At the base of Mt. Fuji, once called the "spring of the gods", Oshino Hakkai is eight springs created from the melted snow off the mountain top. This melted water trickles down the mountain and sits underground for over 80 years. This causes the water to be heated by lava which, when surfacing, created one of the most jaw-dropping spots in Japan. In this article we’ll go more depth about Oshino Hakkai, its surrounding village and how to get there!
Exploring the Oshino Hakkai Village Japan
The Yamanashi region, where Oshino Hakkai Village Japan is located, at the base of Mt. Fuji, is a trove of wondrous places to explore. Home to nearly 10,000 residents, this quiet village prides itself on its rice fields and vegetables, of which they call ‘plateau vegetables’, due to the elevation of the village.
Around the springs in the village are a myriad of activities to please both young and old. Many of the restaurants in the area use the plateau vegetables and other local ingredients to create specialty meals you’ll only find at Oshino Hakkai. Oshino is famed for its special Soba, using water from the springs to make the soup, and “Houto”, a Yamanashi-based local noodle dish made with miso.
If your feeling thirsty, you can even try the spring water itself. Thanks to the 80 years of gestation surrounded by lava, the water is perfectly safe to drink, and is known to have special healing properties. Whether that’s true or not, you’ll have to find out for yourself!
To get to the largest spring in the Oshino Hakkai Village, named “Sokonashi-ike”, you must head through a museum. The open-air museum called Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan, contains a traditional thatched roof farmhouse that you’re able to go inside of. On display they have: pottery of the era, farming tools and even real samurai armor!
Unlike the rest of the Oshino Hakkai Village, there’s a nominal fee to access the museum and “Sokonashi-ike”. The fees are 300 yen per adult, 150 yen per child under 15, and 100 yen for children over the age of 1. The opening hours for Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
For photographers
Famed for its beauty, the water at Oshino Hakkai is a hit among photographers and Instagrammers alike for its clear and pure qualities.
The Oshino Hakkai springs are a cultural icon in Japan. In 1934, the Japanese government designated the springs as a National Treasure, and in 2013, along with Mt. Fuji, the entire area was designated as a World Heritage site by the United Nations.
Looking up the Oshino Hakkai Bus Timetable
Getting to Oshino Hakkai isn’t simple, but luckily, we’ve decoded the Oshino Hakkai Bus Timetable for you!
If you’re coming from Tokyo and want to take the train, you can take the Chuo-limited express to Otsuki Station and transfer to the Fujikyuko Line and head to Mt. Fuji Station. Then grab the Fujikyuko Bus to Oshino Hakkai Bus Stop and you’re there! The trip there can cost up to 6,000 yen, and the same on the way back, and it’s not even the quickest way.
Going by bus from Tokyo is the best idea. Get to the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal near Shinjuku Station and catch the Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko bus headed towards Yamanakako, you’ll see 新宿～河口湖・山中湖 in Japanese on the bus. Just sit back and relax because that bus will take you all the way to Oshino Hakkai for 2,000 yen. Be careful though, the other bus goes stops at Fuji Q Highland and doesn’t go any further, but, just in case, you can catch the Fujikyuko Bus from Fuji Q to Oshino Hakkai Bus Stop and you’ll be fine.
Spot information
- Spot name: Oshino Hakkai Springs
- Street address: 298 Shibokusa, Oshino-mura, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0511
- Access: A 5-minute walk from the Oshino Hakkai Bus Stop
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