Lake Kawaguchi

Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi is located in Japan
Lake Kawaguchi
Lake Kawaguchi
LocationYamanashi Prefecture
Coordinates35°30′54″N 138°45′24″E / 35.51500°N 138.75667°E / 35.51500; 138.75667
Primary inflowsnone
Basin countriesJapan
Surface area6.13 km2 (2.37 sq mi)
Max. depth15.2 m (50 ft)
Shore length119.08 km (11.86 mi)
Surface elevation833 m (2,733 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Kawaguchi (河口湖, Kawaguchi-ko, literally 'Estuary Lake') is located in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in southern Yamanashi Prefecture near Mount Fuji, Japan. It is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of surface area, and is located at the lowest elevation. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 800 metres (2,625 ft), which accounts for its relatively cool summers and frequently icy winters. It also has the longest shoreline of any of the Fuji Five Lakes.[1]

The lake is within the borders of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.[2]

The lake has no natural outlet, and flooding of settlements on its shores was a problem until the construction of a canal, completed in 1914, to connect it to a tributary of the Sagami River.

As with the other Fuji Five Lakes, the area is a popular resort, with many lakeside hotels, windsurfing facilities, camp sites, and excursion boats. Japanese white crucian carp and wakasagi were introduced to the lake in the Meiji period, and sports fishing is also popular. Lake Kawaguchi is the most popular of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of tourists, and has the most developed tourist infrastructure.[citation needed] The area also serves as a major hub for those wishing to climb Mount Fuji during the climbing season (July and August), and is also popular with photographers due to the panoramic views of the mountain from the shore.

In 2013 the lake was added to the World Heritage List as part of the Fujisan Cultural Site.[3]

One of the best ways to visit the lake from Tokyo is the JR operated Limited Express Fuji Excursion. The train runs up to three times daily from Shinjuku Station.[4] The area is also served by frequent motorway coach services from various locations in Tokyo, including Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, Tokyo Station, Shibuya Mark City, etc. Most of these services are operated by Fuji Kyuko.

Climate

Climate data for Lake Kawaguchi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1933−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1) 		20.2
(68.4) 		23.3
(73.9) 		29.9
(85.8) 		30.5
(86.9) 		33.4
(92.1) 		35.3
(95.5) 		35.0
(95.0) 		33.0
(91.4) 		29.7
(85.5) 		23.9
(75.0) 		21.2
(70.2) 		35.3
(95.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9) 		6.6
(43.9) 		10.5
(50.9) 		16.1
(61.0) 		20.6
(69.1) 		23.0
(73.4) 		27.2
(81.0) 		28.1
(82.6) 		23.8
(74.8) 		18.3
(64.9) 		13.8
(56.8) 		8.5
(47.3) 		16.8
(62.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3) 		0.6
(33.1) 		4.2
(39.6) 		9.5
(49.1) 		14.3
(57.7) 		17.8
(64.0) 		21.9
(71.4) 		22.5
(72.5) 		18.7
(65.7) 		13.0
(55.4) 		7.5
(45.5) 		2.3
(36.1) 		11.0
(51.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.7
(21.7) 		−4.8
(23.4) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		3.7
(38.7) 		8.9
(48.0) 		13.7
(56.7) 		18.0
(64.4) 		18.5
(65.3) 		14.8
(58.6) 		8.7
(47.7) 		2.2
(36.0) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		6.1
(43.1)
Record low °C (°F) −22.1
(−7.8) 		−20.5
(−4.9) 		−18.1
(−0.6) 		−9.1
(15.6) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		3.5
(38.3) 		4.2
(39.6) 		9.3
(48.7) 		2.3
(36.1) 		−3.3
(26.1) 		−9.5
(14.9) 		−15.5
(4.1) 		−22.1
(−7.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 60.9
(2.40) 		55.4
(2.18) 		107.6
(4.24) 		106.1
(4.18) 		123.2
(4.85) 		157.1
(6.19) 		178.4
(7.02) 		176.8
(6.96) 		264.7
(10.42) 		230.0
(9.06) 		76.0
(2.99) 		49.8
(1.96) 		1,585.9
(62.44)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 37
(15) 		28
(11) 		20
(7.9) 		4
(1.6) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.4) 		7
(2.8) 		97
(38)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.9 5.1 9.1 8.5 9.4 11.5 11.7 10.1 11.1 10.1 6.7 4.6 102.8
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) 4.4 4.3 3.1 0.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 13.7
Average relative humidity (%) 62 63 67 68 73 80 81 81 82 81 74 66 73
Mean monthly sunshine hours 212.3 190.7 185.7 185.5 181.0 122.8 148.4 165.2 122.5 134.4 165.8 199.9 2,014.2
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6]


  • Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
    Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
  • Mount Fuji and Kawaguchiko Station
    Mount Fuji and Kawaguchiko Station
  • Eastern part
    Eastern part
  • Hokusai
    Hokusai
  • Kawaguchiko Bridge
    Kawaguchiko Bridge
  • Cherry blossoms
    Cherry blossoms
  • Autumn
    Autumn
  • Ensoleille ship
    Ensoleille ship

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Kawaguchi.

Notes

  1. ^ "Yamanashi Sightseeing Net". yamanashi-kankou.jp. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  2. ^ Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park Archived 2012-08-28 at the Wayback Machine(Ministry of the Environment (Japan))
  3. ^ "Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration: Maps". World Heritage. UNESCO. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  4. ^ "TrainReview's guide to the Limited Express Fuji Excursion". Archived from the original on 2022-09-13.
  5. ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  6. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 4, 2022.