A Journey to Enjoy Yamanashi’s Many Charms with All Five Senses [Yamanashi Travel Guide]

Located in northwestern Yamanashi, the Kiyosato, Kobuchizawa, and Nirasaki area is a mountain and highland resort destination with beautiful scenery.
Surrounded by the magnificent Yatsugatake range and the Southern Alps, it is also known as a place of pure spring water.
There are many spots where you can experience the refreshing appeal of nature, such as Kiyosato Terrace, which sits at an elevation of 1,900 meters, and Yamanashi Prefectural Flower Center Heidi’s Village, which recreates the world of the anime Heidi, Girl of the Alps.
Fresh highland vegetables and dairy products are also produced here in abundance, and you can buy them at roadside stations with local specialty and product sales corners.
The area is also full of family-friendly leisure spots, including camping, athletics, and nature observation.

Located in northern Yamanashi, the Kofu and Shosenkyo area is famous for Shosenkyo, where you can enjoy dramatic gorge scenery.
Kofu Station, the gateway to Yamanashi, is located in this area.
It is also associated with Takeda Shingen, regarded as one of the strongest warlords of the Sengoku period, and many historical sites remain here.
Kofu Castle, standing just a short walk from Kofu Station, is one of them.
The downtown area around the station also has busy entertainment districts where you can enjoy a wide variety of Yamanashi gourmet food.

The Isawa, Katsunuma, and Nishizawa Gorge area is located in eastern Yamanashi.
Among the most popular spots in the area are Nishizawa Gorge, known as a hidden scenic destination with beautiful natural scenery, and Isawa Onsen, where you can enjoy charming inns and open-air baths.
Even within Yamanashi, known as the Fruit Kingdom, this area is especially active in growing grapes and peaches, and you can enjoy fruit picking and wine.
Be sure to savor the seasonal fruit and beautiful natural scenery.

The Otsuki and Tsuru area neighbors the Isawa, Katsunuma, and Nishizawa Gorge area.
It is an area rich in nature, with spots such as Oiseyama, also famous for cherry blossoms, and Soryukyo, where unusual rock formations resembling fish scales continue along the gorge.
Tsuru, a post town in Otsuki along the Koshu Kaido road that stretches from Tokyo to Nagano, also prospered as a castle town, and there are still spots that preserve traces of those days.
Mountain castles such as Katsuyama Castle Ruins, once called an impregnable castle, and Iwadono Castle Ruins, one of the three great castles of the Kanto region, are also popular sightseeing spots, making this an area history lovers should visit.

The Fuji Five Lakes area lies at the foot of the World Heritage site Mt. Fuji.
The Fuji Five Lakes refers to Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Motosu, Lake Saiko, and Lake Shoji at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
From every lake, you can enjoy spectacular scenery created by Mt. Fuji and the surrounding nature.
Among them, Lake Motosu, Lake Yamanaka, and Lake Shoji are especially popular with photographers because you can see “upside-down Mt. Fuji” reflected on the lake surface.
Lake Kawaguchi, where many sightseeing spots are concentrated, is also easy to reach from Tokyo in a short time, making it a popular day-trip destination from the capital.
If you want to enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, this is an area you should definitely visit.

The Fujikawa River Basin and Southern Alps area is located at the southern tip of Yamanashi.
Along the Fujikawa River flowing through the Southern Alps, where mountains over 3,000 meters line up, you can enjoy seasonal scenery created by beautiful gorges.
In addition to activities such as hiking and camping, there are also hot spring areas that could be called hidden retreats.
There are also many spots where you can enjoy history and traditional culture, especially Minobusan Kuonji Temple, the head temple of Nichiren Buddhism, famous for its beautiful weeping cherry blossoms.
If you take the ropeway up to the summit of Mt. Minobu, you can enjoy a sweeping panoramic view of majestic nature from the observation deck.
The area is also known for fireworks, and you can buy traditional crafts such as washi paper and seals here.

On Day 1, you will visit sightseeing spots around Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, and enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, nature, and art.
Try experiencing Yamanashi’s natural beauty, one of its biggest attractions, with all five senses.

Day 2 begins with sightseeing at one of Yamanashi’s most scenic destinations.
After enjoying the beauty of the gorge, you will visit spots where you can savor Yamanashi’s signature foods, specialties, and Koshu wine.
By the end of Day 2, you will have discovered Yamanashi’s diverse charms and may find yourself wanting to stay one more night.

Arakurayama Sengen Park is famous for its beautiful view of majestic Mt. Fuji and the five-story Chureito Pagoda.
About 650 cherry trees are planted in the park, and in spring you can enjoy a quintessentially Japanese view of Mt. Fuji, the pagoda, and cherry blossoms together.
This scenery appears in many guidebooks introducing Japan and has made the park a very popular destination.
To see the famous view, you need to climb the 398-step Sakuya-hime Stairway leading from Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine to the pagoda, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Oshino Hakkai is the collective name for eight spring-fed ponds sourced by Mt. Fuji: Deguchi Pond, Okama Pond, Sokonuki Pond, Choshi Pond, Waku Pond, Nigo Pond, Kagami Pond, and Shobu Pond. They were once lakes, but dried up and became eight spring ponds.
The melted snow from Mt. Fuji is filtered over Approx. 20 years through underground lava layers, giving the water exceptional clarity.
The beautiful natural scenery created by Mt. Fuji and the ponds draws many visitors.

Fuji Motosuko Resort is located about 4 km from Lake Motosu, said to offer the most beautiful view of Mt. Fuji among the Fuji Five Lakes at the foot of the mountain. Seasonal flowers, the lake, and World Heritage Mt. Fuji in the distance create a picture-like landscape that captivates visitors.
Also within the grounds is Peter Rabbit™ English Garden, one of the largest British-style gardens in the Kanto region, complete with a café, museum, and shops. Here, you can experience the world of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

This local dish is made by simmering chicken giblets such as liver, gizzard, and heart in a sweet and savory soy sauce-based glaze.
Ordinary motsuni is simmered for a long time so the flavor can soak in.
Kofu Tori Motsuni uses a unique cooking method in which a small amount of sauce and chicken giblets are quickly glazed over high heat, locking in the rich flavor.
Enjoy the different textures of each part and the rich soy-based sauce.

Hoto is one of Yamanashi’s signature local dishes.
It consists of flat noodles made from kneaded wheat flour, simmered in a miso-based broth with seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin and mushrooms.
Many restaurants across the prefecture serve Hoto, and the seasoning and ingredients vary from place to place.
In Yamanashi, where mountains and forests make up most of the land, rice paddies were scarce, making rice a precious food.
As a result, Hoto was eaten as a staple food instead.
There is even a theory that it has been eaten since the Sengoku period, so be sure to try this traditional dish with a long history.

Yoshida Udon, a specialty of Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi, is a type of udon known for its strong bite and chewy texture.
It is even said to be the firmest noodle in Japan.
The broth is typically seasoned with soy sauce and miso, and common toppings include cabbage and horse meat, though both flavors and ingredients vary by shop.
When eaten with Suridane, an essential condiment for Yoshida Udon made by blending chili pepper, sesame oil, and Japanese pepper, it becomes irresistibly addictive.
Why not compare Yoshida Udon at different shops?