Lake Tanuki (Diamond Fuji)

Overview

Tucked into the western foothills of Mount Fuji at an elevation of roughly 650 metres, Lake Tanuki is a calm freshwater lake about four kilometres in circumference, sitting within Fujinomiya City in Shizuoka Prefecture. Originally constructed as an agricultural reservoir, it has grown into one of Japan's most celebrated vantage points for a phenomenon known as Diamond Fuji — the moment when the rising sun aligns perfectly with the summit of Mount Fuji, turning the peak into a blazing jewel of light. At Lake Tanuki this alignment occurs twice a year, around April 20 and again around August 20, and on each occasion photographers and astronomy enthusiasts descend on the lake's eastern shore well before dawn. What elevates the experience here beyond other Diamond Fuji viewpoints is the possibility of a "Double Diamond Fuji": when the lake surface is perfectly still, a mirror image of the glowing summit appears in the water simultaneously, so that two diamonds of light — one in the sky, one reflected below — burn at the same instant. It is a fleeting spectacle that lasts only seconds, yet it draws visitors from across Japan and abroad season after season. Outside these headline moments, Lake Tanuki rewards visitors throughout the year. A flat, easy walking trail circles the lake in about ninety minutes, passing lakeside campsites and grassy meadows popular with families. Spring brings cherry blossoms reflected in the still water; early summer drapes the surrounding forest in fresh green; autumn sets the hillsides ablaze with maples and oaks. In winter, before the first light of day, Mount Fuji's silhouette emerges from a deep-blue darkness with a stillness that feels almost sacred. The lake also sits near the Asagiri Plateau, where morning mist rolls in frequently, layering fog, mountain, and water into landscapes that seem to belong to another world.

Access

📍 Address: 634-1 Saori, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

From Fujinomiya Station (JR Minobu Line), take a Fujikyu Shizuoka Bus bound for Asagiri Plateau (approx. 50 min) and alight at the Tanuiko bus stop. By car, allow about 40 minutes from the Tomei Fuji IC. During Diamond Fuji season, roadside parking fills quickly — arrive early.

Map

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