Arajukuyama Sengen Park

Arakurayama Sengen Park, located in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most iconic spots for breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Situated on the hillside of Arakurayama at the northern foot of Mount Fuji, the park offers sweeping views of the cityscape of Fujiyoshida below, with the majestic Mount Fuji rising beyond it and spreading its broad slopes into the distance.

The park’s greatest highlight is the view that allows you to see Mount Fuji and the five-storied pagoda, Chureito, at the same time. Chureito was completed in 1962 as a memorial tower dedicated to the spirits of 1,055 war dead from Fujiyoshida City. Modeled after the five-storied pagoda of Shitennoji Temple in Osaka, the vivid vermilion tower stands out strongly as the symbol of the park.

The standard route to Chureito is to climb the 398 steps known as the “Sakuya Hime Stairway,” which leads from the grounds of Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine. Although the stairs are somewhat steep, you can enjoy the climb itself, as turning back partway up reveals beautiful views of Mount Fuji. For those who prefer to avoid the stairs, there is also a gentle slope route that passes in front of the shrine; either way, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes on foot to reach Chureito.

From the observation deck behind Chureito, visitors can enjoy a truly quintessential Japanese landscape, capturing Mount Fuji, the five-storied pagoda, and cherry blossoms in a single frame. The observation deck was renovated in February 2022, and the expanded space has made photography easier. This view has been highly praised overseas as well, having been featured symbolically in the Michelin Green Guide Japon and selected by overseas travel and photography websites as one of the “World’s 9 Places Every Photographer Should Visit Before They Die.” Today, it attracts many visitors from both Japan and abroad.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is also well known as a famous cherry blossom spot, with about 650 Somei Yoshino cherry trees planted within the grounds. The cherry blossoms reach their best viewing time from early to mid-April each year, when the Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival is held. The scenery of full-bloom cherry blossoms, snow-capped Mount Fuji, and the vermilion pagoda is especially spectacular, drawing many flower viewers and photographers. During the festival, food stalls and events are also held, making it a great place to enjoy local cuisine.

The park’s appeal is not limited to spring; it offers different scenery throughout the year. In summer, you can enjoy blue skies and fresh greenery; in autumn, colorful foliage; and in winter, Mount Fuji covered in snow against the clear air. At dusk, the silhouette of Mount Fuji and the sunset create a beautiful scene, while at night, the illuminated Chureito and the city lights of Fujiyoshida spread out below. In 2019, it was also designated as one of the “Three Great Night Views of Fuji” as a precious night-viewing spot overlooking Mount Fuji.

The park is also home to Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, which enshrines Konohanasakuya-hime no Mikoto, and visitors can enjoy a stroll along with their pilgrimage. The view of Mount Fuji through the shrine’s torii gate is popular as a sacred and photogenic scene, and in spring it is especially loved as a photo spot where cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji can be enjoyed together.

In this way, Arakurayama Sengen Park is a place where visitors can enjoy a deeply Japanese landscape composed of Mount Fuji, a five-storied pagoda, cherry blossoms, and city views. It is a highly acclaimed tourist destination, both in Japan and overseas, with charms that change depending on the season and the time of day.