Arakurayama Sengen Park
By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: October 9, 2026 · Facts verified: October 9, 2026
Arakurayama Sengen Park (新倉山浅間公園) is the Fujiyoshida City park on the slope of Mount Arakura that holds Chureito Pagoda, Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine and a viewing deck facing Mount Fuji. Entry is free and the park is open around the clock. It is about 10 minutes on foot from Shimoyoshida Station; drivers use one of four paid city car parks, and buses cannot reach the park at all.
Photo: Simo Räsänen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized
- Area
- Fujiyoshida
- Best For
- Mount Fuji views, Seasonal walks, Shrine visit, Photography
How the park fits together
Arakurayama Sengen Park is a city park managed by Fujiyoshida City's Roads and Parks Division. It runs from the foot of Mount Arakura up the middle of its slope and faces Mount Fuji across the town. Most people come for one thing, the five-story Chureito Pagoda, but the pagoda is one stop inside a larger park: Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine stands at the bottom, the Sakuya-hime staircase climbs from the shrine grounds, and the viewing deck sits above the pagoda. Our Chureito Pagoda guide covers the pagoda and its classic photograph; this page covers the park as a whole.
Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; resized
The city presents the park as a viewpoint over all of Fujiyoshida and as a place for walks through the seasons, not only a cherry blossom spot. Cherry trees bloom across the park in spring, maples and cherry leaves color from late October, and the city tourism guide promotes its snow scenes in winter. Mount Fuji is the backdrop all year, but only on a clear day, and the prefectural tourism guide recommends mornings, when the light falls on the face of the mountain.
Popularity has changed how the park works. Since April 2025 the city car parks charge a fee, buses cannot use the narrow roads to the park, and the city asks visitors not to drive up to the plaza in front of the pagoda. In 2026 the city did not hold the spring festival and ran crowd and traffic controls instead. It also reports bear sightings around the park and asks visitors to take particular care early in the morning and from evening onward, when few people are about.
Things to do in the park
Start at Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
The shrine at the foot of the hill was founded in 705 as the guardian shrine of the old Arakura district, according to the official Fujiyoshida tourism guide. The guide records the tradition that a rite to calm Mount Fuji was held here after the eruption of 807, when the shrine is said to have received the plaque now hung on its great torii. Look for the large tree honored as a guardian of child-rearing, and for the red torii with Mount Fuji behind it. It is an active shrine, so keep voices down and leave space for worshippers.
Climb to the pagoda and the viewing deck
The Sakuya-hime staircase climbs from the shrine grounds to Chureito Pagoda, 398 steps by the city's count. Above the pagoda is the viewing deck, renewed in February 2022, with Fujiyoshida below and Mount Fuji beyond. The pagoda's history, the night light-up and where to stand for the classic photograph are in the Chureito Pagoda guide.
Walk the hillside paths
The city describes the park as a walking spot as well as a viewpoint, and the paths along the slope give open views over the town away from the queue at the deck. The city does not publish a trail map with distances, so treat it as a short stroll rather than a hike, and stay on the paths.
See the park in another season
Spring is the famous season, but it is also the one with traffic controls and long waits for the deck. Late October to mid-November brings autumn color around the pagoda with smaller crowds, and winter has the best odds of a clear, snow-capped Mount Fuji.
How to Get to Arakurayama Sengen Park
The park is in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, a short walk from Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line between Otsuki and Kawaguchiko.
On foot from Shimoyoshida Station
The official Fujiyoshida tourism guide gives about 10 minutes on foot from Shimoyoshida Station to the park, about 5 minutes to Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine at its foot, and about 25 minutes from the station to Chureito Pagoda including the climb. The city publishes a walking route from the station, and the tourism guide publishes one from the Shimoyoshida highway bus stop.
By train from Kawaguchiko or Tokyo
Shimoyoshida is two stops from Fujisan Station and four from Kawaguchiko on the Fujikyuko Line. From Tokyo, take a JR train to Otsuki and change to the Fujikyuko Line, or use a through train or a highway bus; see the highway bus guide.
By car
The tourism guide gives about 15 minutes from Kawaguchiko IC or about 12 minutes from Fujiyoshida Nishikatsura Smart IC on the Chuo Expressway, and about 15 minutes from Fujiyoshida IC on the Higashi-Fujigoko Road. Use a city car park (see Hours and Entry Fees). Do not drive up the road to the plaza in front of the pagoda: the city asks visitors not to, for safety, because of the crowds there.
Tour buses and groups
Buses, including microbuses, cannot use the roads to the park or its car parks. Groups get on and off at the Shimoyoshida Station rotary, and the bus then waits at the bus parking area at 2-17 Shimoyoshida. The tourism guide asks groups not to park at the station and not to use the station toilets.
In cherry blossom season
Expect traffic restrictions around the park in early to mid-April. In 2026 vehicles without permits could not enter parts of the area from 1 to 19 April, P1 was closed, and the city recommended public transport. Check the city announcement, usually published in February, before a spring visit.
- •On foot: about 10 minutes from Shimoyoshida Station to the park, about 25 to Chureito Pagoda.
- •By car: P2 and P3 cost 1,000 yen for 6 hours; P1, next to the park, fills first in cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons.
- •Buses and microbuses stop at Shimoyoshida Station; they cannot reach the park.
Best Time to Visit Arakurayama Sengen Park
Clear mornings; early to mid-April for cherry blossoms (busiest); late October to mid-November for autumn leaves.
- •Mornings give the clearest light on Mount Fuji from the park, as the prefectural tourism guide notes.
- •Cherry blossoms, usually early to mid-April, bring the biggest crowds and traffic restrictions.
- •Autumn leaves usually peak from late October to mid-November.
- •Winter has the clearest air; allow for ice on the steps early in the day.
The busiest weeks in the park. The city expects its nearest car park (P1) to be especially busy from late March to early May. In 2026 it ran crowd measures from 1 to 17 April and traffic restrictions until 19 April, closed P1 and set up temporary parking further away. Arrangements for each spring are announced around February.
The park is green and far quieter than in spring, though Mount Fuji is often hidden by haze or cloud on summer afternoons.
The prefectural tourism guide gives this as the usual peak for the maples and cherry leaves in the park. The city expects P1 to be busy from late October to early December.
Clear, cold days give snow on Mount Fuji and sometimes in the park. Steps and paths can be icy early in the day.
Entry Fee & Hours
- •Entry to the park, the shrine grounds and the viewing deck is free. There are no gates or published closing times.
- •City car parks, all open 24 hours (tourism guide figures): P1 next to the park, 88 cars, 1,500 yen per 6 hours; P2, 38 cars, 1,000 yen; P3, behind the Drug Seims Shimoyoshida store, 35 cars, 1,000 yen; P4, 21 cars at 1,500 yen and 10 motorcycles at 750 yen. P2 to P4 are about 5 to 10 minutes on foot from the park entrance, and the city lots can be used even if you are not visiting the park.
- •Parking on the roads around the park is prohibited. The city asks drivers not to stop near junctions, temples, private driveways or bridges, because the lanes are narrow and residential.
- •During spring traffic restrictions P1 closes and P4 takes motorcycles only (in 2026, from 1 to 19 April).
- •Toilets are available in the park; the city adds temporary toilets during spring crowd measures.
Nearby Attractions
Easy to combine on the Fujikyuko Line
Chureito Pagoda
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine
Fuji-Q Highland
Lake Kawaguchiko
Planning time in the park
How long you need depends on how much of the park you see beyond the pagoda.
Shrine, steps and deck
Arrive
Train to Shimoyoshida and walk about 5 minutes to Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
Next 30 minutes
Climb the Sakuya-hime staircase to Chureito Pagoda and the viewing deck
Last 30 minutes
Walk the hillside paths, then return to the station
A Fujiyoshida half day
Morning
The park, the shrine and the deck while Mount Fuji is most likely to be clear
Late morning
Train two stops to Fujisan Station
Midday
Walk about 20 minutes to Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, or ride one more stop to Fuji-Q Highland
Frequently Asked Questions
References
View references
Fujiyoshida City
Fujiyoshida Tourism Guide (official)
Yamanashi Tourism Organization
Planning Your Mount Fuji Trip?
See the full Mount Fuji destination guide or browse Japan itineraries that include this city.
See all Nature & Scenic Spots across Japan →