Lake Kawaguchiko
Reaching Misaka Pass was a momentous occasion for Fuji-ko pilgrims arriving at the northern foot of the mountain via the traditional route. Here was their first view of an unobstructed Mt. Fuji in all its majesty; there was even a torii to mark their entry into the mountain’s presence. After the descent to Lake Kawaguchiko, they were treated to another magnificent view of the peak across the lake, a renowned scene memorialized in ukiyo-e prints by both Hokusai (1760–1849) and Hiroshige (1797–1858). Even today, people flock to Ubayagasaki Cape on the lake’s northeastern shore in the spring to enjoy the tableau of cherry blossoms, the lake, and the lofty peak of Mt. Fuji rising beyond.
Fuji-ko pilgrims often called Lake Kawaguchiko by the alternative name of Funatsuko, or Funatsu Lake. A funatsu was a landing place for boats, and at Lake Kawaguchiko this was the spot where Fuji-ko pilgrims performed their suigyo purification rituals. The term survives as a local placename, most famously represented by the nearby Funatsu Tainai lava caves.