Yamanashi Hidden Gems
8 spots
Takeda Shingen Historical Sites — Legacy of the Warring States
Takeda Shingen (1521–1573) was one of the most formidable daimyo of Japan's Warring States period, ruling Kai Province (…
Oshino Hakkai — Eight Sacred Ponds of Fuji Spring Water
Oshino Hakkai is a collection of eight crystal-clear ponds fed by snowmelt from Mt. Fuji that has filtered through under…
Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum — European Garden and Mt. Fuji
The Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum is a European-style garden and music box museum set against the backdrop of Mt. Fuji…
Lake Saiko Bat Cave and Forest — Fuji's Hidden Lake
Lake Saiko, the fourth-largest of the Fuji Five Lakes, remains the quietest and least developed — no lakeshore hotels, m…
Maizuru Castle Park — Cherry Blossoms and Kofu Views
Maizuru Castle Park occupies the grounds of historic Kofu Castle (舞鶴城), built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's vassal and…
Erin-ji Temple — Takeda Clan Temple and Rock Garden
Erin-ji Temple, located in the mountains east of Kofu, served as the family temple of the Takeda clan during the Warring…
Daizenji Taisekiji Temple — Grapes and Autumn Temple
Daizenji Taisekiji Temple, nestled in the Katsunuma wine valley, has an unusual claim: it houses a 1,200-year-old wooden…
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine — Gateway to Mt. Fuji Climb
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine has served as the traditional starting point for Mt. Fuji pilgrimages via the Yoshida…