Yamanashi Hidden Gems
Fruit orchards and Japan's largest wine region in a basin ringed by mountains, with Mt. Fuji rising over the lakes to the south.
5 spots
Climate & Best Season
Landlocked and dry — hot summers, cold clear winters with little snow in the basin. Winter mornings give the sharpest Fuji views.
Famous For (Food)
- Hoto noodles
- Grapes & peaches
- Koshu wine
- Torimotsu-ni
Signature Sights
- Fuji Five Lakes
- Chureito Pagoda
- Shosenkyo Gorge
- Katsunuma wineries
Chureito Pagoda — Iconic Mt. Fuji Viewpoint
The Chureito Pagoda, a five-story vermillion structure perched on the hillside above Fujiyoshida City, offers the postca…
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 (…
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…