The Koshinetsu area is an inland area in central Honshu facing the Sea of Japan and consists of Yamanashi, Nagano, and Niigata prefectures. The Koshinetsu area consists of mountains over 1,000 meters high, basins, and plains, and is known for its large climatic variations from place to place.
Niigata and Nagano prefectures are known for their abundant snowfall, with Niigata being one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan.
On the other hand, in Yamanashi Prefecture, temperatures vary greatly depending on elevation, with average annual temperatures varying by about 5°C between basins such as Kofu and higher elevation areas such as Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi.
Each region is also known for its well-known agricultural products and gourmet foods. Yamanashi Prefecture is known for its cultivation of fruits such as grapes and peaches that take advantage of the difference in temperature between day and night, Nagano Prefecture for its soba noodles known as Shinshu soba, and Niigata Prefecture for its rice production known as the Koshihikari brand, which is well known throughout Japan.
Major attractions in the Koshinetsu area include Lake Motosuko in Yamanashi Prefecture, Ueda Castle in Nagano Prefecture, and Kiyotsukyo Gorge in Niigata Prefecture.
Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture is one of the Fuji Five Lakes located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and was dammed up by the eruption of Mt. It is known among some as the model for the upside-down Fuji printed on the current 1,000 yen bill and the old 5,000 yen bill, both of which were first issued in 2004.
Every winter morning, the gap between the water temperature and the air temperature causes steam fog to rise from the surface of the lake, which, combined with the sunlight pouring onto Mt. In addition to the lakeside campgrounds, there are also many hands-on activities, such as canoeing and fishing for pike, making the lake one of the most popular tourist spots in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Ueda Castle in Nagano Prefecture is located in the center of the Ueda Basin and was built in 1583 by Masayuki Sanada, a general in the Warring States period. It is now maintained as a park and is generally known as a cherry blossom viewing spot.
The park is planted with approximately 1,000 cherry trees of various varieties, such as romo-zakura, Edo higan cherry, higan-zakura, weeping cherry, Somei-Yoshino, and Utsukin-zakura, and attracts many tourists every year from late March to late April, when the cherry trees are in full bloom.
Kiyotsukyo Gorge in Niigata Prefecture is a 12.5 km-long gorge formed by the Kiyotsu River that flows from Tokamachi City to Yuzawa Town. Kiyotsukyo Gorge is one of the three most beautiful gorges in Japan because of its magnificent rock surface and clear water, which is composed of diorite rock and columnar joints.
The nearby Kiyotsukyo Onsen hot spring and a variety of accommodations such as Japanese-style inns make it a popular spot for tourists.
Matsumoto Castle was originally built as Fukashi Castle during the Eisho Era (1504-1520) of the Warring States Period.It is designated as a National Treasure as one of the existing castle towers, and the castle ruins are designated as a National Historic Site. Only five castles have been designated as national treasures; the others are Himeji Castle, Inuyama Castle, Hikone Castle, and Matsue Cast...»
Kamikochi is one of Japan's leading mountain resorts at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters, overlooking the Hotaka mountain range in the Northern Alps. It is a magnificent natural scenic spot spreading in the highlands of the upper reaches of the Azusa River in the southern Hida Mountains. It is part of the Chubu-Sangaku National Park and is designated as a national cultural asset (specia...»
One of the most beautiful valleys in Japan, the Shosenkyo Gorge is lined with oddly shaped rocks, rare stones, and famous stones among steep cliffs.It is especially beautiful during the season of fresh green leaves and autumn leaves when the colors of the trees deepen. Ontake Shosenkyo, one of the most scenic spots in Japan, has been designated as a special place of scenic beauty by the governmen...»
An amusement park with world-class scream attractions and elaborate haunted houses that hold numerous Guinness World Records. There are more than 60 thrilling and fun attractions, including the four major coasters, FUJIYAMA, Do Dodompa, Ee Jana Yana, and Takabisha, that are sure to please scream lovers. There are also attractions named after characters from cartoons and video games, "Thomas Land...»
Zenkoji Temple is said to have been founded in 644, long before Buddhism was divided into various sects.Known since the Heian period (794-1192) as a temple for women's salvation, it has attracted many worshippers since that time. By the end of the Edo period (1603-1867), it was believed that a pilgrimage to Zenkoji Temple should be made at least once in one's lifetime, and that a visit to the tem...»
This is the headquarters of Suwa Shrine, which has about 25,000 shrines throughout Japan. Formerly known as "Suwa Shrine," it is also called "Suwa-sama," "Suwa-daimyojin," and other names. Suwa Shrine has existed so long that it is considered one of the oldest shrines in Japan. Four fir tree pillars called "go-bashira" are erected at the four corners of the shrine pavilions, and the layout of the...»
Lake Kawaguchi is famous for the upside-down view of Fuji on its surface.Many tourist attractions, including Fujikyu Highland, museums, and hot spring facilities, are located in the surrounding area. Fuji, and is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes.There is a small island called Unoshima (鸕鷀島) in the center of the lake. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.Fuji - Object of Faith and Source of Art...»
Tsumagojuku was the 42nd stop on the Nakasendo Highway connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto (Kyoto Prefecture).Tsumagojuku was the first inn in Japan to preserve the townscape, and the rows of Edo period houses that remain along the road offer a taste of the atmosphere of that era.The town was selected as one of the first sites in Japan to be included in the Important Preservation Districts for Groups...»
The largest lake in Nagano Prefecture, Suwa Lake is 759 meters above sea level and has a circumference of about 15.9 km.The lakeside area has a park and jogging path,Canoeing, wakasagi fishing, sightseeing boats, and amphibious sightseeing buses can be enjoyed on the lake. The Suwa Lake Festival Fireworks Display is held on Suwa Lake on August 15, and is one of the largest fireworks displays in J...»
Kiyotsu Gorge is a gorge formed by the Kiyotsu River, a tributary of the Shinano River.It is a V-shaped grand canyon with huge cliffs cutting across its 12.5-kilometer length, and is a magnificent scenic spot with its columnar-jointed rock surfaces and emerald-green clear stream. It is designated as a national scenic beauty spot and natural monument, and together with Kurobe Gorge and Osugi Valle...»
The deepest of the Fuji Five Lakes, with a maximum depth of 122 meters, Motosu Lake is the westernmost of the five lakes scattered at the northern foot of Mt. The lake has the highest transparency in Honshu, although the transparency of the lake water fluctuates seasonally.The deep cobalt-colored water has a mysterious, calm atmosphere. The north shore is a good vantage point for viewing Mt. Fuj...»
Yamanakako is the easternmost and largest of the Fuji Five Lakes scattered at the northern foot of Mt.The lake is the highest in elevation among the Fuji Five Lakes and the third highest in Japan as a whole.The depth is 13.3 meters, the shallowest of the Fuji Five Lakes. Its shape resembles a cow, and when viewed with the north side up, it also resembles a whale. It is designated as Fuji-Hakone-...»
The eight springs that have been gushing out from the rain and snow that have fallen on Mt.The water is endlessly clear and surprisingly blue when you look into it. The springs are designated as a national natural monument and one of the 100 best waters in Japan.Fuji - Object of Faith and Source of Art" is registered as a World Heritage site. Fuji and from the foot of Mt. Shakushiyama to Mt. Ish...»
Sado Kinzan is said to have been founded in 1601 by three mountain priests.Two years later, the mine became the shogunate's territory, and it continued to support the Tokugawa government's finances. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the mine became a government-run mine, and mechanization and modernization were promoted by inviting engineers from the West, contributing to the modernization of ...»
The hot spring resort has made a name for itself as a hot spring resort in the backcountry of Niigata, and in recent years, a variety of interactive stores have opened with the aim of creating a hot spring resort town that makes visitors want to walk around. The beautiful emerald green color of the hot water is so vivid that many people mistake it for the color of bath salts. Depending on the se...»
This open-air museum features about 20 restored thatched-roof houses on the shores of Lake Saiko, overlooking Mt.Fuji in the background, visitors can see a nostalgic scene of old Japan where thatched-roof houses used to stand side by side. Each thatched-roof house is used as a souvenir store, a restaurant serving local delicacies, a sweet shop, an exhibition of handicrafts, a corner for needlewor...»
Shirakone Onsen is a quiet hot spring village located in the valley of Yugawa River at the foot of Mount Norikura in the Northern Alps (about 1,400 meters above sea level).It is known for its milky white water with a silky feel. The hot spring is said to have a history of more than 600 years, and is effective for gastrointestinal disorders, nervous disorders, women's diseases, and chronic fatigue...»
This gigantic monolith soars toward the sea, reaching a height of 168 meters above sea level.It is possible to climb to the top and enjoy a 360-degree view. The stone pagoda of Zenpo-ji Temple stands at the top. A colony of 500,000 plants and 1,000,000 tobishima kanzo (Ganoderma lucidum) grow in the area, and the yellow flowers bloom all over the area in early summer. The best time to see the flo...»
Lake Hyouko is a registered wetland under the Ramsar Convention, and is famous throughout Japan as a swan migration site.It is an artificial lake created in 1639 as an irrigation pond, and was called "Hyouko" (gourd lake) because the shape of the pond at that time resembled a gourd. It is designated as a national natural monument as a migratory site for swans in Suiwon, and as a national protecte...»
Located at an elevation of 1,416 meters above sea level with a view of the Yatsugatake mountain range, the lake has a circumference of about 3.8 kilometers and an area of about 36 hectares.The lakeside is dotted with leisure land, museums, day spa facilities, ski resorts, hotels, and stores, making it a resort area. It is a man-made heated reservoir built to secure water for agricultural use, and...»