Ojiragawa Valley in Hokuto City

Staff Journal

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Enjoy the pristine beauty of one of Japan’s top 100 remarkable water spots.

You may be familiar with the Hakushu area in Hokuto City, and its pure waters that some of the best sake and whiskey in the nation are made from.

Nearly 50 years ago, the Japanese Ministry of Environment designated a list of the nation’s most remarkable water sources. This list was created to not only inspire a sense of nature conservationism, but to also give travelers a chance to discover some of the ancient and stunning water sources that have supported the nation for thousands of years. Yamanashi Prefecture hosts three of these extraordinary sites, and Ojiragawa Valley is one of them!

Located about 16 minutes by car off the Sutama Interchange, the Ojiragawa Valley or “Ojiragawa Canyon,” as it is often called, is a large area of forest trails along a beautiful mountain stream. There is also a small temple and a tourist shop where you can purchase water shoes if you’d like to protect your feet. Once you cross over the enchanting bridge towards the cascading waters, there is an open space perfect for various seasonal activities.

In the hot summer months, many people visit to enjoy a dip in the cool, whereas guests in the fall months may prefer a picnic under the beautiful fall foliage.

For those who prefer to stay on dry land, the area is great for trekking. You may see visitors wearing trekking gear, taking power walks with their four-legged friends. Hokuto City has trekking courses available of both Mt. Hinatayama and Ojiragawa Valley, so feel free to reference them for your journey!

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Not too far from Ojiragawa Valley, lies a mountain with one of the most difficult mountain-climbing trails in the nation, called the “Kuroto Trail” which leads to the summit of Mt. Kaikomagatake. This trail is one of the three steepest mountail trails in all of Japan, with an astounding elevation of 2,200 meters!

Ojiragawa Valley is also just a 15-minute drive from the Suntory Hakushu Distillery for whisky lovers, and the Shichiken Sake Brewery for fans of sake! Learn more

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*It is recommended to come by car. There is a parking lot nearby with bathrooms (capacity: around 100 cars). Please also note that there are many unpaved roads.