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 underground lava layers for decades before emerging as spring water of exceptional purity. The ponds range from 4 to 8 meters deep, and their water is so transparent that you can see individual pebbles at the bottom along with rainbow trout swimming in the currents. The largest pond, Wakuike, produces 2.4 million liters of water daily at a constant 13°C year-round.

The site has been a sacred pilgrimage destination since the Edo period, with each pond associated with protective deities. The village retains traditional thatched-roof houses (kayabuki) and water mills powered by the spring outflow. The water is considered some of Japan's finest — visitors can drink directly from designated spots, and locals still use the ponds for washing vegetables and cooling watermelons in summer. The view of the ponds with Mt. Fuji rising behind creates one of Yamanashi's most photographed compositions.