Yamanashi
山梨県
Start here
What to know about Yamanashi
Yamanashi stretches across the northern foothills of Mount Fuji, a land where grand natural scenery and Sengoku-era history come together. From Shōsenkyō, celebrated as Japan's most beautiful gorge, to historic sites connected to the warlord Takeda Shingen and the winery-filled town of Katsunuma, this basin ringed by mountains has nurtured its own distinctive blend of nature, history, and cuisine.
Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes
Mount Fuji, standing at 3,776 meters and recognized worldwide as a symbol of Japan, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013. Many of the site's component assets are on the Yamanashi side, including the Yoshida Trail, the most popular of the routes to the summit. During the climbing season from July through September, the mountain welcomes hikers from across Japan and around the world.
At the northern base of Mount Fuji lie the Fuji Five Lakes: Yamanaka, Kawaguchi, Sai, Shōji, and Motosu. The views of Fuji across these lakes are spectacular in every season. The autumn foliage festival along the shores of Lake Kawaguchi and the panorama from Lake Motosu, which once graced the design of Japan's former 1,000-yen banknote, are especially popular. The lakes also serve as a playground for outdoor activities including camping, canoeing, and fishing.
Shōsenkyō Gorge
Located in the northern part of Kōfu City, Shōsenkyō is a roughly 5-kilometer gorge carved through granite, where towering rock formations rise above a clear mountain stream. Designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government, it is often hailed as the most beautiful gorge in Japan. A walking trail runs alongside the Arakawa River between steep cliff walls, offering a scenic hike of about 90 minutes.
Highlights include Kakuenbō, a massive rock pillar rising some 180 meters, and Senga Falls, which drops 30 meters. In autumn, the gorge becomes even more breathtaking as the trees lining the cliffs turn vivid shades of red and gold. A ropeway carries visitors to the Panorama-dai observation point at the summit, where sweeping views stretch from Mount Fuji to the Southern Alps.
Takeda Shrine and the History of Kōfu
Takeda Shrine, in the heart of Kōfu City, enshrines the legendary Sengoku-era warlord Takeda Shingen. It stands on the grounds of Tsutsujigasaki-yakata, Shingen's former residence, and sections of the original moat and stone walls can still be seen within the precinct. The shrine is also known for bringing good fortune in contests and competitions, drawing a steady stream of visitors.
On the south side of Kōfu Station stands another castle ruin, Kōfu Castle (Maizuru Castle Park), whose stone walls offer a sweeping view of the Kōfu Basin and the surrounding mountains. Erin-ji Temple, also linked to Shingen, is home to the famous anecdote of the Zen monk Kaisen Jōki, who reportedly uttered "If you extinguish the mind, even fire is cool" as the temple burned. A bronze statue of Shingen in front of Kōfu Station stands as a reminder that this local hero remains the symbol of the city to this day.
Winery Hopping in Katsunuma
Katsunuma, in Kōshū City, is considered the birthplace of Japanese winemaking. In the early Meiji period, two young men who had studied winemaking techniques in France returned to start producing wine here. Today, around 30 wineries are clustered within a few kilometers of one another, with many offering tours and tastings.
Using Katsunuma Budōkyō Station as a base, you can visit wineries on foot or by taxi. Many facilities welcome walk-in tastings, giving you the chance to sample white wines made from the Kōshū grape and reds from Muscat Bailey A right on the spot. Some wineries feature terrace seating overlooking the vineyards where you can linger over wine and cheese, perfect for a leisurely grown-up getaway.
Zoom in
Areas in Yamanashi
Neighborhoods and districts to explore
Location
Where is Yamanashi?
Yamanashi is a landlocked prefecture in the Chūbu region of central Honshū. Its capital is Kōfu, and as of the October 2020 national census, the population stood at roughly 810,000. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Yatsugatake range to the north, the Southern Alps to the west, and Mount Fuji to the southeast, about 78% of the prefecture is covered in forest. Flatlands are concentrated in the Kōfu Basin at the center, where most of the cities and farmland are found.
The climate is distinctly continental, with sharp temperature swings between summer and winter. The Kōfu Basin is one of the hottest spots in the country during summer, sometimes reaching close to 40°C. Winters are cold, but the basin enjoys a characteristic run of dry, clear skies. Annual sunshine hours rank among the highest in Japan, and it is this abundant sunlight that supports the cultivation of grapes and peaches, making Yamanashi the nation’s top fruit-producing prefecture.
Loading map...
Access
Getting to Yamanashi
Yamanashi has no airport, so international visitors will fly into Narita or Haneda Airport and travel onward by train or bus via central Tokyo.
By rail, the JR Chūō Main Line limited express trains “Kaiji” and “Azusa” connect Shinjuku Station to Kōfu Station in about 90 minutes. Although there is no Shinkansen service to Yamanashi, limited express departures are frequent, putting the prefecture within comfortable day-trip range from Tokyo. Access from the Nagoya area is also possible via the Chūō Main Line.
For the Mount Fuji and Fuji Five Lakes area, the limited express “Fuji Excursion” runs directly from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko Station via the Fuji Kyūkō Line in about two hours. Highway buses also operate frequently from Shinjuku and Tokyo Station toward Kōfu and the Fuji Five Lakes area.
Local buses are the main way to get around the prefecture. Kōfu City has a well-developed bus network, though service to suburban and tourist areas can be limited. In the Fuji Five Lakes area, Fuji Kyūkō route buses and loop buses connect the major sightseeing spots, so checking routes and timetables in advance will help you get around smoothly.
Taxis are another handy option in areas dotted with orchards. During grape-picking and peach-picking season, sightseeing taxis and tour buses may be available from Kōfu Station.
Local pride
Specialty Products
Yamanashi enjoys long sunshine hours and significant temperature swings between day and night, conditions that have made it Japan’s leading producer of both grapes and peaches. A vast fruit-growing belt stretches from the eastern edge of the Kōfu Basin through the cities of Fuefuki and Kōshū, offering seasonal harvests from peaches in early summer through grapes in autumn.
Winemaking grew naturally out of this fruit cultivation tradition, and wines made from domestically grown grapes have been attracting international attention in recent years. In the realm of craftsmanship, deerhide lacquerwork and gemstone polishing, which evolved from the area’s crystal-mining heritage, have been passed down since the Edo period. As a landlocked prefecture with no coastline, Yamanashi also developed its own distinctive preserved food traditions born of ingenuity.
Food
Crafts & Others
Through the ages
History of Yamanashi
Yamanashi was once known as Kai Province, a region that prospered as a key east-west transportation hub from ancient times. The name Kai appears in both the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Japan’s oldest historical chronicles, and the area maintained ties with the central government earlier than much of eastern Japan. By the end of the Heian period, the Kai-Genji clan had risen to prominence, laying the foundations for warrior influence in the region.
It was during the Sengoku period that Kai rose to national prominence under Takeda Shingen. Nicknamed the “Tiger of Kai,” Shingen expanded his territory through campaigns into Shinano and Suruga provinces. His achievements extended beyond the battlefield with major flood-control projects like the Shingen-zutsumi levee system and gold mine development to build a strong economic base. After his son Katsuyori was defeated by the combined forces of Oda and Tokugawa, the Takeda clan fell. The region subsequently passed to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and during the Edo period it was administered as tenryō (shogunate-controlled land) under the Kōfu garrison.
Following the Meiji Restoration, the abolition of the feudal domain system in 1871 led to the creation of Kōfu Prefecture, which was renamed Yamanashi Prefecture the following year. The name derives from the old Yamanashi District, an area in the eastern part of the Kōfu Basin corresponding to present-day Yamanashi City. In the modern era, sericulture and Kōshū grape cultivation flourished, gradually giving way to winemaking and broader fruit farming as the economic pillars of the prefecture.
Continue exploring
Discover other areas and hidden gems across Chubu Region.
