Why Yuru Camp Fans Visit the Fuji Five Lakes

Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp) follows high school girls discovering the joy of solo and group camping around Yamanashi Prefecture, with Mount Fuji as the constant backdrop. The anime's faithful reproduction of real campgrounds, roads, and landscapes makes it one of the most satisfying anime pilgrimages in Japan. Almost every location is real and visitable.

This route guide covers the key locations around the Fuji Five Lakes (Fuji Goko) area in western Yamanashi, focusing on the spots most central to the anime's story.

The Thousand-Yen-Bill View: Lake Motosu

The Scene

Lake Motosu (本栖湖) is where the series begins. In the very first episode, Rin camps solo on the lakeshore and meets Nadeshiko, who has fallen asleep after cycling to see Mount Fuji. The view of Fuji from the north shore of Lake Motosu is the same view printed on the reverse side of Japan's ¥1,000 bill — a fact the anime references directly.

Where Exactly

The thousand-yen-bill viewpoint is at the Nakanokura Pass observation area on the northwest shore of Lake Motosu. The exact composition matches the banknote when you stand at the marked viewpoint. In winter (the anime's primary setting), the air is exceptionally clear and Fuji is often snow-capped and cloud-free.

The campsite in the anime is based on the lakeshore area near the Kouan Campground (浩庵キャンプ場), which sits on the southwest shore with direct Fuji views across the water.

Kouan Campground

The Heart of Yuru Camp

Kouan Campground is the most important single location in the series. It is a real, operating campground on the shore of Lake Motosu with tent sites directly on the waterfront. Waking up in your tent to see Mount Fuji reflected in the lake is the experience that defines Yuru Camp.

Practical Details

  • Cost: ¥1,000 per person camping fee (tent site). No reservation needed for tent camping — first-come, first-served.
  • Facilities: Basic. Toilets, water taps, a small shop. No showers on-site. This is a nature-focused campground, not a glamping resort.
  • What to bring: All your own camping gear, food, and water for cooking. The nearest convenience store is a significant drive away.
  • Season: Open year-round, but winter camping (November to February) matches the anime's atmosphere. Temperatures drop below freezing at night — bring appropriate cold-weather gear.

Fumotoppara Campground

The Group Camping Episodes

Fumotoppara (ふもとっぱら) is the vast, open grassland campground featured in the group camping episodes. Located at the base of Mount Fuji on the Shizuoka Prefecture side, it offers unobstructed panoramic views of Fuji from an enormous flat field. It is one of Japan's most popular campgrounds.

  • Cost: Around ¥2,000 to ¥3,500 per person depending on season
  • Reservation: Required. Book through the official website. Weekend slots fill up weeks in advance, especially in autumn and winter.
  • Access from Kawaguchiko: About 40 minutes by car. No direct public bus — you need a rental car, taxi, or a bus to Fujinomiya and then taxi.

Minobu Town and Kuonji Temple

Nadeshiko's Hometown

Minobu (身延町) is the town where the characters attend school. The town center and Kuonji Temple (久遠寺), the head temple of Nichiren Buddhism, appear in the series. Kuonji sits at the top of a long stone staircase and is surrounded by ancient cedar trees. In spring, the weeping cherry trees (shidarezakura) at the temple are spectacular.

  • Access: Take the JR Minobu Line from Fujinomiya or Kofu to Minobu Station. The temple is about 15 minutes by bus from the station.
  • Free to enter: The temple grounds are open to the public

Hottarakashi Onsen

The Sunrise Bath

Hottarakashi Onsen (ほったらかし温泉) is the outdoor hot spring featured in a memorable Yuru Camp episode where the characters soak in an open-air bath with a direct view of Mount Fuji at sunrise. It is located on a hilltop near Yamanashi-shi, east of the Fuji Five Lakes.

  • Entry: ¥800 per person
  • Hours: Opens 1 hour before sunrise — exact opening time changes daily
  • Access: No public transit. Reach by taxi from Yamanashi-shi Station (about 15 minutes, approximately ¥2,500) or by rental car.
  • Two baths: "Acchi no Yu" (that one) and "Kocchi no Yu" (this one). Acchi no Yu has the better Fuji view.

Suggested 2-Day Route

Day 1: Kawaguchiko to Lake Motosu

  1. Morning: Arrive at Kawaguchiko Station, pick up supplies
  2. Midday: Bus or drive to Lake Motosu, visit the ¥1,000 bill viewpoint
  3. Afternoon: Check in at Kouan Campground, set up camp
  4. Evening: Cook dinner at camp, watch sunset over the lake

Day 2: Minobu and Return

  1. Morning: Sunrise Fuji view from camp, pack up
  2. Midday: Drive or bus to Minobu, visit Kuonji Temple
  3. Afternoon: Hottarakashi Onsen (if you have a car) or return to Kawaguchiko
  4. Evening: Train back to Tokyo

Important Notes

  • The Fuji Five Lakes area is car-friendly but public-transit-challenging. Renting a car makes this pilgrimage significantly easier.
  • Winter camping requires serious cold-weather gear: a 4-season sleeping bag rated to -10C, insulated ground pad, and warm clothing layers
  • Mount Fuji visibility is best on clear winter mornings. Check weather forecasts and expect clouds in summer
  • Respect campground quiet hours (typically 10 PM to 6 AM)