Utsukushimori Lookout

Utsukushimori means “beautiful forest,” and the Utsukushimori Lookout has some of the best views of these visually pleasing woods. The lookout is located on top of a hill that is 1,542 meters tall and was formed as an isolated part of the east ridge of Mount Akadake (2,899 meters), the highest peak of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The lookout is a roughly 15-minute walk up a steep hill from the tourist information center.

Utsukushimori Lookout has panoramic 360-degree views of the Kiyosato Plateau and the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, the Southern Alps can be seen along with Mount Fuji. The hill is an ideal vantage point for seeing Japan’s three tallest mountains—Mt. Fuji, Mt. Kitadake, and Mt. Ainodake—from a single spot. To the north, just as tall as Mt. Ainodake, stands Mt. Okuhotaka. The view from the lookout is a humbling reminder of the sheer size and scale of Yamanashi’s many mountains.

In autumn, the observation point is blanketed with red leaves and visitors can look down over the colorful trees of the Utsukushimori Forest. In June, some 1,000 azaleas bloom along the path, making the lookout itself a sight to behold.