Oshino Hakkai
By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: October 9, 2026 · Facts verified: October 9, 2026
Oshino Hakkai (忍野八海) is a group of eight spring-fed ponds in Oshino village, between Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako, fed by Mount Fuji's underground water. Seven of the eight sit in the open village with no hours; the eighth, Sokonuke-ike, is inside the paid Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan, open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The ponds are a National Natural Monument and part of the Fujisan World Heritage Site. The bus from Fujisan Station takes about 15 minutes.
- Area
- Oshino
- Best Time
- Early morning for space and the best chance of Mount Fuji; the ponds are worth seeing in any season
- Best For
- Spring water, Rural village, Mount Fuji views, Short stop
What you are looking at
Oshino village was once a lake. Repeated eruptions of Mount Fuji and erosion drained it, leaving springs fed by the mountain's underground water, and the eight best known became Oshino Hakkai. Followers of Fuji-ko, the Mount Fuji pilgrimage tradition, made the ponds a circuit of eight sacred stations, each with a dragon king enshrined and a poem carved on a stone beside it.
The ponds are spread through the village rather than in one enclosure. Waku-ike, the pond most people photograph, has the strongest flow, rising from an underwater cave, and its water was used in 1983 in an experiment to make snow in space; Nigori-ike lies next to it. Deguchi-ike, the first station, sits away from the rest. Kagami-ike is named for the way it can mirror Mount Fuji.
The central lanes by the shops get crowded, so an early start gives more space and a better chance of seeing the mountain. The ponds are protected: do not touch the water, step in or throw coins.
What to do at Oshino Hakkai
Follow the eight ponds in order
The pilgrimage order is Deguchi-ike, Okama-ike, Sokonuke-ike, Choshi-ike, Waku-ike, Nigori-ike, Kagami-ike and Shobu-ike, each marked by a stone with a poem. Deguchi-ike is said to represent the Pole Star and the other seven the Big Dipper.
Look into Waku-ike
The most productive spring of the eight rises from an underwater cave, and the water is clear enough to watch the weeds move far below the surface.
Find Mount Fuji in Kagami-ike and over Shobu-ike
Kagami-ike, the "mirror pond", can reflect the mountain on a still, clear day, and Shobu-ike has a view of Mount Fuji beyond its stone monument.
See Sokonuke-ike in the Shiryokan
The only paid pond is inside the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan folk museum, and it keeps the oldest-looking setting of the eight.
Watch Okama-ike and Choshi-ike
At Okama-ike the spring wells up as if from a boiling pot, and at Choshi-ike you can see sand stirred up from the bottom where the water rises.
How to Get to Oshino Hakkai
Oshino Hakkai is in Oshino village, Yamanashi Prefecture, on the road between Fujiyoshida and Lake Yamanakako.
From Fujisan Station
Buses take about 15 minutes to the Oshino Hakkai stop, and the ponds are about 5 minutes' walk from there.
From Kawaguchiko
Take the Fujikyuko Line two stops to Fujisan Station and the bus from there, or a taxi.
From Tokyo
Highway buses from Shinjuku stop at Fujisan Station, where the local bus to Oshino leaves; see the highway bus guide. By train, reach Fujisan Station on the Fujikyuko Line.
By car
About 20 minutes from the Kawaguchiko Interchange (Chuo Expressway) or 10 minutes from the Yamanakako Interchange (Higashi-Fuji Five Lakes Road). Use the private paid lots around the village.
- •Fujisan Station, not Kawaguchiko, is the nearest railway station.
- •The bus from Fujisan Station takes about 15 minutes, then a 5-minute walk.
- •Drivers should use the private paid lots; there is no official free parking.
Best Time to Visit Oshino Hakkai
Early morning for space and the best chance of Mount Fuji; the ponds are worth seeing in any season.
- •Arrive early for space in the central lanes and the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji.
- •The springs keep the ponds clear year-round, so a cloudy day is still worthwhile.
- •Winter mornings give the clearest air for the mountain.
The ponds are spring-fed, so the water stays clear through the year.
Clear, cold mornings give the best chance of Mount Fuji above the thatched roofs.
Entry Fee & Hours
- •Seven of the eight ponds are in the open village and free to see.
- •Sokonuke-ike is inside the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan, a folk museum that charges admission and opens from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Secondary sources give 300 yen for adults; the village tourism listing does not state the fee.
- •There is no official free parking; use the private paid lots around the village.
- •Do not touch, enter or throw coins into the ponds. They are a National Natural Monument.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Oshino Hakkai on the same day
Chureito Pagoda
Lake Kawaguchiko
Mt. Fuji 5th Station
Lake Yamanakako
Fuji-Q Highland
Oshino Hakkai in a Fuji day
Oshino is on its own bus axis from Fujisan Station, so pair it with Fujiyoshida rather than the far side of Kawaguchiko.
Fujiyoshida and the spring ponds
Morning
Chureito Pagoda from Shimoyoshida Station
Midday
Train two stops to Fujisan Station and the bus to Oshino Hakkai
Afternoon
Bus back to Fujisan Station and on to Lake Kawaguchiko or Tokyo
Frequently Asked Questions
References
View references
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 →