Half a Panorama at Mount Panorama

What?
Mount Panorama (パノラマ台) is located northwest of Lake Shoji (精進湖), one of the Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖). It features a wide open space offering clear views of Mount Fuji (富士さん), as well as Lakes Shoji and Lake Motosu (本栖湖). It peaks at 1,300 m, but when taking the approximately 9 km loop via Mount Sanpobunzan (三方分山), you will eventually climb to 1,421 m. There is also a viewing point at this peak, although Mount Panorama’s is the better one.
Where?
Located in Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県) near Lake Shoji, the trailhead can be accessed by the Blue Line sightseeing bus departing from Kawaguchiko Station (河口湖駅). The bus stop to get off at is Kodaiki Fuji View Point (子抱き富士ビューポイント). The timetable has changed multiple times over the past few years, and many outdated versions of routes and schedules are still circulating online, often without timestamps. Make sure to check the correct departure times at the bus information center at the station, or consult the official site of Fujikyu (富士急), the bus operator.
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Hiking Around Tokyo

With just one look at the weather forecast, I knew Mount Fuji would probably not show herself yesterday. Today, on the other hand, the chances were better, so I decided to go for a “Mount Fuji viewing hike”.
What better choice than the aptly named Mount Panorama? (Well, technically speaking, it’s Mount Panorama Platform, but hey.)

Planning to take the first Blue Line bus toward Lake Shoji, I was greeted by the same grey weather as yesterday. To make matters slightly worse, the timetable had apparently changed, and my bus wouldn’t depart for another half hour. I took out my e-reader and tried to pass the time peacefully, even though the Kawaguchiko Station bus stop was already bustling with people.
Most tourists stay around Lake Kawaguchiko, though, so the bus ride itself was quiet and peaceful. And as if Mount Fuji approved of that, she revealed her peak above the clouds just as I got off the bus.

I quickly took a few pictures and hurried toward the trailhead. You never know when she’ll hide again, so I practically raced to the summit of Mount Panorama. Halfway up, the occasional viewpoints showed that Japan’s highest mountain was revealing more of herself. Encouraged, I pushed on and reached the top in just about an hour.
…
But alas, as these things go, Mount Fuji had already wrapped herself in clouds again.
I sat down and watched the clouds roll by. Every now and then, a part of the peak appeared, but never quite enough. Unfortunate, of course, but that’s the risk. At least I had seen her from below and halfway up the mountain.
So I decided to continue the loop toward Mount Sanpobunzan and then on to the Onnazaka Pass for the descent. Maybe, just maybe, I’d get another glimpse of Mount Fuji from the higher point.
From the base of Mount Panorama to its peak, the ascent is gradual and the trail very clear—accessible to just about anyone. Aside from a few viewpoints, the climb itself doesn’t offer much, but it’s short enough that it doesn’t matter.
Beyond Mount Panorama, however, things become more of the same, with only a viewing point at Mount Sanpobunzan to break the monotony. The forest lacked the vibrant greens of the Aokigahara Forest, and there were no snow-dusted sections like on yesterday’s Mount Ashiwada.
It turned into a long, somewhat monotonous ridge hike.

Halfway up I had good hope to have a good view of Mount Fuji.

The weather was fine, but it's still winter.

A rare change of scenery.

Unfortunately, that's only the very tip of Mount Fuji...

I did enjoy the solitude, and any day spent in nature is better than one in the office, but I wouldn’t strongly recommend this hike. Perhaps in another season, when greenery brings the landscape to life, it would be a different experience. As it was, I was glad to be back on lower ground.

Mount Fuji still refused to show herself, so I boarded the first bus back, ready to return to my hotel and do some laundry. And lo and behold, there she was!
While it’s far from a natural viewpoint like Mount Panorama – where on a clear day you’d have an unobstructed view over Lake Shoji, the Aokigahara Forest, and Mount Fuji – the view from the Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge isn’t bad at all. Tourists around me clearly agreed, judging by the smiles on their faces as Mount Fuji revealed herself in full.
A mere half hour later, the clouds rolled back in, proving once again that while she may be Japan’s biggest attraction, Mount Fuji is a very shy lady.

But I had seen her, and isn’t that why everyone comes to the Fuji Five Lakes?