Located far away from the city, nearby one of the famous five lakes surrounding the legendary Mt. Fuji of Japan, lies a wonderful place called the Kawaguchiko Musical Forest (河口湖オルゴールの森, Kawaguchiko Orgel no Mori).
Located at Fujikawaguchiko-machi of the Yamanashi Prefecture, Kawaguchiko Musical Forest is a theme park/museum dedicated to automatic musical instruments from around the world.
I stumbled across this place when I was holidaying around Kawaguchiko during the December holidays. Being the “lucky” one, it was snowing the whole time I was there.
My South East Asian blood certainly was unprepared for the cold and all I wanted to do was hide indoors! The receptionist at the hotel I stayed in kindly recommended me to go to Kawaguchiko Musical Forest, just a short bus ride from the town.
On first impression, the musical forest looked like a magical wonderland. Surrounded with tall trees heavily laden with snow, it gave a fairy-like environment. Boy, was I excited to enter!
After paying for the tickets which cost 1,300 Yen (There is a small discount if you are in high school or elementary school: http://www.kawaguchikomusicforest.jp/info/info.php#money).
The first scene you see after entering the park is its well manicured lawns, arching bridges across small man-made lakes, and beautiful English style cottages.
It was almost as if I just stepped into a beautiful European village up in the mountains.
I was also told that on a clear day, one can actually see the magnificent Mt. Fuji in the background.
The park itself has many beautiful cottages that you can wander around in. Most of them houses automatic musical instruments, but there are also gift shops, organ and music box displays, a rose garden, a fountain filled with elegant swans, and even a beautiful restaurant called Le Rivage!
I ended up spending nearly 4 hours at this beautiful place.
On my next post about Kawaguchiko Musical Forest, I will tell you a bit more about the musical instruments I got to see and learn about.
Teaser:
One of them is an Organ that was supposed to be on the Titanic!
Till next time!
To get to Kawaguchiko Musical Forest, make your way to Kawaguchiko.
There, you can take the Retro Line bus from Kawaguchiko Station and get off at Ukai Orugoruno Mori Bijutsukan.
Buses come every 30 minutes and the ride itself takes approximately 25 minutes.
Map:
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