Tourism Fujiyama Twin Terrace: best Mt. Fuji viewing spot

thomas · 26 Apr 2024

Yesterday, a new tourist base named Lily Bell Hütte was inaugurated in Fuefuki, Yamanashi Prefecture. The base aims to lure more tourists to Fujiyama Twin Terrace, touted as offering the most spectacular view of nearby Mount Fuji.

Photo credit: Fuefuki City

Lily Bell Hütte, equipped with a café, shop, and tourist information centre, is the gateway to Fujiyama Twin Terrace. This stunning location rests atop the 1,600-meter-high Shindo Pass, straddling the city of Fuefuki and the town of Fuji-Kawaguchiko. Visitors are treated to breathtaking views, including the majestic Mount Fuji, stretching down to its base, Lake Kawaguchiko, and even glimpses of Lake Yamanakako on clear days. Previously a hidden gem known only to hikers and photographers, the Fuefuki city government invested 178 million JPY (approximately USD1.1 million) in 2021 to construct viewing decks and walking trails, making this scenic spot accessible to a wider audience. The observation decks at Twin Terrace cannot be reached by private vehicles due to the narrow roads.

Visitors take a 10-minute bus ride from the Suzuran Gunseichi parking lot, located in front of Lily Bell Hutte at an altitude of 1,300 meters, after parking their vehicles there. Fuefuki Mayor Masaki Yamashita said he hopes the new facility will help attract foreign tourists from Lake Kawaguchiko, a popular sightseeing resort, to the city and other travel destinations in Yamanashi Prefecture. "We need to create a place where (foreign visitors) want to come if we want to bring them over to Fuefuki from Kawaguchiko," Yamashita said at the opening ceremony for Lily Bell Hutte on 23 April. "We will be happy if we can establish a new route to travel around Yamanashi Prefecture via Fuefuki." The city government spent about 89 million JPY on constructing Lily Belle Hutte. Yamashita said he hopes to attract 100,000 visitors to Twin Terrace over the long term. About 20,000 people visited the facility during the eight months through November. Jinji Yamada, JTB managing executive officer, said the company wants to increase visitor numbers to 50,000 this year by opening Lily Belle Hutte and other measures. JTB, on 25 April, started a bus tour from Kawaguchiko Station on the Fujikyuko Line to Twin Terrace and back thrice daily. The tour costs 3,500 JPY for an adult. The company expects 13,000 participants this year.