Although adjacent to the capital city of Tokyo, Yamanashi Prefecture is blessed with abundant nature. 

Because of its location, there are many popular tourist destinations that are easily accessible from the Tokyo metropolitan area. This time, we will focus on Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, a town at the foot of Mt. Fuji, is a beautiful town with many places of interest to visit in the spring. 

Fuji, Fujiyoshida City is located in the southeastern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. It is a highland city with an elevation of 650 to 900 meters above sea level and a cool climate even in summer, and has prospered since ancient times as a place of worship of Mt. Even today, traces of this belief still remain in the city, and combined with the majestic Mt. Fuji and its beautiful nature, there are many popular spots both in Japan and abroad. 

Here are two spots recommended for spring, one each of recommended events and local delicacies to try when you visit, and finally, recommended houses. 

Spot 1: Arakurayama Sengen Park 

This is a very popular spot where you can feel “truly Japanese. 

The reason for this is this picture. 

• Mt. Fuji
• Five-story pagoda 
• Cherry blossoms in full bloom 

All can be seen from here, and it is a place where you can truly experience “Japan”. 

 Arakurayama Sengen Park is located halfway up Mt. Arakurayama. The park is about 4.3 hectares in size and has about 650 Someiyoshino cherry trees, which are usually in full bloom from early to mid-April. The photo above is one from the observation deck, which is a 398-step ordeal to get to… But the view after that is worth seeing. It is definitely worth a visit in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. 

Spot 2: Fujikyu Highland 

Fujikyu Highland is an amusement park with various world’s best attractions. 

• The world’s highest total number of revolutions 
• The world’s largest drop angle 
• The world’s highest acceleration 

All of these roller coasters are located in this park. I get chills down my spine as I write this… The park is also the first amusement park in the world to create “Thomas and His Friends” and “Lisa and Gaspard” theme parks, and has a strong commitment to being the best in the world and the first in the world. Not only roller coasters, but also theme parks provide fun for families. The Highland Resort Hotel & Spa, an official hotel directly connected to the amusement park, offers the following benefits to hotel guests. 

Fun Facts:

Priority entry to the amusement park 15 minutes before the park opens. 

Free admission to the hot springs 

Discounts on free passes. 

There are also “Thomas Rooms” and “Lisa and Gaspard Rooms” filled with the characters, which can be enjoyed as a combination of the amusement park and overnight stay. Spring is also a good time to visit Fujikyu Highland. In 2023, a “Student Memories Support Campaign” is being held from February to the latter half of April. Also, “Family Pass” is on sale, so whether you are with friends or family, spring is the time to save! 

Event: Mt. Fuji Hill Climb 

This is one of the largest hill climb races in Japan, in which participants ride sports cycles up Mt. Fuji Hokuroku Park, passing through the Fuji Subaru Line on the way to the goal at the fifth station on Mt. Fuji, covering a distance of 25 km and an elevation gain of 1,270 m. This year’s event will be held on June 6, 2023. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2023, for the 19th time. Last year in 2022, approximately 7,300 people participated in this major event. This year, about 8,000 people are expected to participate, and with the easing of measures against new coronavirus infection, the event is expected to be crowded. Fuji may sound intimidating, but in fact, 99% of participants finish the race. Fuji” may sound intimidating, but in fact, 99% of participants complete the race. With a generous time limit, this is an event that is easy on beginners. 

Bonus Spot for the Local Gourmet: Specialty “Udon Noodles of Yoshida”

This is a local dish of Fujiyoshida City. Its characteristic feature is the hard noodles, which it’s firmness and crunchiness are among the best in Japan. The broth is usually a blend of soy sauce and miso, topped with sweet and spicy horse meat and boiled cabbage. It is said that there is a historical reason for the hardening of the noodles. In the early Showa period, the main industry in this area was textile, and women were the ones who operated the weaving machines. 

To prevent women from stopping their work to prepare lunch, men began to make udon for lunch. As a result of vigorous kneading by the men, hard udon noodles with a firm and chewy texture were produced. This is the story. 

Fujiyoshida City is a recommended place to settle down. And there is a house we recommend. The reason why it is a recommended place is that it is a town friendly to child rearing and education. Some of the unique initiatives in Fujiyoshida City related to child rearing and education include 

• Free school lunches in elementary and junior high schools 
• Free medical care for children up to the age of 18 
• Free school lunches in elementary and junior high schools 

Free school lunches for elementary and junior high school students will be available from October 2019, and free medical care for children up to age 18 will be available from April 2020. In these days when the national and local governments are talking about measures to combat the birth rate reduction, Fujiyoshida City, which is taking the initiative, is one of the good options for those who are thinking of moving to the region. And the house we recommend. 

The key to that is the view, and here’s the view from the balcony!  

The season for this photo is December, and unfortunately it is lightly overcast, but the view on a clear day is exceptional. This is what it looks like from inside the room. It is as liberating as a hotel in a tourist area. This property is located just west of Niikurayama Sengen Park, which I mentioned earlier. The surrounding area is a quiet residential area, but the property has good access to the city center. The rent is also reasonable. Please take a look at the details here.