Mount Fuji, famous as a symbol of Japan, and the vast Lake Kawaguchi spread out below it. This area, with good access from Tokyo, is a popular spot visited by many tourists who love Japan.
However, even this popular spot known to all Japan lovers, it is not yet well known that "new spots have been born" and "new initiatives have started" during the few years of the Corona vortex.
This time, we asked Mr. Matsushita, who works at the JTB Kofu branch, to share some special local information. We want to thoroughly hear about the "unique local" and "personal recommendations" from Mr. Matsushita.
Mr. Matsushita, originally from Tokyo, has been living in Yamanashi for 13 years. His stories, which include the charm of his hometown that he feels precisely because he moved from outside the prefecture, and his perspective as a travel professional, should be full of eye-opening information for all Japan lovers.
A new spot in the Kawaguchiko area that fans of Mount Fuji should pay attention to!
The sight of tourists, which had disappeared due to the Corona disaster, is gradually returning. Foreign tourists who come to Japan after a long time tend to visit the classic courses. Among them, the Kawaguchiko area in Yamanashi Prefecture, which has excellent access from Tokyo and offers beautiful views of Mount Fuji, is attracting a lot of attention.
However, the inbound environment in Japan has changed significantly over the past three years. Shops have been replaced, new facilities have opened, and several new spots in the Kawaguchiko area are being talked about on the internet.
Mr. Matsushita, who has been living in Yamanashi Prefecture for 13 years, has been deeply interacting with local governments and companies through his work. His recommended travel information is to look at what is around the facility, what is the added value, etc., and to look at the overall characteristics and goodness of the area, from the perspective of both tourists and travel professionals. Therefore, he knows a lot of experiences and information that make use of the characteristics of the area, and this time, he specially introduced two facilities for FUN! JAPAN members.
The first one is, FUJIYAMA Twin Terrace.
The "FUJIYAMA Twin Terraces" is a new popular spot that opened in July 2021 at "Shindo Pass" (Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture), a scenic spot popular among Mount Fuji enthusiasts. From the two terraces, "First Terrace" and "Second Terrace", you can overlook the powerful Mount Fuji right in front of you, the town of Fujikawaguchiko spreading at the foot of the mountain, and lakes such as Lake Kawaguchi and Lake Yamanaka. From late April to late November, there is a shuttle bus to the terraces, so you can visit easily. Please experience the breathtaking panorama from an altitude of about 1,600 meters.
If conditions are met, you can see a sea of clouds from the FUJIYAMA Twin Terraces. There are also many photographers aiming for sunrise and night view. It is especially recommended for those who want to take and show off pictures of the spectacular view of Mount Fuji.
The second one is, "Tourist Base Kawaguchiko".
"Tourist Base Kawaguchiko, a tourist exchange base, opened in front of Kawaguchiko Station in November 2023. In the time-charge cafe lounge 'Mt.Fuji Amazing view Café', you can spend a relaxing time while enjoying the view of Mt. Fuji in each season in an open space based on Japanese modern style.
During your stay, you can freely enjoy light meals such as 'Houtou', a local dish of Yamanashi, and 'Mt. Fuji Onigiri' made with local brand rice, as well as sweets made with carefully selected ingredients, and drinks. In addition, there is a corner in the store where you can find products that can only be purchased here, including famous confectionery representing Yamanashi and miscellaneous goods that make you feel Japanese traditional culture, which are perfect for souvenirs."
Yamanashi's Synonyms: Houtou, Fruits Local Pride Taste
'Houtou', a local dish representing Yamanashi, is a rustic dish where flat noodles made from kneaded wheat flour are added with ingredients such as pumpkin, tubers, mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, meat, etc., and simmered in miso soup. It is easy to digest and high in nutritional value, and it is said that it was used as a camp food by the Sengoku warlord Takeda Shingen. The chewy texture of the noodles and the flavorful soup are addictive once you taste them. It can be eaten at many stores in the prefecture, but there may be a long wait at famous stores.
At "Tourist Base Kawaguchiko", we offer a delicious Houtou, a dish of thick, chewy noodles and plenty of ingredients, served in a soup rich in the umami flavors of broth and vegetables. Please enjoy our taste, which is second to none even compared to famous restaurants.
Yamanashi, with its favorable climate and soil conditions, is known as the "Fruit Kingdom". You can enjoy various fruits throughout the year: cherries in spring, peaches in summer, grapes in autumn, and strawberries in winter. In "fruit picking", where you can eat as much as you like of the fruit you pick yourself, you can taste the fresh, just-picked deliciousness. In particular, "Shine Muscat", which can be enjoyed from August to early November, is very sweet and can be eaten with the skin, making it extremely popular with foreign tourists.
There are also many shops that offer photogenic parfaits, cakes, and other sweets and processed products using plenty of seasonal fruits. They are also recommended as souvenirs for your travel memories or for your loved ones.
Little-known customs and culture of Yamanashi residents
In front of restaurants in Yamanashi Prefecture, you often see signs saying "Mujin accepted" and "Mujin party welcome".
Mujin is an old custom that once existed in various regions, and it is a private financial system. It is a system where members save money together to support each other's lives, and it has something in common with the modern "insurance" system.
In Yamanashi today, regular drinking and dining parties of about 5 to 10 people are held under the name of "Mujin". There are Mujin for alumni and people in the same industry, and they often function as a place for information exchange while communicating over food and drink. Many people belong to multiple Mujin, and rather than lending money, it has become an opportunity for interaction through dining parties and group trips, and its significance as a bond of the heart is very large.
Thanks to the story of Mr. Matsushita, who is familiar with the needs of tourists, I was able to rediscover the charm of the Kawaguchiko area.
The Kawaguchiko area, where you can fully enjoy Mount Fuji, can be reached in as little as 2 hours by train from Shinjuku, Tokyo. There are also several buses to and from Tokyo, making it easily accessible and a popular tourist destination for many years. There are not only first-time visitors but also many repeat visitors.
This time, we heard about a new spot in the Kawaguchiko area, but of course, Yamanashi is not just about Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi. If you extend your trip a little further, you'll find Kofu, Katsunuma, Isawa, Kiyosato, Kobuchizawa, the Southern Alps, and many more attractions in Yamanashi! Please do visit next time.
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