Places in Japan: The Chureito Pavilion

Basic Information

• Name: Chureito Pavilion
• Where: Fujiyoshida, Japan
• Cost: Free
• Hours: Open 24 hours a day
• More Information: Japan Rail Pass website

Directions

Getting to Fujiyoshida is pretty easy by rail by taking the Fujikyu Railway line from Tokyo to Shimo-Yoshida Station and walking up to the pagoda.  Various buses also run to the shrine and Fujiyoshida is easily accessed by car by taking the Chuo expressway west from Tokyo.  More information about travel to Fujiyoshida can be found at this link.

Parking

There is a small parking area near the Chureito Pagoda for anyone visiting during non-busy times.  It can be a bit tricky to get to because you have to drive through narrow streets to access it. If visiting Chureito Pagoda during the busy cherry blossom season parking is located on the large dirt play area of the Shimoyoshida Elementary School.  There are signs all over the area directing drivers to the parking lot.  From there people have to then walk through town to the pagoda.

Narrative

The view from the Chureito Pagoda is one of the most iconic in all of Japan.  It is often the picture many people think of when they think of Japan due to the bright red & white pagoda, Mt. Fuji, and cherry blossoms all in the same picture.

This temple is part of the larger Arakurayama Sengen shrine located on a hillside overlooking the city of Fujiyoshida.  The shrine is very old being built back in 705 AD.  People have historically come to the Arakuruyama Shrine to pray for happiness, the safe birthing of children, and to ward off evil spirits.  Now most people to come to take pictures of its famous Chureito Pagoda for their Facebook and Instagram feeds. The pictures of the pagoda may make people think it is also ancient architecture, but it is actually of fairly recent vintage.  The Chureito Pagoda was built in 1963 as part of a peace park in recognition of people who died in wars from the First Sino-Japanese War in 1868 to World War II. The Arakuruyama Shrine is accessed by climbing up a steep staircase:

At the top of the staircase the historical architecture of the shrine complex can be visited:

From the shrine it is another much steeper staircase climb to reach the pagoda:

Near the top of the stairs there is a warning sign for wild boars and monkeys which I have never seen during multiple visits to the Chureito Pagoda:

At the top of the staircase there is a beautiful view of the pagoda:

On weekends it is usually busy at the pagoda, but during cherry blossom season it is especially busy:

However, most people stand in front of the pagoda trying to get pictures thus leaving the sides and back of the pagoda not as crowded:

Here is a view from the backside of the pagoda with Mt. Fuji visible through the cherry blossoms trees:

Here is a closer look at the beautifully snow capped Mt. Fuji:

However, getting a picture of the iconic view from higher up the hillside of the pagoda above the cherry blossom trees required a long wait in line.  It took over an hour in line to get to the viewpoint.  Fortunately I had plenty of great views to take in of Mt. Fuji as I waited in line:

However, I could see a brushfire was burning at the base of the mountain:

Over an hour later when I reached the iconic viewpoint, Mt. Fuji was partially obscured by smoke thus not giving the post card quality picture I thought I was going to have an hour earlier.  Regardless I still had a great time visiting the temple and enjoying the great weather and beautiful views of the Fujiyoshida area:

Conclusion

A day trip to the Chureito Pavilion really is a must see day trip if visiting the Tokyo area.  The pavilion is open 24 hours a day and best of all is free to visit. Besides visiting the pagoda the Fujiyoshida area has various lakes, hikes, and caves that can be explored.  Depending on the time of year people can spend extra time in the city to climb Mt. Fuji as well.  Whatever the reason is for visiting Fujiyoshida, a stop by the Chureito Pagoda should be on any itinerary.