Lake Yamanaka
Japan UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lake Yamanaka is a landslide-dammed lake located in Yamanakako, Japan. It is part of the Fuji Five Lakes and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration. It is one of the 115 sights of Japan on this site and is the 113th most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The climate varies by season. Summer months such as July and August have daily highs of 24 °C, but these months also see heavy rainfall, with 215 mm in July and 276 mm in August. For cooler weather, January and February have daily highs of 2 °C to 3 °C and lows of -8 °C, with lower rainfall of 68 mm to 77 mm. Spring months like April have daily highs of 12 °C, while autumn months like October have daily highs of 15 °C.
The lake is 80 km from Tokyo. Travelers can reach the area via Tokyo Haneda International Airport, which is 84 km away, or Oshima Airport, located 83 km from the site. Lake Yamanaka can be combined with visits to Mount Fuji, which is 14.8 km away, or Lake Kawaguchi, 15.3 km away. Other nearby locations include Lake Ashi at 25.6 km, Shiraito Falls at 28.4 km, and Odawara Castle at 31.3 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 24 °C. The wettest is September, with about 293 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| Average low, °C | -8 | -8 | -3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 2 | -4 |
| Rainfall, mm | 68 | 77 | 146 | 146 | 158 | 217 | 215 | 276 | 293 | 219 | 104 | 56 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
