Yamanashi山梨県

Nature abounds with mountains, lakes, and valleys. Hillside orchards where fruits such as peaches and cherries are grown.

Situated next to the western part of Tokyo and the southeast of central Japan, Yamanashi is encircled by the mountains and mountain ranges designated as national and quasi-national parks, such as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park, Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, Yatsugatake-Chushin Quasi-National Park, and the South Japan Alps National Park. It is a prefecture where nature abounds with varying spectacular views of lakes and valleys.

Yamanashi boasts various places of natural beauty, such as Mt. Fuji, Fuji Goko (Fuji's Five Lakes), and the Shosen Valley. Yamanashi also has various historic ruins left for posterity by the Takeda family of war lords who ruled the region in the 16th century, such as Takeda-jinja Shrine and Kai Zenko-ji Temple. Another place worth visiting is a spread of hillside orchards on which fruits are grown, such as peaches, strawberries, cherries, apples, and blueberries. Especially around Katsunuma, which is known as the biggest vineyard in Japan, you can get in touch with the history of winemaking in Japan while enjoying the tastes of different wines on a tour of wineries of all sizes, not to mention grape picking.

Yamanashi is easy to access from Tokyo. You can enjoy outdoor sports in the bosom of magnificent nature and encounter artifacts reflecting Japan's history and culture on a tour of art galleries and museums. There are also a variety of theme parks worth visiting, and all of these are what characterize Yamanashi as one of the most attractive prefectures in Japan.