When it comes to Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms, most people go straight to Chureito Pagoda—and with good cause. Even I myself have characterized it as “the ultimate Japan postcard picture.”
With this being said, a spring trip to the pagoda is not without its challenges. Among them, the fact that it’s extremely crowded, and the extent to which the bloom there is delayed compared with Tokyo and other more mainstream destinations in Japan.
That’s the bad news. The good news? A much lesser-known spot called the Urui River is nearly as iconic as the pagoda, but a lot less complicated and stressful to pull off.
How I Discovered the Urui River
As is the case for many places I end up visiting in Japan, I first saw the Urui River cherry blossoms in a photo. This was back before the days of reliable Google Lens reverse image search, which means that I had to do some investigation in order to find out where it was. My research was initially fruitless, which led me to believe that the photo had been altered or manipulated, and that perhaps the scene in question did not really exist.
If I’m honest, I can’t really recall how I ended up realizing that I would need to go to the Urui River in order to see it—I didn’t hire someone to do my assignment, though I can’t say for sure how I did it myself. Needless to say, as soon as I finally put the pieces together, I promptly added it to my bucket list. This, of course, ended up taking a couple of years to put on my travel schedule, given how crowded it always is.
5 Tips for Visiting the Urui River
Come in cherry blossom season
I’ll be honest: The scenery of the Urui River just doesn’t hit the same when the cherry leaves are green, red or not there at all. In order to make the journey worth it, you really need to ensure you come around the peak of sakura season. If not, then it’s best to wait until another trip!
But Tokyo’s cherry blossom season, not Mt. Fuji’s
With this being said, there’s a second factor when it comes to Urui River sakura: They bloom more or less at the same time as cherry blossoms in Tokyo, rather than those in the Fuji Five Lakes region or even in Hakone. In most years, this is around—a few days before or after days after—April 1.
Go in morning and afternoon
As a photographer, lighting is extremely important to me. Even if you plan to live only in the moment, however, it’s important to view the scene here in the most flattering lighting. The best time is the afternoon, but this can also be crowded. Mt. Fuji is slightly backlit in the morning, but the relative quiet of the scene should compensate for that.
Don’t worry about renting a car
If you’re simply going from Tokyo to Urui River (or getting there from some other major city), you don’t need to rent a car—and it’s weird for me to say this, because I’m such a fan of having my own vehicle in Japan. In this case, however, it’s a 30-minute journey from Shin-Fuji Station, whether completely on foot, or going part of the way via the JR Minobu Line.
(Unless you want to explore other nearby places)
The only exception to this rule, I’d say, is if you plan to see other destinations in the Tokai region (more on those below), or to continue northward to the Fuji Five Lakes region. Even in this case, there isn’t a whole lot of parking immediately near the Ryuganbuchi viewing spot, so you’ll need to be mindful as you make your way here.
Other Amazing Spring Spots in Tokai
If you love seeing Mt. Fuji from various perspectives, the Tokai sub-region—the southern, Pacific-facing portion of the Chubu region—is the best place in Japan for that:
- If you’re visiting earlier in March, the Izu Peninsula offers fabulous views of Fujisan framed by the kawazu-zakura, a type of early-blooming cherry blossom.
- Missing the cherry blossoms entirely? Don’t worry. April is when the tea fields at Obuchi Sasaba start to get very green—and if skies are clear to show Mt. Fuji rising above them, you’re really in for a treat.
- Although a bit too far west to see Mt. Fuji, Nagoya City and surrounding Aichi prefecture are an underrated and mostly quiet spot for cherry blossom viewing.
Other FAQ About Visiting the Urui River
How do I get from Tokyo to Urui River?
To get from Tokyo to the Urui River, you’ll first want to ride a Shinkansen Kodama from Tokyo to Shin-Fuji Station. There, transfer to the JR Minobu Line and ride it to Iriyamase Station, where the famous Ryuganbuchi viewing spot is just a short walk away.
Is Urui River worth visiting?
Urui River is absolutely worth visiting, at least if you’ve properly timed your visit to the local cherry blossom bloom. If you haven’t, or if you simply decide to come outside of cherry blossom season, I think you’ll unfortunately find the impressiveness of the scene significantly diminished.
Where’s the river where I can see cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji?
Shizuoka’s Urui River is the most beautiful place to see Mt. Fuji rising over a sakura-flanked river. It’s also relatively convenient to access, located less than 30 minutes from Shin-Fuji Station Shinkansen hub, whether you go via local train or travel the entire way on foot.
The Bottom Line
Visiting the Urui River allows you to get an iconic springtime view of Mt. Fuji without the crowds or complications of Chureito Pagoda. For one, the reality is that few people even know about this river, and even fewer are willing to make the cumbersome (but, ultimately, easy) journey to get there. Secondly, the sakura here tend to reach their peak somewhere between those in Tokyo and Kyoto, making it an easy stop along the way between the two cities. Need personalized help assembling your cherry blossom trip, regardless of which destinations it ends up spotlighting? Consider hiring me to plan it for you!
