This article is based on a visit made on Wednesday, 16 November 2016.
Edit 3 October 2019: Updated prices to reflect the increase in Japan's national sales tax.
Previously on Sekai Ichi, I visited the
Fuji-Q Highland theme park. Despite having my schedule cut short by a later bus departure, I still managed to do almost everything I set out to out there. And yet, I still managed to set aside time for something a little more natural and seasonal. That would be the so-called Maple Corridor (もみじ回廊,
Momiji Kairō) on the other side of Lake Lawaguchi.
To start, I left Fuji-Q Highland by the train station directly adjacent to the park's north exit. Kawaguchi-ko Station, where I would transfer to one of the many buses, was only one stop away. Unfortunately, their English is almost but not quite correct. That said, I still hope to show them my "again" some time... again.
From Kawaguchi-ko Station, I got on the Red Line bus, which circled up around the east coast of Lake Kawaguchi. The northeast coastline, seen here in the background, is lined with hotels that offer hot spring baths to guests. Only one of them opens their baths to non-staying visitors, and that one is the Hotel Mifujien. While its facilities are relatively older, the baths do offer views of Mount Fuji in clear weather.
This vantage point is from the northeast coast of the lake, roughly where the aforementioned hotels are. You should be able to see Mount Fuji behind this slope here, but the clouds were not cooperating.
This is the entrance to the Kawaguchi-ko Music Forest (河口湖オルゴールの森美術館,
Kawaguchiko Orugōru no Mori Bijutsukan), a museum about musical instruments, especially organs and music boxes. Both the museum hall and the park surrounding it have a distinct classical European aesthetic. But, that's not what I came here for.
A few stops later, I got off the bus in front of the "Maple Corridor". Already, we're off to a good start, as many of the trees lining the road have turned bright red. But, this isn't technically the Maple Corridor just yet.
This is the actual Maple Corridor. Compared to the picture at the top of this article, which showed trees on the outside of the corridor, the trees here on the inside were mostly green. I suppose it's because they were sheltered from sunlight by the trees on the outside, and when those go bare, the interior trees will turn in... turn.
There was a virtual rainbow of leaves on display. Some trees were golden yellow...
...and some trees were fiery red.
Past the end of the corridor, another wall of trees threw some coppery orange into the mix.
Back on the other side of the corridor, there was a model landscape of a farm or somesuch set up.
All in all, there was a definite festival atmosphere to the place. And I mean that not just from the many people in the place, but literally. There were food and craft stalls set up in a plaza off to the side, and even a fire-pit set up to warm up around.
Also, I was unaware the United States Marine Corps used a dragon for a mascot, as per this fellow's jacket. But if he's earned his destiny in heaven, I'm not going to complain.
Remember,
cool guys don't look at explosions. See, it's funny because that tree looks like an explosion... kind of... not really. Anyway, signing off with a selfie again.
Maple Corridor
Address: Kawaguchi, Fuji Kawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 〒401-0304
Access: From Kawaguchi-ko Station, take the Red Line Sightseeing Bus
(R) to the Ichiku Kubota Art Museum (久保田一竹美術館) stop (20-25 minutes, ¥390).
Hotel Mifujien
Hours: Baths are open for non-staying guests from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Cost: ¥1,200, not including towel rental. Free for staying guests.
Address: 207 Azagawa, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 〒401-0304
Access: From Kawaguchi-ko Station, take the Red Line Sightseeing Bus to the Azagawa Onsen Town (浅川温泉街) stop (15-20 minutes, ¥220).
Website:
(Japanese)
Kawaguchi-ko Music Forest
Hours: Open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing. No regular closing days.
Cost: ¥1,800.
Address: 3077-20 Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi-ken 〒401-0304
Access: From Kawaguchi-ko Station, take the Red Line Sightseeing Bus to the Kawaguchi-ko Music Forest Museum (河口湖オルゴールの森美術館) stop (20-25 minutes, ¥330).
Website:
(English) (Japanese)
