Isawa Onsen, Koshu and Winery Area

The Shakado Museum of Jomon Culture displays precious artifacts from the prehistoric Jomon period (roughly 14,000-1,000 BCE). Set inside a sleekly contemporary building that emphasizes the antiquity of its contents, the museum conjures up a sense of one of the very earliest chapters in Japanese history.

Shindo Pass, a ridge running high between Mount Nakatto (1,665m) and Mount Kurodake (1,793m), offers a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji foregrounded by Lake Kawaguchiko, the second largest of the famed Fuji Five Lakes.

The secluded Ryumon Gorge on the outskirts of Koshu is part of the Hikawa Valley. Easily accessed from the cities of Enzan and Katsunuma, the valley is one of the Koshu area’s most popular nature spots and a breathtaking natural wonder of Yamanashi.

Built in the early nineteenth century, this mansion once belonged to the wealthy Takano family. Kanzo Yashiki means Licorice Mansion, and Chinese licorice was central to the Takano family fortune.

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.

A distinctive red torii gate leads to Kumano Shrine, a hillside shrine shrouded in an aura of mystery. The Shinto sanctuary has deep historical connections to the therapeutic waters of Shimobe Onsen, and is almost certainly the only Japanese place of worship to incorporate a giant slide.

Lake Otomeko is a roughly heart-shaped artificial lake set amidst unspoiled nature. The scenery is likened by some to the Swiss countryside, and in one spot even said to possess magical powers.

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.

Founded in 1330, Erinji Temple is one of Yamanashi’s most famous Zen temples. Its grounds are quiet and tranquil with many beautiful spots, beginning with the tree-lined entrance path.

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.

Around 80 percent of Yamanashi Prefecture is verdant woodland and rugged mountain ranges. That considered, it is fitting that the prefecture’s principal museum tells Yamanashi’s fascinating story through the lens of the relationship between nature and humankind.

Ichinokama Waterfall is a hidden cluster of three powerful waterfalls, the most spectacular of which exceeds 20 meters in height. Down in this bewitching spot, each season brings its own particular charm to the scene.

Hokoji Temple is a Shingon Buddhist sanctuary also known as the Temple of Flowers for its lush front garden, filled with a wide variety of flowers. These include plums, camellias, cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and bush clovers, plus a great many maple trees, giving the temple colorful natural scenery from spring to autumn.

The mountainside Daizenji Temple is also known as the Grape Temple for its long association with viticulture in Yamanashi. The temple’s monks still grow grapes and make wine, which visitors can purchase.

Located at the foot of Mount Daibosatsu, this hot-spring spa has a stunning view of the surrounding forest. On a clear day, it is possible to see all the way to the Southern Alps.

Sitting 1,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains and close to a mountain stream, the Yamato Tenmokusan spa overlooks a gorge. Its natural hot-spring water is drawn from the surrounding mountains and has a silky smooth texture.

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.

Nishizawa Gorge cuts through mountainous landscape and possesses some of the most beautiful scenery of Japan’s many ravines. It is famed for the succession of captivating waterfalls encountered on a wander through, backgrounded by the Tosakayama, Hafusan, and Tokusayama mountains.