separate.
- HoursThe park, Natural Living Center and shops have different operating arrangements. Check individual business hours if visiting the centre or shops.
- Getting thereFrom Kawaguchiko Station, take the Red Line sightseeing bus to Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center terminus. Walk the park paths, then use the station-bound stop for the return.
Yamanashi tourism: Oishi ParkFujikawaguchiko Town: 2026 tourism guide, free Oishi Park admission (PDF page 5)Fujikyu Bus: Kawaguchiko timetable for both directions
Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
富士山パノラマロープウェイ
Ride this ropeway for elevated views of Lake Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji together. The ascent takes about three minutes; allow separately for queues and viewpoint time. It is a paid facility. Clouds may hide Mount Fuji and strong winds can stop operations.
- FeesIndividual adult return fare is JPY 1,000 and child fare JPY 500 through October 2026. From 1 November, return fares are scheduled to change to JPY 1,200 for adults and JPY 600 for children.
- HoursHours vary seasonally. Check last uphill and downhill services and inspection-related shortened hours or suspensions for your date with the operator.
- Getting thereThe official guide allows about 15 minutes on foot from Kawaguchiko Station to the lakeside station. By bus, alight at the pleasure boat/ropeway entrance and walk to the ropeway station. Queue time is extra.
Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway: visitor guideRopeway: revised fares, shortened hours and inspection suspensionsMt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway: access
Lake Kawaguchiko Pleasure Boat Appare
河口湖遊覧船 天晴（あっぱれ）
Appare makes a roughly 20-minute circular cruise with views of the surrounding mountains from the lake. Returning to the departure pier makes it convenient for your next station-area activity. Ensoleillé (アンソレイユ号), connecting Funatsu pier and Oishi Park, is a separate route.
- FeesIndividual fares are JPY 1,000 for junior high school age and over and JPY 500 for primary school children; preschool children ride free. Distinguish group and disability rates and separate Ensoleillé tickets.
- HoursThe circular cruise takes about 20 minutes. Regular sailing hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm, changing to 9:30 am to 4 pm from November to March. Check the official sailing timetable for summer extensions and scheduled suspensions. Weather and inspections can change services.
- Getting thereThe operator allows about 10 minutes on foot from Kawaguchiko Station. Find Appare's ticket office opposite Funatsu's free lakeside car park and board at that pier. The lakeside ropeway station is across National Route 137, so distinguish the pier from the ropeway entrance. Follow mapped walking routes and crossing signs. Appare returns to its departure pier; the separate Ensoleillé connects Oishi pier, so check your ticket.
Fuji Five Lakes boat operator: Appare fares and sailing hours2026 scheduled suspension noticeAppare ticket office and pier accessFuji Five Lakes boat operator: Lake Kawaguchiko cruise guideFuji Five Lakes boat operator: Appare official vessel name and Funatsu boarding pierFuji Five Lakes boat operator: Ensoleillé Oishi Park Line
Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
山梨県立美術館
Visit Kofu's Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art if Millet and the Barbizon School interest you. Displays are indoors, reached by bus from Kofu Station's south side. From Kawaguchiko, allow separate time for travel between cities.
- FeesCollection admission is JPY 520 for adults and JPY 220 for university students. Senior high school age and younger enter free. Special exhibitions are charged separately.
- HoursThe museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm. Closures include Mondays, the following day if Monday is a public holiday, days after public holidays and New Year. Check the actual exhibition calendar.
- Getting thereFrom Kofu Station south stand 1, take designated routes towards Midai, Kugawa housing estate, Shikishima via Ryuo or Nirasaki via Okusa, and alight at Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art. The official ride estimate is about 15 minutes, excluding waiting.
Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art: facilities and visitor guideYamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art: accessYamanashi Kotsu: museum timetable for both directions and fares
Yamanashi Gem Museum
山梨宝石博物館
Visit Yamanashi Gem Museum to compare gems before and after processing. See rough stones, cut gems and jewellery together, plus a large quartz crystal. Adult exhibition admission is JPY 600; visiting only the shop is free.
- FeesExhibition admission is JPY 600 for adults and JPY 300 for primary and junior high school students.
- HoursThe museum is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm from March to October, with entry until 5 pm, and from 9:30 am to 5 pm from November to February, with entry until 4:30 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays except public holidays, Golden Week and July–August.
- Getting thereFrom Kawaguchiko Station stand 1, take the Red Line towards the Natural Living Center to stop 6, Yamanashi Gem Museum/Kawaguchiko. Match station departure and museum arrival, then museum departure and station arrival in service columns in your date's timetable for both directions. Regular adult fares of JPY 180 each way were checked on 8 October 2026. After alighting, follow the official facility map and local signs to the exhibition entrance. Allow walking time separately.
- Exhibition contentsCompare about 50 main gemstone types as rough stones, cut stones and jewellery sets. A 1.8 m quartz crystal is displayed towards the rear of the exhibition.
Gem museum fees and hoursGem museum English visitor guideGem museum: admission for shop-only visitsFujikyu Bus: Kawaguchiko timetable for both directionsFujikyu sightseeing bus fare tableGem museum: rough/cut-stone comparisons and large quartz display
Maizuru Castle Park
Maizuru Castle Park (Kofu Castle Ruins)舞鶴城公園（甲府城跡）
This park at Kofu Castle's ruins has stone walls and reconstructed gates. Steps lead to the keep platform's views. For less walking, explore only the lower ruins.
- FeesAdmission to the park, Inari Turret and Kurogane Gate is free.
- HoursThe park is always open. Inari Turret and Kurogane Gate are open from 9 am to 4:30 pm, with entry until 4 pm. Buildings close on Mondays except public holidays, days after public holidays and 29 December–3 January.
- Getting thereThe official guide allows about three minutes on foot from Kofu Station's south exit. This differs from Yamanote Gate in Kofu City Historical Park north of the station.
Kofu castle ruins and south-exit accessMaizuru Castle Park: free admission and building hours
Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center
山梨県立富士山世界遺産センター
Visit after seeing Mount Fuji to learn why it became a World Heritage site. The north building explores its nature and the south its cultural relationship with people. Both are free. The south closes on the fourth Tuesday each month, or the following day if it is a public holiday.
- FeesBoth buildings have free admission. Guided visits and programmes have separate conditions.
- HoursThe centre is usually open from 9 am to 5 pm, from 8:30 am to 6 pm in July–August and from 9 am to 4:30 pm in December–February. The facility guide gives last entry 15 minutes before closing; the centre's official FAQ gives 4:30 pm. Confirm directly for a late visit. The south closes on the fourth Tuesday, or the following day if it is a public holiday; the north is listed as open year-round. Check temporary notices before visiting.
- Getting thereFrom Kawaguchiko Station stand 1, take the Blue Line towards Motosuko, alight at centre stop 65 and walk about one minute. Match station → centre and centre → station timetable entries for your date. The regular adult single fare of JPY 180 was checked on 8 October 2026; recheck your date's fare table.
World Heritage Center: free displays, seasonal hours and south-building closuresWorld Heritage Center: admission, booking and guided-visit FAQWorld Heritage Center: Blue Line stop and walkFujikyu Bus: Kawaguchiko timetable for both directionsFujikyu sightseeing bus fare table
Frequently asked questions
Does Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art admission include special exhibitions?
The JPY 520 adult rate covers the collection exhibition. Special exhibitions have separate rates; check the guide for the exhibition you want to see.
Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art: facilities and visitor guide
Do I pay exhibition admission for a shop-only gem museum visit?
The shop alone has no admission fee. Adult mineral and gem exhibition admission is JPY 600. These itineraries include the paid exhibition and regular return buses from the station.
Gem museum fees and hoursFujikyu sightseeing bus fare tableGem museum: admission for shop-only visits
Official sources and dates checked
- Yamanashi tourism: Oishi Park ·
- Fujikyu Bus: Kawaguchiko timetable for both directions ·
- Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway: visitor guide ·
- Ropeway: revised fares, shortened hours and inspection suspensions ·
- Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway: access ·
- Fuji Five Lakes boat operator: Appare fares and sailing hours ·
- Appare ticket office and pier access ·
- 2026 scheduled suspension notice ·
- Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art: facilities and visitor guide ·
- Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art: access ·
- Gem museum fees and hours ·
- Gem museum English visitor guide ·
- Fujikyu sightseeing bus fare table ·
- Kofu castle ruins and south-exit access ·
- World Heritage Center: free displays, seasonal hours and south-building closures ·
- World Heritage Center: admission, booking and guided-visit FAQ ·
- World Heritage Center: Blue Line stop and walk ·
- Yamanashi Kotsu: museum timetable for both directions and fares ·
- Fuji Five Lakes boat operator: Lake Kawaguchiko cruise guide ·
- Maizuru Castle Park: free admission and building hours ·
- Fujikawaguchiko Town: 2026 tourism guide, free Oishi Park admission (PDF page 5) ·
- Fuji Five Lakes boat operator: Appare official vessel name and Funatsu boarding pier ·
- Fuji Five Lakes boat operator: Ensoleillé Oishi Park Line ·
- Gem museum: rough/cut-stone comparisons and large quartz display ·
- Gem museum: admission for shop-only visits ·