Local Guide
A collection of recommended sweets to enjoy during a drive in Kawaguchiko

From the lakeside to the highlands, there are many cafes around Lake Kawaguchi where you can enjoy their signature sweets in a rich natural setting. Among them, we will introduce four stores with a wonderful atmosphere, perfect for a break during a drive.

Third wave coffee and American sweets.

Hummingbird Cake 450 yen and HAND DRIP COFFEE (Vanilla) 480 yen
Hummingbird Cake 450 yen and HAND DRIP COFFEE (Vanilla) 480 yen

This cafe offers a taste of "third wave" coffee culture, which originated in San Francisco. The coffee is made from single origin beans (from a single farm) roasted by a long-established roaster in San Francisco, and each cup is carefully hand-dripped for a rich flavor. You can choose from five varieties, including organic and limited-time-only flavors.
The traditional American handmade sweets are also highly recommended. The "Hummingbird Cake" is a Southern pastry made with banana, pineapple, and walnut dough and cream cheese frosting. It goes great with coffee.

Enjoy your off-time while feeling the breeze of the U.S. West Coast

Bright atmosphere with a sense of openness. You can enjoy the atmosphere of the American West Coast.
Bright atmosphere with a sense of openness. You can enjoy the atmosphere of the American West Coast.

The owner and his wife love San Francisco so much that they visit the city every year. The interior of the restaurant is reminiscent of the place they have always dreamed of visiting, with white walls and high ceilings that create a spacious atmosphere. The black-and-white photos casually displayed on the wall reflect the local cityscape. The restaurant is sophisticated yet unpretentious and comfortable.
Many people visit alone, as well as in groups, and find their favorite space to relax on the leather sofas or read a book in the open-air seating. Pets are welcome on the terrace.

Local Guide Comment
Both food and coffee are American-sized and plentiful. The "Union Street Sandwich," a hot sandwich of ham and cheese topped with maple syrup, is an excellent choice!
CISCO COFFEE
  • Address YamanashiFujikawaguchiko Town, Minamitsuru-gunOdachi 927-1 MAP
  • Bus Direction From Kawaguchiko Station (Fuji Kyuko Line), take Nishiko Shuyu Bus "Green Line" bound for Fugaku-Kaze-ana (Wind Cave). 12 min. by bus and get off at Yagisaki Koen (Yagisaki Park). 1 min. walk from Yagisaki Koen Bus Stop.
  • Business hours 9:30～L.O.17:00
  • Closed Wednesday
  • TEL 0555-73-4187
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Reservations not accepted

Popular Japanese and Western sweets store run by two generations of parents and children.

Waffle
Waffle "Fruit Bouquet" 650 yen

This sweet store is run by a father who was a Japanese-style confectioner and his daughter, a second-generation tea instructor. The shop offers a lineup of products made from carefully selected ingredients and melted snow water from Mt.
In the attached café, you can taste about 20 kinds of seasonal cakes and parfaits. We recommend the "Fruit Bouquet" waffle. It is so beautifully arranged with seasonal fruits and edible flowers grown by a local flower farmer that it is almost too good to eat.
The "Cream Anmitsu," made with red beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido, cooked for eight hours and red peas boiled in salted water, is another favorite.

A full lineup of teas is also available! The second generation is a tea professional!

Tea class is held on the 4th Wednesday of every month
Tea class is held on the 4th Wednesday of every month

The second generation is a tea expert who studied under a famous tea researcher and also has qualifications as a Chinese tea instructor and medical herb coordinator. On the menu are 10 types of tea selected by him, and you can taste mainly black tea as well as seasonal tea arrangements. In addition, there are more than 50 types of tea leaves in stock, so you can consult with the Staff/staff member about your preferences.
In addition, a tea class is held once a month. The theme changes each month, including tips on how to make and enjoy tea, and introductions to teas that match seasonal events.

Local Guide Comment
With a tea room and gallery where you can also enjoy meals, this is a store where you can enjoy yourself in many different ways. The shop also offers a wide variety of sweets, which make great souvenirs.
ARVENTO
  • Address 1-8-1 Shinnishibaru, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 4 min. walk from Fuji Station of Fuji Kyuko Line
  • Hours of Operation 8:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee Tea class 2,000 yen *Confirm dates, times, and other details on the official website.
  • TEL 0555-24-5888
  • Parking Free of charge

Excellent sweets in a quiet café nestled in the forest

Caramel Banana Parfait 630 yen (tax not included)
Caramel Banana Parfait 630 yen (tax not included)

This hole-in-the-wall café stands in a location so rich in nature that squirrels and deer can sometimes be seen.
Sweets include tarts, fondant chocolates, and other handmade items. One of the signature items on the menu, the "Caramel Banana Parfait," is made with two kinds of ice cream, caramel and vanilla, and served with bananas and caramel sauce, creating a perfect balance of moderate bitterness and gentle sweetness. It is truly an adult-flavored sweet.
For summer only, a dessert with soft-serve ice cream on top of a frappe is also available. Caramel macchiato, mango, and strawberry flavors are available.

A store like a treasure chest filled with the owner's hobbies

This store was opened by a couple from Kawaguchiko. Highly sophisticated design furniture is displayed here.
This store was opened by a couple from Kawaguchiko. Highly sophisticated design furniture is displayed here.

The store's interior has a pop atmosphere with mid-century furniture and sundries scattered throughout. There are sofas by famous designers Eames and George Nelson, knick-knacks with motifs of Andy Warhol's works, and playful figurines.
Also, be sure to check out the store's original goods section, where you will find fashion items such as T-shirts and bags, as well as stylish souvenirs.
On sunny days, the terrace is a comfortable place to spend time and relax with your dog. You can also relax with your dog.

Local Guide Comment
It is a cozy café where you can feel nature in abundance. Pets are allowed, and a menu for dogs is also available.
MIU'S CAFÉ
  • Address 6607-2 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko Town, Minamitsuru-gun, Fuji, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from Kawaguchiko Station of Fuji Kyuko Line
  • Business hours 11:00-19:00 (L.O.18:00)
  • Closed Mondays (closed the next day if Monday is a national holiday)
  • TEL 0555-73-3986
  • Parking Free of charge

Shaved ice that melts in your mouth as soft as a cloud, made with natural water from Fuji

Hearty shaved ice
Hearty shaved ice "Caramel Milk & Raspberry" 950 yen

Shaved ice made with natural water from Fuji, which is rich in minerals, is the specialty of this sweet shop.
The shaved ice has a soft and fluffy texture that melts in your mouth and disappears in an instant. There are always more than 10 types of shaved ice available, from familiar flavors such as "Uji kintoki" and "strawberry condensed milk" to unique ones such as "Shingen ice" topped with brown sugar and soybean flour and "Tiramisu with cream cheese and miru".
In addition, there are also seasonal fruit arrangements, such as "Kiyo" premium plums in summer, grapes and apples in fall, and "Dekopon" and "Tosa Buntan" in winter.

Local Guide Comment
The ice is fluffy and tasty without giving you a headache. It looks like a huge volume, but I finished it in no time!

Handmade sweet dishes are also recommended.

The dark tones of the modern Japanese-style interior.
The dark tones of the modern Japanese-style interior.

The thinner the ice is shaved, the easier it melts on the tongue and the more pleasant it is to the touch. Since it is important to make hard ice, Shinsuido spends a whole day freezing natural water from Fuji to increase the density of the ice.
The same commitment to deliciousness also applies to the sweetness of the ice. The shop offers a variety of Japanese sweets carefully made with quality ingredients, including homemade "Kuzumochi" made with Yoshino honkuzu (arrowroot starch), and the "3 Kinds of Omochi Plate" that allows you to enjoy the flavors of red bean paste, soybean flour, and soy sauce made with natural water from Fuji. In particular, the "Zenzai" available from October to late April is highly recommended by many fans who come to the store to enjoy it at this time of the year.

Shinsuido
  • Address YamanashiFujikawaguchiko Town, Minamitsuru-gunFunatsu7673-1 MAP
  • Direction About 8 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station of Fuji Kyuko Line by car.
  • Hours of Operation 11:00-17:00 (from around July 20 to late August 10:30)
  • Closed Mondays (closed the next day if Monday is a national holiday)
  • TEL 0555-73-8548
  • Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.