Hiya associates. My title is Thuyen, I spent 1 yr finding out overseas at Ochanomizu Ladies’s College in Tokyo. My hobbies are cooking, touring and running a blog. At present, I’m endeavor translation work and different administrative work on the Consultant Workplace of the Japan Tourism Promotion Company in Vietnam (JNTO) since September 2020.
Throughout my time finding out overseas in Japan, I had the chance to expertise and discover many locations within the land of cherry blossoms. Immediately, I’ll introduce some locations to go to in Yamanashi Prefecture that may be reached in the identical day from Tokyo.
Yamanashi is a province in central Japan, not solely well-known for being the “hometown of Mount Fuji” however also referred to as the “fruit kingdom” and recognized for its wine manufacturing. Japan’s high.
Yamanashi Prefecture is situated west of Tokyo, so you’ll be able to simply journey by practice (2-3 hours) from Tokyo’s Shinjuku station or freeway bus (about 2 hours).
Discover Narusawa Ice Cave
My first vacation spot on this journey was Narusawa Ice Cave – a great place to keep away from the summer time solar. Possibly lots of you’ll marvel “exploring an ice cave in the midst of summer time!?” It sounds absurd, however this can be a particularly spectacular expertise that you’ll always remember.
Narusawa Ice Cave is situated on the jap entrance of the Aokigahara Jukai “sea of bushes” close to the foot of Mount Fuji, designated as a spot to rejoice Japan’s nature in 1929. The ice cave with a depth of 21m and a complete size of 153m is roofed by ice all yr spherical, with a mean annual temperature of about 3 levels Celsius together with summer time.
I got here right here on a summer time day in August, the climate was scorching, nonetheless the summer time warmth was dispelled by the cool air as quickly as I set foot on the cave entrance. Coming nearer into the cave, you’ll be able to really feel the coolness creeping over your physique, making you neglect you’re in the midst of summer time.
Entrance to Narusawa Cave
The deeper you go into the cave, the decrease the temperature is, so don’t neglect to organize a heat jacket even on the peak of summer time. The trail into the cave is kind of large, though not lengthy, it has a low ceiling, the bottom peak of the ceiling is simply about 90cm. You need to borrow a helmet to keep away from hitting your head when exploring the cave. As well as, the highway to the cave is a bit tough however there are various picket steps and handrails so you’ll be able to go to with peace of thoughts.
You may borrow hats proper in entrance of the cave entrance
Within the cave there’s additionally a observe “watch out of your head”.
Coming into the cave, you’ll admire lovely icicles shaped from water drops falling from the ceiling freezing in many various shapes, illuminated with glowing crystal-like lights. I stayed right here for fairly a very long time to intently admire the great thing about these icicles. It may be stated that the icicles listed below are like a priceless creative masterpiece bestowed by nature. In the event you come right here in April, additionally, you will see giant icicles, as much as 3 meters excessive. After I went in August, the icicles had been a bit small. If you wish to admire the “tremendous enormous” icicles, come right here within the spring. You should purchase souvenirs on the store proper on the entrance to the cave.
You should purchase souvenirs on the store proper on the entrance to the cave
Have lunch and stroll round Lake Kawaguchi
After visiting the ice cave, I finished by Funatsuya – a restaurant close to Lake Kawaguchi. The primary flooring of the restaurant shows many souvenirs so that you can select from, whereas the second flooring is a spot to relaxation and dine. I selected a desk close to the window so I may totally see the great thing about nature round Lake Kawaguchi. I ordered a 1,000 yen lunch set (about 200,000 VND) together with rice, fried wakasagi fish (Japanese tamarind fish), greens and meat cooked in a ceramic pot, Udon noodles and dessert. The fish that has simply been fried may be very crispy and scrumptious. The greens and meat cooked on the ceramic pot are nonetheless scorching and have a cool, candy style that offers me extra power to proceed my journey of exploring this place.
After “recharging”, I walked round Lake Kawaguchi – situated within the 5 lakes system on the foot of Mount Fuji. Whereas having lunch, I seemed on the surroundings right here via the window, however after I went right down to see it, I couldn’t assist however be shocked and amazed by the charming magnificence like a watercolor portray of nature and the mighty Mount Fuji. nice. You can even take part within the expertise of going across the lake whereas viewing Mount Fuji by boat or ferry. In the event you come right here within the fall, it is possible for you to to see the poetic surroundings of the lake dyed with good crimson and yellow colours of gorgeous maple leaves.
Stroll and admire the surroundings at cease quantity 5 of Mount Fuji
View of cease quantity 5
Subsequent, I traveled by bus to cease quantity 5 of Mount Fuji, that is the very best station that the bus can attain. This cease has many retailers, quick meals eating places, and motels serving climbers in addition to those that wish to cease and admire the pure surroundings like me. You should purchase sweet, souvenirs or get pleasure from specialties on the retailers round right here. Standing at an altitude of two,305m above sea stage, having fun with the pristine nature and respiratory contemporary air makes me really feel like my physique has been purified, a wierd feeling of peace. You can even take part in a horseback using expertise to go to the gorgeous locations right here.
A restaurant at cease 5
I purchased the “guardian bell” at cease quantity 5
That is the place you’ll be able to lease horses
Decide grapes and eat to your coronary heart’s content material in Katsunuma city
I’m uninterested in strolling and sightseeing at cease quantity 5. Now I’m going to select grapes and eat as a lot as I would like at a winery in Katsunuma city, Koshu metropolis, Yamanashi province. From cease 5, it takes about 1 hour to get right here. First, every particular person can be given a basket to select grapes, then the backyard proprietor will cause them to the grape choosing location. That is the primary time I’ve been in a position to decide grapes on the backyard, so I’m extraordinarily excited and completely happy. So far as I do know, the grape selection I’ll decide is known as Delaware (also referred to as Champagne grape) – it is a seedless grape with the second largest rising space in Japan. The winery right here is extraordinarily giant, with greater than 10 grape varieties with plump, fruitful grape clusters as if ready for somebody to select them.
I’ve 45 minutes to eat as a lot grapes as I would like right here, however please observe that after 45 minutes, if there are nonetheless grapes in your basket, you may be charged a payment. Grapes picked on the backyard are very candy, aromatic and succulent, however the time to eat them to your coronary heart’s content material is simply too quick, so I may solely eat 3 bunches after which I purchased some as items for everybody.
Bunches of grapes are succulent and laden with fruit
Go to the wine cellar and take a look at wine at Sasaichi vineyard
After choosing and consuming grapes to my coronary heart’s content material, I continued to go to the wine cellar on the long-standing Sasaichi vineyard – with a winemaking historical past of greater than 100 years. Right here I used to be launched to the wines on the manufacturing facility and in addition tasted many sorts of wine, from fruit wines equivalent to grapes, peaches, apricots, apples, and many others. to wine, rice wine, and many others. …
Leaving the bustling, crowded environment in Tokyo, Yamanashi Prefecture offers you memorable and intensely attention-grabbing experiences of a contemporary land, inexperienced nature, mountain landscapes and gardens. fruitful fruit. On the finish of a day of expertise within the fruit kingdom of Yamanashi province, though I used to be a bit drained, I felt extraordinarily glad. Earlier than planning to go, I believed that apart from Mount Fuji, what else may Yamanashi Prefecture must expertise!? However no, you see there are too many issues that I’ve not but skilled right here equivalent to Fuji-Q Highland theme park, Oshino Hakkai historic village, scorching springs, and many others. Subsequent time I’ve the chance to go to Japan, I’ll positively come again right here to discover and study extra about Yamanashi province – the hometown of Mount Fuji.
Details about areas within the article:
Dangle bang Narusawa
Tackle: 8533 Narusawa, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0320
Working hours: From 10:00 ~ 16:30 day by day
Entrance ticket:
Adults (from junior highschool college students): 350 yen
Kids (as much as elementary college): 250 yen
Reductions apply if touring in teams
URL: https://www.mtfuji-cave.com/contents/ice_cave/ (Japanese, with directions in a number of languages)
How one can journey from Tokyo:
From Shinjuku station you’ll be able to take the practice, nonetheless I like to recommend you ebook a quick bus to get a seat, journey time is quicker and cheaper than the practice. From Shinjuku station, take the specific bus “Chūō Kōsoku Bus” (about 1 hour and 45 minutes) and get off at Kawaguchiko station. At Kawaguchiko Station, you purchase a bundle bus ticket to go to the Saiko Lake space (Greenline), and get off on the Fugaku-Fuketsu cease. From this cease, you’ll be able to stroll a brief distance to Narusawa Ice Cave.
URL: https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/entry/from_tokyo.html (Japanese, with directions in a number of languages)
Yamanashi prefecture sightseeing map:
URL: http://en.kawaguchiko.web/img/pdf/guide_map_en.pdf (English)
Lake Kawaguchi
Tackle: 1700, Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko City, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture
How one can get there: From Narusawa cave, take the bus to Kawaguchiko station. From the station, stroll about 10 minutes to get there.
Funatsuya restaurant
Tackle: 4041 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko City, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture
Working hours: 9:00~17:15
URL: http://rfunatsuya.com/ (Japanese, with directions in a number of languages)
How one can get there: You may stroll from Kawaguchiko station about 600m or if you’re already at Kawaguchiko lake, you’ll be able to simply see this restaurant proper reverse the lake.
Mount Fuji cease quantity 5
Tackle: 5617, Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida Metropolis, Yamanashi Prefecture
Working hours: Varies relying on time of yr
URL: http://subaruline.jp/eigyou/jikan.html (Japanese)
How one can get from Lake Kawaguchi:
URL: https://fujiyoshida.web/entry/kennai/kawaguchiko/fujisan (Japanese)
Winery in Koshu
The winery I picked is known as Ichiko Orchards
Tackle: 1327 Todoroki, Katsunuma City, Koshu Metropolis, Yamanashi Prefecture 409-1315
Working hours: From mid-July to mid-November; 8:00～17:00 day by day
45-minute all-you-can-eat grape ticket (Value varies relying on the kind of grape):
For Delaware grapes: Adults: 700 yen; Kids 4 years and older: 700 yen
URL: http://www.ichikoen.com/budougari (Japanese)
How one can transfer:
URL: http://www.ichikoen.com/entry (Japanese)
Grape choosing areas in Koshu metropolis:
URL: https://www.koshu-kankou.jp/map/budo/ (Japanese, with translation operate into many languages)
Sasaichi Vineyard
Tackle: 26 Yoshikubo, Sasago City, Otsuki Metropolis, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0024
Working hours: 8:30~17:30 (Wine tasting time (all yr spherical) 9:00〜17:30)
Workshop go to time: 10:00〜16:30
Tickets to go to the manufacturing facility: free
URL: http://sasaichi.co.jp/ (Japanese)
How one can transfer: http://www.sasaichi.co.jp/occasion/entry.html(Japanese)