Roadside stationFuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Fujikawa Rakuza roadside station
You can reach this roadside station from both the Tokyo-bound Fujikawa Service Area on the Tōmei Expressway and the local road network. From here, you can see Mount Fuji, a World Heritage Site, up close across the Fuji River. There are cherry blossoms in spring and a planetarium inside. Stop for what you think will be a quick break, and you might find yourself rethinking when to set off again.
Each season has a story from one of my visits.
SpringEarly April
Mount Fuji, still snow-capped between the cherry branches
Early April, on my way back from the west. It was just the right kind of day for driving with the top down, and I was heading east on the Tōmei toward Tokyo. I pulled into the Fujikawa Service Area for a break and found myself beneath cherry trees in full bloom. I'd heard there were 190 cherry trees on the Tokyo-bound side.
I got out of the car and looked up. Through the branches, I could see the Fuji River, the long bridge over it and Mount Fuji beyond, still capped with snow. Is there anywhere else you can stop and see both cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji this close? I'd completely forgotten I was only stopping for a quick break.
Each gust sent petals drifting toward the Fuji River. I reached out to catch one, but they kept slipping through my fingers. On my fifth try, one finally landed in my palm. I tried to photograph it against Mount Fuji, but the wind picked up again at that very moment. The photo shows nothing but my empty palm and Mount Fuji. It makes me laugh every time I look at it, so it's my favorite shot of the day.
SummerJuly
On the rooftop, I locked eyes with Mount Fuji in summer
On a July morning, I came in by motorcycle, this time from a local road. A roadside station you can reach from both the expressway and local roads? That already felt like a little bonus. I wound my way up the multi-storey car park and parked on the rooftop.
I took off my helmet and looked up. There it was: Mount Fuji in summer, beyond the Fuji River and its long bridge. When I'd seen it in spring, the mountain was completely white; now only a little snow clung to the summit. Same roadside station, same mountain, and yet it felt as if I'd come to see a different mountain altogether.
With so little snow, the lines of the slopes stand out clearly. In spring, I found myself gazing at Mount Fuji in awe from afar. The summer view made it look almost climbable. I wasn't actually going to try, though. I'd wanted to pick up some local whitebait at Uoshige Shōten on my way back, but today I was on the bike. I'll have to come back by car for the whitebait.
AutumnOctober
Who knew there was a starry sky beneath that sail-like roof?
October. The sky was a clear autumn blue, but the wind was chilly, so I drove with the top up today. I parked at the roadside station and turned around to look at the building. Its roof rose steeply like a sail. I raised a hand to shade my eyes and looked all the way up to the peak. Had the building always been this big? Whenever I stop here on the way along the expressway, I'm usually too busy looking at Mount Fuji. Maybe this was the first time I'd really looked at the station itself.
I heard there's a proper planetarium inside. And the Donbura Experience Hall, too. Mount Fuji outside, stars indoors. I'd only meant to stop for a break, but it felt as if there were another destination tucked inside the building. For a while, I couldn't decide where to start.
In the end, I browsed the Fujinokuni Rakuza Market and chose some autumn vegetables. Once I had my shopping bag in hand, I knew what to do: save the planetarium for a rainy day. When rain keeps Mount Fuji out of sight, I can come here to watch the stars. Just thinking about that made me look forward to the next forecast calling for rain.
WinterJanuary
I was so caught up in the winter view of Mount Fuji that I forgot to warm my mittens
A January morning. The forecast the night before said the air would be clear, so I got up early and drove along the Tōmei. There were few cars on the expressway at dawn, with the engine and tires keeping a steady rhythm. I had my favorite song playing softly. By the time I exited at the Fujikawa Smart Interchange, it was already broad daylight.
I walked over to the wooden railing and looked up. Beyond the Fuji River and the Tōmei's long bridge, Mount Fuji rose in brilliant white, so huge it felt close enough to touch. I brought my mittened hands to my mouth to blow on them, then stopped, frozen there. The mountain was so enormous I forgot how cold I was.
At last, I blew on my mittened hands and felt a little warmth return inside the mittens. I pulled my knit cap down a bit farther and looked at the mountain again. This was almost too generous a reward for getting up early. Once I've had something warm at the café in the Observation Lounge, I'll come back to this railing for another look.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
About this roadside station
This highway oasis is accessible from both the Tokyo-bound Fujikawa Service Area on the Tōmei Expressway and local roads. Come in from the service area and you'll arrive on the third floor. It was registered as a roadside station in April 1998, and Fujikawa Rakuza opened in March 2000.
From the multi-storey car park, you can see Mount Fuji across the Fuji River. The Tokyo-bound Fujikawa Service Area has 190 cherry trees, and from late March to early April you can enjoy the mountain and blossoms together.
Inside, you'll find a planetarium, the Donbura Experience Hall, restaurants and cafés with views of Mount Fuji, and a shop with a selection of local specialties.
Things to enjoy here
Observation Lounge
At Café Fujisan no Megumi in the Observation Lounge, you can enjoy coffee and cake with sweeping views of Mount Fuji and the Fuji River.
Suruga Bay Seafood
Sushi Dōchū Yajikita, run by fish wholesalers at Shimizu and Yaizu ports, serves seafood from Suruga Bay. At Uoshige Shōten, you can choose from locally caught dried fish and whitebait.
Fujinokuni Rakuza Market
Fresh produce from the station's contracted farmers in Fuji City arrives here every day.
Location
You can enter directly from the Tokyo-bound Fujikawa Service Area on the Tōmei Expressway. From the outbound service area, it's a 10-minute walk. If you come by local roads, it's about 1–3 minutes by car from the Fujikawa Smart Interchange exit and about 15 minutes from JR Shin-Fuji Station. The address is 1488-1 Iwabuchi, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and the multi-storey car park has 208 spaces.
Nearby spots
More Roadside Stations & Rest Areas
How about one more stop along the way?
Maps & Sources
Official information sources
- Fujikawa Rakuza roadside station (official website) (opens in a new tab)
- Fuji City (Recommended Mount Fuji Viewpoints: Fujikawa Rakuza Roadside Station) (opens in a new tab)
- Fuji City (Cherry Blossoms at Fujikawa Rakuza Roadside Station) (opens in a new tab)
- National Roadside Station Council (Fujikawa Rakuza) (opens in a new tab)
- Fujikawa Rakuza (25 Years of the Fujikawa Rakuza Roadside Station) (opens in a new tab)