Last checked: October 15, 2026
Hooked on the idea of fishing with heating at your feet and Mt. Fuji across the water?
On Lake Yamanaka, Shusui-ya (しゅうすいや, also listed as SHUSUIYA Boat House) runs a 3-hour trip on a dome boat. A dome boat is a covered fishing boat with a heater. You fish for wakasagi (Japanese smelt), a fish that measured 7–9 cm in the operator’s October reports. Rod, bait and a short lesson are included, and children can join from age 5.
We built this guide from the KKday listing, the operator’s website and daily catch reports, and the lake’s fishing rules. We flag anything we couldn’t confirm.
Prices in the box below are what KKday showed in October 2026 and change with the date and availability.
CHUBU REGION
Lake Yamanaka, Yamanashi
From Tokyo: 2 hours 14–22 minutes by highway bus from Shinjuku. The 7:00 trip means staying overnight
At a Glance
- Price on KKday: about US$27 for adults (junior high school to age 80), about US$25 for children (age 5 to sixth grade). Rod and bait are included (as of October 2026)
- Paid on site: a lake fishing permit, ¥1,000 for adults (details below)
- Trips: 7:00–10:30 or 11:00–14:00
- Ages: 5 to 80
- Season: October to June. In 2026 the dome boat started on October 1
- Free cancellation: up to 4 days before
- From Tokyo: 2 hours 14–22 minutes by highway bus from Shinjuku. The 7:00 trip means staying overnight
Prices and available dates vary. Check the booking page before you book.
Is This Trip Right for You?
✅ Great if you…
- have never fished. The lesson and gear are included, and a January 2026 reviewer said the staff taught baiting and fishing
- travel in the cold months. The cabin has heating, and the toilet has a heated seat
- bring kids aged 5 or older. Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket
- want Mt. Fuji in the background. A January 2026 reviewer called the view from the lake beautiful
- want a day trip from Tokyo. The 11:00 trip fits the morning buses
⚠️ Think twice if you…
- have a child under 5 or a pet. Neither can board
- want to reach the 7:00 trip from Tokyo on the same day. The first bus we found arrives too late
- want a drink on the boat. Alcohol is banned before and during the trip
- hope for a big fish. The wakasagi in the October reports were 7–9 cm
- need English-speaking staff. We couldn’t confirm that
📅 When the dome boat runs
Open Part of the month Closed
Wakasagi season opens on September 1, but the dome boat starts on October 1. KKday says catches can be uneven from January.
Source: SHUSUIYA and the Lake Yamanaka fishing rules, checked October 2026.
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Operator | Shusui-ya (しゅうすいや) |
| Meeting point | Reception, across from Yamanaka Police Substation (山中湖駐在所) |
| Trips | 7:00–10:30 or 11:00–14:00 |
| Boat | Shared with other guests. One booking covers 1–10 people |
| Confirmation | About 1 day after you order |
| Languages on KKday | English, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Mandarin |
| KKday rating | 4.3 from 17 reviews |
Source: KKday listing and operator website, checked October 2026.
KKday doesn’t say what each language covers, and the operator’s website doesn’t mention English. We’d keep your KKday booking details on your phone and show them at reception.
How the 3 Hours Work
7:00 or 11:00
Meet at reception
KKday’s meeting-time field shows 6:30 and 10:30, so plan to be there by then. If you’ll be late, call the operator
About 10 min
Ride to the boat
A small motorboat takes you out from the boat landing, and you wear a life jacket, according to a November 2025 reviewer
5 min
Get a short lesson
The staff explain the gear before you fish
150 min
Fish for wakasagi
This is the main part of the trip
5 min
Pack up
Gather your gear and your things
About 10 min
Ride back
KKday lists another 10-minute transfer to shore
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026.
On the boat
Heat
The operator lists a heater and heating at the feet of every seat. A window can be opened for fresh air.
Seats and rods
Every seat has a high-backed chair, and lower chairs are available. You can use up to 2 rods, or 1 when it’s crowded. The rods are short ones made for fishing through a hole, about 40 cm or less.
Toilet and coffee
The flush toilet is at the stern, and the operator says it has a heated seat. The boat has free coffee, a microwave and a hot-water pot.
Is it cold on the lake?
The cabin is heated, so you’ll be warm while you fish. The ride from shore is in a small motorboat. A November 2025 reviewer said warm clothes are a must, plus rain gear if the weather turns.
What You Can Catch: October 2026 Reports
Shusui-ya posts daily catch reports. The table shows fish per person for October 2026. Most reports cover all-day guests (7:00–14:00), so don’t read them as 3-hour numbers.
| Date | Fish per person (lowest → highest) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October 1 | 200 → 477 fish | Fish were 7–9 cm |
| October 2 | 120 → 861 fish | Fish were 7–9 cm |
| October 4 | 150 → 463 fish | Beginners all caught fish, the operator says |
| October 11 | 50 → 250 fish | Beginners hooked several at once in the morning |
| October 12 | 30 → 174 fish | The lowest numbers of the month so far |
| October 15 | 80 → 215 fish | Fish were 7–9 cm |
Source: SHUSUIYA catch reports, checked October 2026.
On October 2, the operator wrote that 3-hour guests using hand-wound rental rods caught 120–159 fish each. KKday says catches get uneven from January, and that you may not catch any.
Will a beginner catch anything in 3 hours?
Nothing is guaranteed. The October 2 report shows 3-hour guests catching well. But a January 2026 reviewer said the boat went to a far spot and the catch was small.
Fishing Permit and Lake Rules
You need a lake permit on top of your ticket. The fees below come from KKday and the operator (as of October 2026) and from the lake’s own rules.
⚠️ Permit and boat rules
- The permit is a separate payment — KKday and the operator list ¥1,000 for adults (high school and older) and ¥300 for junior high students. Elementary school children and younger are free. You pay on site by cash, credit card, PayPay or d-barai
- The lake’s rules list two prices — The Yamanaka fishery cooperative sets a day ticket at ¥1,000 in advance. It’s ¥2,000 if you pay a lake patrol officer on site. We couldn’t confirm that the boat house sells the lake ticket, so ask at reception before you fish
- Keep your ticket on you — The rules say to show it when a patrol officer asks. Tickets can’t be lent or borrowed
- Wakasagi season — September 1 to June 30, from sunrise to sunset
- No alcohol, no smoking inside — Alcohol is banned before and during boarding. You can smoke only at the designated spot at the stern
- Life jackets — They’re on a shelf in the boat. Children 12 and under must wear one, and they need a guardian at the toilet
- Take your trash home — Both KKday and the operator say so
- Health and photos — People who feel unwell can’t board. Staff may take photos for the website, so tell them if you’d rather not appear
Do I need a fishing license?
Not a national one. You need the lake’s fishing permit, which is paid on site. For the wider picture, read our license guide.
Eating Your Catch
The operator works with restaurants about 5 minutes away by car. They cook the wakasagi you caught, and you eat it with a meal. Some restaurants charge for this and some don’t.
If you want your catch cooked, tell the crew. The operator says that’s how to arrange it. Since some restaurants charge and some don’t, we’d ask the price before you pick one.
We couldn’t confirm the restaurants’ names or prices, or whether you can take fish home. You can bring your own bento and drinks on the boat, but not alcohol.
How to Get There
From Tokyo by highway bus
Highway buses run from Shinjuku (バスタ新宿) to the Asahigaoka Bus Terminal (山中湖旭日丘バスターミナル). The table shows buses on the Shinjuku–Fuji Five Lakes line (新宿−富士五湖線) in a search from 5:00.
| Leaves Shinjuku | Arrives Asahigaoka | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| 07:15 | 09:29 | ¥2,600 |
| 07:55 | 10:09 | ¥2,600 |
| 08:15 | 10:37 | ¥2,600 |
Source: Yahoo! Transit, search for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, checked October 2026.
All three buses work for the 11:00 trip. We’d pick the 07:15 or 07:55. The 08:15 arrives at 10:37, and with a 5-minute walk you’d reach reception after the 10:30 time in KKday’s meeting-time field.
We couldn’t confirm whether the bus needs a reservation or where to make one. To be safe, we’d book a seat ahead with the bus company.
Where to get off and walk
Get off at the Asahigaoka Bus Terminal. Reception is about 350 m away, a 5-minute walk, according to Google Maps.
KKday’s address, 506-296 Hirano, is the bus terminal’s address. The operator says the same street number covers a wide area, which makes it hard to find by car navigation. Set your map to Yamanaka Police Substation (山中湖駐在所) and look for the reception across the road.
For the 7:00 trip: stay overnight
No bus gets you there by 7:00. The first Tokyo bus we found arrives at 09:29. The first Lake Kawaguchi bus arrives at 07:44. The operator’s FAQ says to contact it if you can’t make the boarding time, and that it can take you out on another boat. We couldn’t confirm that this applies to KKday bookings, so ask first.
If you want the early trip, we’d book a room in Asahigaoka the night before. Hotel Seikei (山中湖旭日丘温泉 ホテル清渓) is about 550 m from the police substation, a 7-minute walk by Google Maps. Klook lists a hot spring, free parking and luggage storage, and a rating of 4.0 from 145 reviews.
In October 2026, Klook showed rooms from about US$97 a night. Prices change with the date and availability.
Getting back to Shinjuku
The table shows buses to Shinjuku in a search from 11:00 and from 14:00 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. All cost ¥2,600.
| Leaves Asahigaoka | Arrives Shinjuku | Fits after |
|---|---|---|
| 11:31 | 13:55 | The 7:00 trip |
| 14:31 | 16:55 | The 11:00 trip, but tight |
| 15:31 | 17:55 | The 11:00 trip |
| 16:01 | 18:25 | The 11:00 trip |
Source: Yahoo! Transit, checked October 2026.
The search started at Asahigaoka Lakeside Green Park (旭日丘湖畔緑地公園), a 2-minute walk from the stop. Bus times can differ by a couple of minutes. The 11:00 trip ends at 14:00, so we’d pick the 15:31 if you don’t want to rush for the 14:31.
From Lake Kawaguchi
The first bus we found from the Lake Kawaguchi train station (河口湖駅) leaves at 06:57 and arrives at 07:44. The fare is ¥890. That’s too late for the 7:00 trip but easy for the 11:00 trip. If you’re staying near Lake Kawaguchi, browse hotels there.
By car
From the Lake Yamanaka interchange (山中湖IC), take Route 138 toward Gotemba. It’s about 10 minutes along the lakeshore. Free parking is across from the police substation, and stairs lead down to reception. In winter, the operator says you need snow tires or chains.
Plan your data before you go. A Japan eSIM helps with maps and bus changes.
Booking, Cancellation and Bad Weather
KKday’s cancellation policy (as of October 2026):
KKday says refunds arrive within 15 days. It confirms the booking about 1 day after you order, so we wouldn’t leave it to the night before.
⚠️ Weather and late arrival
- Trips can be canceled — Typhoons and thunder can cancel a trip. The operator may skip the morning departure or come back early in strong wind or heavy snow. The listing doesn’t spell out the refund, so ask KKday before you book
- Call if you’re late — Phone 090-5613-0030 (from abroad +81-90-5613-0030), 7:00–20:00. The operator says a late arrival with no call can count as a cancellation
What’s Included and What to Bring
Included
- Lesson, boat ride, rod rental, bait and tax
Not included
- Fishing permit (¥1,000 for adults)
- Extra bait: red maggots (beni-sashi, 紅サシ), ¥200 a pack
- Transport and meals
How to pay
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| The trip (rod and bait included) | Prepaid on KKday |
| Permit and extra bait | Cash, credit card, PayPay or d-barai on site |
| Highway bus | We couldn’t confirm |
| Local bus from Lake Kawaguchi | We couldn’t confirm |
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026.
What to Bring
- Cash or a card for the permit
- Warm clothes for the motorboat ride. KKday suggests clothes that are easy to move in
- Rain gear
- A bento and drinks, but no alcohol
- A bag for your trash
- Winter tires or chains if you drive in winter
FAQ
QDo I need a fishing license?
Yes, a lake permit, but not a national license. The permit is paid on site, and children in elementary school or younger are free.
QHow old do you have to be?
Five. KKday lists ages 5 to 80, the operator says 5 and up, and children 12 and under must wear a life jacket.
QIs it cold?
The cabin is heated, but dress warmly for the motorboat ride. A November 2025 reviewer called warm clothes a must.
QCan I do it as a day trip from Tokyo?
Yes, on the 11:00 trip. Take the 07:15 or 07:55 bus from Shinjuku and the 15:31 back.
QCan I eat the fish I catch?
Yes, at a partner restaurant, and some charge a fee. Tell the crew. We couldn’t confirm whether you can take fish home.
QCan I bring my dog?
No. The operator says pets can’t board.
Ready to Book?
Fishing in winter without freezing is the whole pitch here. If you want a first fishing trip with heat, a lesson and a Mt. Fuji backdrop, this one is easy to fit into a Fuji-area stay.
