Shindo Pass
Located on the mountain range north of Lake Kawaguchiko are Mount Nakatto (1,665m) and Mount Kurodake (1,793m). Shindo Pass is situated near the middle of this ridge, and there are two distinct observation decks in the clearings.
Shindo Pass is well known as a spot where you can clearly capture Mount Fuji all the way down to its base. It is also famous for enabling beautiful night photos of Mount Fuji framed by the lights of Lake Kawaguchiko and the surrounding towns. During peak season, many photographers line up in the observation area.
FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace
This observation deck opened on July 31, 2021. Anyone who has visited this area before will understand this immediately, but the first impression is: “How did they manage to build it in such a location?" I believe tremendous effort was required to develop this spot to this extent. Thanks to those efforts, visitors can safely enjoy this truly superb view.
Accessing this location is also rather challenging. The Mizugasawa Forest Road leading to Shindo Pass, which was once accessible to general vehicles, is now closed to the public. However, there is a shuttle bus service available to reach the FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace. The bus fare is ¥1,800.
The “Lily Bell Hütte," which also serves as a tourist information center, opened on April 25, 2024, at the site of the original parking lot (Suzuran Colony). The round-trip bus fare from this location to Shindo Pass is ¥1,800. The buses run at 30-minute intervals, with the first departure at 9:15 and the last at 15:15.
You can walk from the “Suzuran Colony" bus stop, but it is generally not recommended. The route is entirely uphill for 3 kilometers with an elevation gain of 200 meters, taking just under an hour.
The bus service will be suspended at the end of November due to the winter closure of the forest road.
Getting to Shindo Pass
Hiking to Shindo Pass from Oishi Park at the foot of the mountain takes approximately three hours one way. Alternatively, you can drive as far up as possible from Oishi and hike the Nakazawa Forest Road from there, which still takes about two hours one way.
The most common access method is to enter Ashikawa via the Wakayama Tunnel and take the shuttle bus from the parking lot at “Suzuran no Sato" (Suzuran Colony), known for its lily-of-the-valley growth. While you can certainly use the bus stops further down, we recommend using the “Suzuran no Sato" parking lot, as it allows you to drive closer to the trailhead.
From the Shindo Pass bus stop, the walk to the Twin Terrace is a climb of just under 10 minutes. Visitors often imagine the terrace is right off the bus, but it is a considerable distance for elderly visitors, so please be advised. However, the stepped path is beautifully maintained, making the environment very easy to walk in.
Before the walkway was maintained:
The path was uneven and narrow, making it very difficult for the elderly to navigate.
Other considerations
Insects and Bears
We highly recommend taking insect repellent measures, especially during the summer months. As this is a hiking course that enters the mountain, wearing clothes like short sleeves and shorts will likely result in numerous insect bites. Since there are also gnats, their bites can cause severe swelling, unlike mosquito bites. Please try to minimize exposed skin.
Although bear sightings have not been reported in this immediate area recently, it is part of their natural habitat. Please exercise caution regarding potential bear encounters.
Shindo Pass Weather
It sometimes happens that Mount Fuji is clearly visible from below on a sunny day, but when you climb up to Shindo Pass, the view is completely obscured by fog! Even if fog appears at Shindo Pass, it usually clears up if you wait a while, but then Mount Fuji might become covered in clouds. A live camera is installed at the location, so be sure to check the conditions before starting your climb.
Shindo Pass Live Camera
Panorama
Gallery
Map