Gotemba is a premier destination where you can experience the best of Japan in a single day. Located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, it offers a unique blend of high-end shopping, spiritual landmarks, and raw natural beauty. Here is your in-depth guide to the best spots in the area.
The Icons: Must-Visit “Big Three” Spots
1. Gotemba Premium Outlets (御殿場プレミアムアウトレット)
Gotemba Premium Outlets is one of Japan’s largest outlet shopping destinations, set on an expansive site with spectacular views of Mount Fuji. The open-air complex is home to around 290 popular domestic and international brand stores, along with a wide variety of restaurants and cafés, making it a paradise for shopping and dining. Beyond retail, the outlet also features a small amusement park and a day-use hot spring facility, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy leisure activities between shopping sessions. With its combination of world-class shopping, entertainment, and iconic scenery, Gotemba Premium Outlets offers inbound travelers a full-day experience that goes far beyond shopping alone.
2. Gotemba Kogen Toki no Sumika (御殿場高原 時之栖)
Gotemba Kogen Toki no Sumika is a refreshing resort complex where nature, relaxation, and entertainment come together in a beautifully landscaped setting. This expansive destination features a wide variety of facilities, including hotels, restaurants, hot spring baths, museums, sports facilities, and leisure attractions—offering far more to enjoy than can be experienced in just one day. Throughout the year, visitors can unwind amid lush greenery, while seasonal events add to the appeal. The resort is especially famous for its spectacular summer and winter illuminations, which transform the grounds into a magical world of light and color. With something for all ages and interests, Toki no Sumika is an ideal stop for inbound travelers seeking relaxation, fun, and memorable experiences near Mount Fuji.
3. Fuji Bussharito Heiwa Park (富士仏舎利塔平和公園)
Fuji Bussharito Heiwa Park is a peaceful hilltop park offering panoramic views over Gotemba City, with Mount Fuji creating a breathtaking backdrop. In spring, the park is especially beautiful, as cherry blossoms bloom across the grounds, creating a stunning combination of sakura and Mount Fuji. The park is home to the Bussharito (Buddhist Reliquary Tower), which enshrines a portion of the Buddha’s relics gifted through the goodwill of the late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, symbolizing peace and international friendship. With open pavilions and quiet walking areas, the park serves as a relaxing retreat for both locals and visitors, making it a meaningful destination for inbound travelers seeking scenic views, cultural depth, and a moment of tranquility near Mount Fuji.
Serenity & Hidden Gems (Photo Spots)
Toraya Kobo (とらや工房) & Higashiyama Former Kishi Residence (東山旧岸邸)
- Toraya Kobo: Owned by one of Japan’s oldest and most famous confectionery makers, this tea house is built with natural wood and open sides. You can eat freshly made Dorayaki (pancakes with red bean paste) while listening to the wind rustling through the bamboo forest.
- Higashiyama Former Kishi Residence is an elegant example of modern sukiya-style architecture designed by renowned architect Isoya Yoshida in his later years. Built in 1969 as the private residence of former Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, the house stands next to Higashiyama Kannon Hall in a calm and refined setting. The residence harmoniously blends the refined aesthetics of traditional sukiya architecture—known for its simplicity, natural materials, and craftsmanship—with the practical functions of a modern home. Visitors can explore the beautifully designed interior together with its serene garden, offering inbound travelers a rare opportunity to experience Japanese architectural philosophy, postwar history, and refined garden design in one peaceful visit.
Niihashi Sengen Shrine (新橋浅間神社)
Niihashi Sengen Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine known both for its deep connection to Mount Fuji and as a popular matchmaking and romance spot. Serving as the eastern gateway shrine for the Gotemba Trail of Mount Fuji, it hosts the official Mount Fuji Gotemba Route Opening Ceremony every year on July 1. The shrine is dedicated to Konohanasakuya-hime, the Shinto goddess associated with Mount Fuji, beauty, and safe relationships. Within the grounds flows the pure spring water known as “Konohana Meisui,” fed by Mount Fuji’s underground water and visited daily by locals who come to collect it. Recognized as a certified “Sacred Place for Lovers,” the shrine has become a beloved local hotspot for couples. Visitors can purchase special matchmaking ema (wooden prayer plaques) featuring Mount Fuji and rose bouquet designs created by local high school students, and offer them with prayers for good relationships. Heart-shaped (inomé) objects designed by local students can also be found on the grounds, adding a charming and photogenic touch for inbound travelers seeking culture, romance, and local creativity.
Otome Toge (乙女峠) & FUJIMI CAFE
“Otome Toge” translates to “Maiden’s Pass.” It has historically been the main gateway between Gotemba and Hakone.
FUJIMI CAFE is a modern café located at Otome Pass in Gotemba City, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Fuji. The café serves a range of delicious dishes made with local ingredients, including hamburgers and curry featuring Ashitaka beef, as well as a variety of sweets. From the stylish indoor space and the open wooden deck, visitors can enjoy Mount Fuji’s scenery as it changes with the seasons. The terrace seating is pet-friendly, making it a welcoming stop for travelers exploring the area with their animals. Combining local flavors, relaxed design, and one of the best views of Mount Fuji, FUJIMI CAFE is a perfect place for inbound travelers to unwind and take in the landscape.
Cultural & Unique Experiences
Chichibunomiya Memorial Park (秩父宮記念公園)
Chichibunomiya Memorial Park is a historic garden recognized as one of Japan’s Top 100 Historic Parks. From 1941 for about ten years, the park served as the private villa of Prince Chichibu and Princess Setsuko, who actually lived here. After the passing of Princess Setsuko, the estate was generously donated to the city of Gotemba and opened to the public as a memorial park in April 2003. Spanning approximately 18,000 tsubo—about one and a half times the size of Tokyo Dome—the park offers expansive grounds filled with rich natural scenery. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of seasonal flowers and mountain plants beloved by the imperial couple, making it a peaceful place where history, nature, and seasonal beauty come together for inbound travelers seeking a deeper cultural experience in Japan.
Fuji Gotemba Distillery / Kirin (キリンディスティラリー 富士御殿場蒸溜所)
Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba is a rare, fully integrated whisky distillery where every step of production—from mashing and fermentation to distillation, aging, and bottling—takes place on one site, all with stunning views of Mount Fuji. Established in 1973, the distillery has long pursued the ideal expression of Japanese whisky. Located in Shibanta, Gotemba City, the area offers ideal natural conditions for whisky making, including pure underground water from Mount Fuji, a cool average annual temperature of around 13°C, and frequent mist that supports a stable aging environment. Visitors can enjoy a well-stocked shop and take part in guided distillery tours to learn about the craftsmanship behind Japanese whisky; advance reservations are required for tours, making prior planning essential for inbound travelers.
Nature & Adventure
Fuji Safari Park (富士サファリパーク)
Fuji Safari Park offers an unforgettable wildlife experience where visitors can get remarkably close to animals in a vast natural setting at the foothills of Mount Fuji. In the Safari Zone, you can drive through the park in your own car and observe powerful animals such as lions, tigers, and bears up close. For an even more exciting adventure, the popular Jungle Bus allows guests to feed animals like lions and bears from specially designed vehicles. In the Petting Zone, visitors can enjoy hands-on encounters with friendly, small animals, making it especially enjoyable for families. From mid-March to late November, the highly praised Walking Safari lets you stroll along the outer paths of the Safari Zone and observe animals from a different perspective, combining adventure, learning, and fun for travelers of all ages.
Komakado Kaza-ana Lava Cave (駒門風穴)
Komakado Kaza-ana Lava Cave is a remarkable lava tunnel formed by Mount Fuji, offering visitors a glimpse into the mountain’s powerful volcanic history. One of several lava caves around Mount Fuji, Komakado Kaza-ana was created by the New Fuji eruption approximately 10,000 years ago. Inside, the tunnel branches into two paths and extends about 150 meters, allowing visitors to walk deep into this natural formation. The cave maintains a constant temperature of around 13°C throughout the year, providing a cool retreat in summer and a mild environment in winter. With its uneven ground and low ceilings in places, visitors are advised to proceed carefully, making this an exciting and memorable adventure for inbound travelers interested in nature, geology, and exploration.
Otainai Seikōen Garden (御胎内清宏園)
御胎内清宏園（Otainai Seikōen Garden） is a tranquil natural garden formed on a lava field created by Mount Fuji’s 1707 eruption. Over centuries, trees and plants gradually took root on the hardened lava, creating a richly diverse forest landscape. Visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers such as cherry blossoms and azaleas, along with alpine plants unique to the Fuji, Ashitaka, and Hakone mountain ranges. Within the garden lies the nationally designated Natural Monument, the Inno Lava Tunnel “Otainai,” long revered as a sacred site, and the nearby Otainai Shrine, famous as a guardian deity for safe childbirth. Blending dramatic volcanic history, lush nature, and deep spiritual heritage, Otainai Seikōen Garden offers inbound travelers a serene and culturally meaningful experience near Mount Fuji.
