Yamanashi Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture in the Chubu region of central Honshu, cradled in the Kofu Basin and ringed by mountains, most famously the northern slopes of Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes. Home to the Yoshida Trail, the most-used of Mount Fuji's four climbing routes, and to Japan's oldest and largest wine region around Katsunuma, Yamanashi pairs alpine and lakeside scenery with a proud viticulture and fruit-growing tradition, plus the jewelry and crystal-carving craftsmanship of its capital, Kofu City.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Shosenkyo Gorge
Shosenkyo is a granite gorge cut by the Arakawa River, famous for oddly-shaped rock formations, the tallest of which, Kakuenbo, rises beside the main walking path. A paved trail follows the river past waterfalls and pools for about an hour, and a ropeway climbs to a viewpoint over the Kofu basin. Autumn foliage draws the heaviest crowds, when the maples along the gorge turn deep red against the grey rock.
Highlights: 4-kilometer granite gorge walk along the Arakawa River · Kakuenbo, a 30-meter natural granite pillar · Sengataki Waterfall, 30 meters high · Cable car to the Mt. Kurataki panorama of the Yatsugatake and Southern Alps · Crystal-carving and quartz souvenir shops reflecting Kofu's jewelry heritage
Nishizawa Gorge
Nishizawa Gorge is a forested ravine in the Southern Alps foothills with a well-marked hiking loop past a series of waterfalls, the best-known being the multi-tiered Nanatsugama Godan Falls (Seven Pools, Five Falls). The trail involves narrow boardwalks, metal footbridges and some steep sections, so it's a genuine hike rather than a stroll. It's popular in autumn for foliage, but the walk itself - clear mountain water over smooth rock - is the main draw year-round.
Highlights: Nanatsugama Godan-no-taki, a chain of turquoise waterfalls and pools · Suspension bridges and log crossings along the gorge loop trail · Peak autumn foliage mid-October–early November · 10-kilometer full loop trail through cedar forest and granite gorge · Roadside Station Mitomi Kitagawa for parking and local produce
Katsunuma Wine Country
Katsunuma is the centre of Japan's Koshu wine region, growing the native Koshu grape on hillside vineyards east of Kofu. Dozens of small wineries cluster within walking or short driving distance of Katsunuma-budokyo Station, many offering tastings in their own cellars rather than a single visitor centre. Outside the wineries, the town is also a major table-grape growing area, so late summer and early autumn combine wine tasting with roadside grape stalls.
Highlights: Dozens of independent wineries producing Koshu white wine within walking distance of the station · 1,000-year grape-growing history and the Katsunuma Budo Matsuri (Grape Festival) in autumn · Free or low-cost tastings and cellar tours at most wineries · Roadside fruit stands and pick-your-own grape and peach orchards in season · Winery restaurants pairing local produce with estate wine flights
Chureito Pagoda & Fujiyoshida
Chureito Pagoda is a five-storied pagoda at Arakura Sengen Shrine, reached by a stairway of just under 400 steps, and it produces one of the most photographed views in Japan: the pagoda framed against Mt. Fuji, especially striking with cherry blossoms in spring or maples in autumn. Fujiyoshida itself, the town below, is the traditional gateway for Mt. Fuji pilgrims and is known locally for Yoshida udon, a specific thick, firm noodle style rarely found outside the area.
Highlights: Chureito Pagoda framed against Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most photographed views · Cherry blossoms around the pagoda in early-to-mid April · Autumn foliage in late October–November · Fuji Sengen Shrine and the historic Kanadorii-dori approach street in Fujiyoshida · Yoshida no udon, the town's signature chewy noodle dish
Oshino Hakkai
Oshino Hakkai is a small village built around eight spring-fed ponds, formed from snowmelt that has filtered through Mt. Fuji's lava layers over decades and emerges startlingly clear. The ponds sit among preserved thatched-roof farmhouses, several now housing craft shops and food stalls, giving the village a compact, walkable feel. On a clear day Mt. Fuji is visible directly behind the ponds, which is the main reason it draws day-trippers from the Fuji Five Lakes area.
Highlights: Eight crystal-clear spring-fed ponds filtered through Mount Fuji's volcanic rock · Wakuike, the largest and most photographed pond, beside a preserved thatched-roof hamlet · Unobstructed Mount Fuji views from several ponds on clear days · Preserved farming hamlet with craft shops and soba restaurants · Easy, flat 1-hour walking loop connecting all eight ponds
Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station
The 5th Station sits at 2,305m on Mt. Fuji's northern slope, above the tree line, and is as far up the mountain as you can go without hiking. It's the starting point of the Yoshida Trail, the most-used route to the summit, and functions as a rest stop with shops and food stalls even for visitors with no intention of climbing further. The main appeal is simply being partway up the mountain with wide views over the Fuji Five Lakes region below, weather permitting.
Highlights: Panoramic view over the Fuji Five Lakes and Kofu Basin at 2,305 meters · Starting point of the Yoshida Trail, Mount Fuji's most-used climbing route · Rest houses selling Fuji-themed souvenirs, amazake, and hoto noodle sets · Short subalpine forest walking trail near the station · Optional short walk toward the Sixth Station for a taste of the climbing trail terrain
Minobusan Kuonji Temple
Kuonji is the head temple of Nichiren Buddhism, founded by Nichiren himself in the 13th century on the slopes of Mt. Minobu, and it remains an active pilgrimage site rather than a museum piece. Reaching the main hall means climbing a long, steep stone staircase - the Bodaitei - through a corridor of old cedar trees, though a cable car also runs from the temple town up to a separate viewpoint higher on the mountain. It's a full day out given the distance from Kofu, best suited to visitors with a specific interest in Nichiren Buddhism or willing to spend most of the day travelling for a quiet mountain temple.
Highlights: Kuonji Temple, the 1281-founded head temple of Nichiren Buddhism · 287-step Bodai-tei stone staircase leading to the main precinct · Ropeway to Okuno-in Shishinkaku on the summit of Mount Minobu · Distant Mount Fuji views from the summit on clear days · Shukubo temple lodging town and traditional sweet shops at the temple approach
Kiyosato Highlands
Kiyosato is a cool-climate highland area developed in the mid-20th century partly through the work of American missionary Paul Rusch, whose dairy and farming projects shaped the area's character as a retreat from the summer heat of the lowlands. It's spread out rather than centred on one attraction - pastureland, farm-to-table cafes, and walking paths across rolling highland scenery - so it suits a slower day of driving or cycling between spots rather than a single sightseeing stop.
Highlights: Kiyosato Terrace ropeway viewpoint over highland pastures toward the Southern Alps and distant Mount Fuji · Local dairy farms, cheese producers, and soft-serve ice cream shops · Cool-climate relief from the Kofu Basin's summer heat · Walkable main street with cafes and craft galleries · Gentle walking trails through birch and larch forest in the Yatsugatake foothills
Lake Motosuko
Motosuko is the westernmost and deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes, and the view across it toward Mount Fuji is the one printed on the old Japanese 1,000-yen note. It sees far fewer visitors than Kawaguchiko, so the appeal is a quiet lakeshore and an unobstructed volcano view rather than shops or attractions. There is little to do beyond walking the shore, photographing the mountain, and eating at one of the small lakeside places — this is a half-day stop for the view, not a full day of activities.
Highlights: The Koanso viewpoint, matching the reverse of the older 1,000 yen banknote · Nakanokura Pass observation deck above the northwestern shore · Japan's deepest and clearest of the Fuji Five Lakes · Quiet lakeside walks and photography with minimal development · Small swimming and paddling areas near the campgrounds in summer
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Multi-day tours from Yamanashi
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
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Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.
Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.
Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.