Activities Vistas of Mt. Fuji and Retro Town Walking Tour Featured Guided walking tour in Fujiyoshida: two iconic Mount Fuji views, making decorative sushi rolls, a visit to a wonderful tea sho..
Culture Hoto Noodles at Scarecrow Villa Featured Meet local grandmothers, learn how to make traditional Yamanashi-style hoto noodles, see a typical old-style Japanese house, and..
Food How Do You Take Your Tea? Cathy Cawood Learning how tea is blended at Mixcha Tea Blending workshop experience in Shizuoka, sampling green and black Japanese teas at Green..
Culture Shingen-ko Festival in Kofu City 2026 Early Apr Shingen-ko is the biggest samurai festival in Japan. The festival takes place in spring and the highlight is a procession through..
Culture Will You Fight Or Watch? 2025 Early Nov Epic battle between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen re-enacted every year on the banks of the Fuefuki River in Yamanashi. Participation..
Culture Crystal Sound Museum Cathy Cawood Crystal Sound is a free museum in Shosenkyo with a collection of precious gemstones from around the world. The museum shop is a..
Culture Satoyama Garden Cathy Cawood Enjoy mass plantings of flowers at Satoyama Garden in Yokohama. Part of the Yokohama Garden Necklace project, the garden is glorious..
16 Spirituality of Mitsumine Shrine in Chichibu Cathy Cawood Mitsumine Jinja is a large and beautiful Shinto shrine in the Chichibu Mountains. It is an easy day trip from Tokyo and is dedicated..