Attractions

Located in the Kiyosato Highlands at the southern foot of the Yatsugatake mountains that mark the border between Yamanashi Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture, the resort town of Kiyosato is popular for its old-fashioned charm and beautiful views.

The town of Kobuchizawa in Yamanashi’s Hokuto region is located at the southern foot of Mount Yatsugatake and has a long history of horse breeding. There are still many ranches, stables, and horse clubs in Kobuchizawa and owners from other parts of the country keep their horses here.

Ryuo Station juxtaposes contemporary architecture by the celebrated Tadao Ando against a backdrop of mountain ranges. Completed in 2008, the construction draws upon local inspiration while simultaneously being an emblematic Ando work that blends into the surrounding nature.

The Yahata-imo is a variety of white-skinned taro, a starchy vegetable similar to the yam, that is literally rooted in the culture and history of the city of Kai. It boasts a superior taste and a texture that is smoother and more glutinous than taro grown elsewhere.

Saka manju are steamed buns typically made with cooked rice and sakadane, the yeast mash leftover from sake brewing. Uenohara is home to around a dozen shops specializing in saka manju.

Built in 1931, the Iwaibashi Bridge was designed to make it easier for Katsunuma’s grape growers to transport their grapes by car to Katsunuma Station. The bridge has become a symbol of the Katsunuma area and of Japan’s early industrialization.

At this charming little atelier, you are invited to experience the wonder and satisfaction of learning to make washi, traditional Japanese paper.

Amehata Suzuri no Sato Kenshoan combines a museum, atelier, shop, and riverside terrace cafe, telling the story of traditional inkstones (suzuri) through a fascinating collection of exhibits while demonstrating that this is a craft still very much alive in the twenty-first century.

Road Station Tomizawa in the town of Nanbu is distinguished by the 13.5-meter-high bamboo shoot standing tall outside the facility. Inside is a food market that offers an extensive range of local specialties.

Road Station Nanbu's low-lying profile emphasizes the magnificence of the surrounding mountains while containing plenty of space in which to showcase all the delicacies that Yamanashi and neighboring Shizuoka Prefecture have to offer.

Located in a region rich in both natural and human history, Masuho Furusato Shizenjuku invites groups and private individuals to stay briefly, and gain awareness and understanding of nature through study and immersive hands-on experiences.

The Doshi area’s roadside rest and shopping area offers the visitor beautiful river views, accessible restrooms, 200 parking spaces, and much more. Delicious discoveries await at the shop in the main building, which sells freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, as well as local liquor, local honey, ready-to-eat condiments, and all manner of souvenirs.

The Narusawa area’s roadside rest and shopping hub offers the visitor splendid views of Mount Fuji and much more. The shop in the main building sells freshly harvested local highland fruits and vegetables, as well as locally brewed sake and ready-to-eat condiments.

Kai Terrace is a gallery-like shopping facility that brings together, under one expansive roof, products that the city of Kai and wider Yamanashi have long been renowned for. Opened in 1985 and now welcoming more than 200,000 visitors each year, it is housed within a specially constructed building that lets its contents shine.

Heidi’s Village recreates 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 invites visitors of all ages to forget their modern-day cares and concerns.

This giant standing statue of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, has become a symbol of the city of Nirasaki. From its position on a hill in the city center, the statue serves as a very visible call for world peace and is a prayer for the safety of mountain climbers.

Dragon Park in the city of Kai is a spacious, family-friendly destination, with fun elements themed around the mythical creature that gives the surrounding Ryuo (“Dragon King”) district its name.

Isawa Onsen Street brings together, in one scenic location encircled by mountains, two great Japanese pleasures: hot-spring bathing and cherry-blossom viewing. Visitors will delight in the mental and physical reset that the combined experience can bring about.

Now a museum, Miyakoen played a key role in the early days of winemaking in Yamanashi. The former winery building and its spacious grounds are a vital link to the early days of the region's now world-famous wine industry.

The Katsunuma area in the city of Koshu is famous for its vineyards and has a long history of fruit-growing. Sprawling vineyards lined with grape trellises run along both sides of the valley, and many vineyards in the area offer grape-picking experiences.

The large shop at Road Station Kai Yamato is similar to a farmer’s market, selling produce from the surrounding area. Koshu is famous for its grapes, persimmons, peaches, and cherries, meaning fresh fruit and a range of vegetables are plentiful and affordable.

The village of Nishijima has deep historical connections with the production of washi, or traditional Japanese paper. Nishijima Washi no Sato invites all to experience the soulfulness inherent in washi making through simple workshops suitable for absolute beginners.

Sakana Park in Oshino was established in 2001 as a theme park celebrating forests and water: a nod to its rich natural surroundings and the clear spring waters originating from Mount Fuji. A stroll through the green space takes you past streams and fountains using groundwater from the sacred peak.

By far the most visited of the Fuji Five Lakes, Lake Kawaguchiko serves as the main point of entry to this famous lake region. The area surrounding Lake Kawaguchiko is well-developed in terms of tourist infrastructure, with many lakeside hotels, hot springs, windsurfing facilities, campsites, and excursion boats.

Yamanashi Prefectural Science Center takes an immersive, hands-on approach to conveying the wonders of science. Though the facility is aimed primarily at children of around elementary school age, adults too will find themselves enthralled as they both brush up on scientific basics and discover new phenomena.

The peaceful Yuki Park is popular with people of all ages and is home to the Kofu city zoo. Both the zoo and the park stand on land that once belonged to the Ichirenji Buddhist temple, and old temple buildings can still be seen on the edge of the grounds.

Nishiura is a nightlife district – a maze of alleyways crammed with dozens of tiny  bars, featuring architecture that’s remained largely unchanged since several decades ago, and bathed in the warm glow of lanterns and vintage street lights.

The Fujiyoshida area’s roadside rest and shopping area offers the visitor splendid views of Mount Fuji. The shop in the main building sells freshly harvested local highland fruits and vegetables, as well as locally brewed sake, ready-to-eat condiments, and souvenirs.

The still, peaceful, and secluded Lake Mizugakiko is a popular destination for its sweeping views of nature and its proximity to the Masutomi no Yu hot-spring area. The pristine surface of the lake reflects the trees around it, making for a particularly colorful display.

Located on the banks of the Hikawa River, the Hikawa Keikoku Leisure Center is a family-friendly place to enjoy the natural surroundings. There are several designated fishing holes in the river where visitors can rent a rod and reel and try angling for rainbow trout.

The Minobusan Ropeway features a succession of breathtaking views that one might think only mountaineers get to marvel at. The ride is also a spiritual one, as the car travels on a sky-high “pilgrimage” from the precincts of Kuonji Temple up to the mountaintop Okunoin Shishinkaku Temple.

The expansive Makiba Park, located on rolling hills backgrounded by the Yatsugatake mountains, offers plentiful opportunities to reconnect with nature. Amiable animals including ponies, cows, and rabbits roam freely around, enjoying the purest air at elevations of 1,200 to 1,700 meters.

The Minami-Alps Hot Spring Lodge is an affordable and homey accommodation with hot-spring baths. A night or two spent here serves as a reminder that simple, back-to-basics lodgings can be every bit as enjoyable and reinvigorating as their more luxurious counterparts.