Tourist Base Kawaguchiko（Mt. Fuji Amazing View Café）

If you get in when it’s not busy, you can get a seat right by the huge windows facing Mt. Fuji. It’s cozy and warm. They have an unlimited drink menu (only option, really) and you can sit for as long as you like and drink as much as you like. It’s a great spot to relax with a view. There are lots of trinkets to shop for. Around lunch time, the owner/manager came out and started playing the piano. He was pretty good. You can also go upstairs to the rooftop, with more awesome views. But it was cold in January and skipped it.

I think everyone killing time at Kawaguchiko Station should definitely go here. I was waiting a long time for the bus at Kawaguchiko Station, and the station was crowded, so I was looking for a nearby cafe when I spotted the sign for Tourist Base Kawaguchiko. It's a comfortable place where tourists from various countries gather. The cafe was spacious, and no matter how many drinks I ordered from their extensive selection, it was only 800 yen. I could use the wifi and power outlets too. The view from the window was spectacular, offering a full panorama of Mount Fuji. But what surprised me most was that the manager asked customers where they were from and then played their national anthem on the piano. I thought it was wonderful hospitality. I sang two songs right there, accompanied by the manager on piano. It was delightful to share that warm, friendly atmosphere with people from different countries I'd just met.

We arrived at this place completely by chance. After checking into our hotel, we learned that rooms wouldn’t be ready until 3 PM, so we decided to grab lunch and explore the area. Perplexity AI recommended this spot, and what a fantastic decision that turned out to be. Today is my 30th birthday, and somehow word spread around the venue. Before we knew it, my fiancé and I were treated to live performances of both the Polish and Brazilian national anthems, beautifully played by the talented May(such thoughtful hospitality throughout our visit) Madoka, gave us incredible tips about the local area. But that’s not even the best part. We were lucky enough to catch a performance by The Beantones, an up-and-coming jazz band from Los Angeles. Thank you to the band for singing “Happy Birthday” and helping make this milestone birthday truly unforgettable. I’ll always remember the cake and that special moment. Until next time—much love and respect for the wonderful people of Japan.