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.
6 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
Shosenkyo Gorge — Granite Walls and Waterfalls
Shosenkyo Gorge, carved by the Arakawa River through the granite mountains north of Kofu, stretches 5km through vertical…
Kofu Wine Wineries — Japan's Oldest Wine Region
Kofu Basin in central Yamanashi is Japan's premier wine-producing region, responsible for 40% of domestic wine productio…
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 (…
Hoto Noodles — Yamanashi's Hearty Soul Food
Hoto is Yamanashi's signature comfort dish — thick, flat wheat noodles simmered in a miso-based broth with kabocha squas…
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…