Heidi’s Village

Heidi’s Village is a delightful recreation of a slice of the Swiss Alps, themed around the Japanese anime version of the Heidi stories written by Johanna Spyri in the late nineteenth century. The park is based upon anime legend Hayao Miyazaki’s scenery design for Heidi, Girl of the Alps, and invites visitors of all ages to forget their modern-day cares and concerns.

In both Heidi’s realm and Yamanashi Prefecture’s own Southern Alps, flowers in ever-changing seasonal hues are a hallmark of the landscape. In Heidi’s Village, the floral is a major part of the concept, and around sixty percent of the park’s flowers are grown in Yamanashi. Spacious flower gardens, backgrounded by mountains, are joined by a 230-meter-long “rose tunnel” through which to walk romantically. It is even possible to get married here: an indoor wedding chapel and outdoor Forest Chapel are part of the facilities.

Fans of the Heidi stories, in whichever format, will not want to miss the permanent exhibition devoted to the character plus her friends and faithful dog Josef. Here a Heidi doll sits in a swaying swing above a scale model of her village, alongside other exhibits relating to her eternally appealing adventures.

Restaurants include the Panorama Lodge, where you can take in a widescreen-style view of the Southern Alps while enjoying dishes ranging from ramen to healthy fare. Should you find yourself not wanting to leave, Heidi’s Village offers overnight stays in an equally well-appointed hot-spring inn, as well as activities including strawberry picking.