There is a place called Yamanashi Prefecture in the west of Tokyo. Although there is the word "pear" in its name, Yamanashi Prefecture is not a pear-producing area.
The city of Fuefuki in Yamanashi Prefecture, which we are introducing today, is known as a “peach village” that is rich in peaches. Fuefuki City is located in the southeastern part of the Kofu Basin, and is the number one peach producer in Japan due to its fertile soil and inland weather conditions that vary greatly from cold to warm. Fuefuki City has the longest sunshine hours in Japan and low rainfall, which makes the peaches produced here extremely delicious. In spring, when peach blossoms are in full bloom in Fuefuki City, which is the largest peach producer in Japan, there are clouds of pink color everywhere, making it the "Peach Country" of Japan!

From Shinjuku, Tokyo's main station, it takes about one and a half hours to reach Ishiwaja Onsen Station, the main station in Fuefuki City, on the Chuo Main Line rapid train. The JR limited express Azusa and Kaizi trains both go to Ishiwaji Onsen. The Kaizi stops at Ishiwaji Onsen Station and goes there in one trip, whereas the Azusa train goes across the border and takes you to Ishiwaji Onsen Station after getting off at Kofu Station and going back a little bit. The fare is about 4,000 yen.

Fruits and seasons that can be picked in Miharuen are as follows:
January-May Strawberries - greenhouse strawberries can be picked.

July-November Grapes - The grapes of Fuefuki City are the representative crop of this area, and their flavor is surely one of the best in Japan!

August-October Advanced Grape

October-November Apples - If you come in October, you can pick grapes and apples at the same time!
The golden season is early summer, when you can pick peaches and grapes at the same time, so you can kill two birds with one stone!
Don't misremember the season of the fruit you want to pick!
In addition to fruit picking, the garden also offers catering services and gift sales.

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Opening hours: 8~17pm Admission: 16pm
Address: 240 Tsuchizuka, Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture 15 minutes by taxi from Ishiwaka Onsen Station
Tel: 0553-47-2111
Official Website:https://miharashien.com/index.html

Misaka Farm Grape House offers two kinds of fruits, peaches and grapes, and there is no limit to the picking time, so you can eat as much as you want.

March-April Peach Blossom Festival - When the cherry blossoms begin to fade, it's time for the Peach Blossom Festival!

Peach picking season is from mid-June to mid-August; grape picking season is from early August to mid-November.

After picking fruits, you can have a barbecue in the spacious BBQ center. It is a non-open-air building, so even if it rains, it doesn't affect the food and drink. In summer, it is cool and airy, and in winter, it is warm and cozy.

In addition to BBQ, the restaurant offers a variety of Yamanashi's specialties, especially the "somen" (hand-rolled noodles), which is a must-try. Grape House has also created a new specialty of ramen, unique to Fuefuki City, by combining mizutaki and ramen! This is a new specialty not to be missed!

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Address: 656-1 Natsumihara, Mizaka-cho, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi 406-0804
※Take a bus from Ishiwaka Onsen Station for about 15 minutes and get off at Natsumigahara, the fare is 250 yen.
Business hours: AM8:30～PM4:30 (subject to change depending on the season)
Contact: TEL 055-263-3111
Official Website:https://misakanoen.co.jp/

As the name suggests, Ishikawa Onsen is a hot spring town. When you come to a hot spring town, you must have a good soak in the hot spring! We have selected two hot spring hotels in the area for you to enjoy.

Hotel Hachida is a hot spring hotel that is popular with return guests. The special feature of this hotel is the "Wine Pool". A pool full of grape-colored spring water and a rich aroma have a powerful effect on the skin. The polyphenols moisturize the skin and improve blood circulation, while the fragrant aroma is spiritually healing. The wine soaking pool has been de-alcoholized, so children can also soak without worry.

In addition to the hot springs, Hotel Hachida also offers the most delicious cuisine. Fruits, wild vegetables, and fish cultivated by the rich nature are carefully prepared by the chef and brought to the guests' table. Especially noteworthy dishes are horse meat sashimi and abalone in sauce.
Horse meat has a very delicate texture, soft and tender, and after chewing, it leaves a sweet taste in the mouth, which is the original flavor of fresh meat.
Yamanashi's specialty, abalone in sauce, is a dish that can only be tasted in Yamanashi if you travel all over Japan.

Hotel Hachida offers a selection of original Hachida sake that matches Yamanashi's local ingredients perfectly, and it's a sure way to enhance your tastebuds with a good meal.

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Address: 1607 Kawanakajima, Ishikazu-cho, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi, 406-0024, Japan
tel:055-262-3101 fax:055-262-3139
Check in 15:00 Check out 10:00
Free pick-up service is available at Ishiwaka Onsen Station by prior reservation.
Pick-up time: 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
※Meet at the bicycle parking lot on the left hand side of the station.
Official Website:https://hotel-hatta.co.jp/

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and seek peace and quiet on your journey, Hotel Cypress Garden is a great place to visit.
The former Cooper Garden was a farm that produced grapes and grape wine in the area where cypress grows. In order to commemorate the importance of the relationship between nature and the earth in the farming era, the hotel's logo is based on the image of a grape.

Gentle sunlight pours into the spacious Japanese-style rooms from the atrium. Guests can wear a variety of yukatas for free, and the staff will help them put them on so they don't have to worry about putting them on.

The colorful koi carp in the pond in the atrium leisurely swim around, and the pure breeze of the courtyard can also bring spiritual healing.

Since 1961, alkaline spring water has been trickling out of the vineyards, and residents can completely relax in the large bathhouse that draws on this spring water. This is also Ishiwaka Onsen's original tourmaline hot spring, which has a great effect on beauty. From the open-air bath, you can enjoy the natural scenery of the four seasons and the night view of the Kofu Basin. On a good day, you can also see Mt. Fuji and the Southern Alps in the distance.

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Address: 〒406-0031 Yamanashi Prefecture, Fuefuki-shi, Ishiwacho Ichibe 822
7-minute walk from the south exit of Ishiwaka Onsen Station. Free shuttle service is available.
TEL 055-262-5890
FAX055-262-2224
Official Website:https://www.kohakuen.co.jp/

We all learned the story of cormorant fishing from the language textbooks when we were students, but in fact, Japan, which has crossed the ocean, also has a culture of cormorant fishing. Unlike Taiwanese fishermen who use cormorants to catch fish, Japanese cormorant performances have a greater sense of history and ritual.

Unlike the method of fishing with several cormorants in a boat, the cormorant fishing in the Dibuki River is called “walking pelican,” and is rare among existing cormorant fishing methods in Japan, which has a history of more than 800 years, as the fisherman walks along the river with a single cormorant.

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Period: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from July 20 to August 18 every year (the first and last days are not related to the weekdays and are held normally)
Time: 8pm~8:50pm
※After the show, there will be a 10-minute fireworks display from 8:50 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Fuefuki City Hall, Fuefuki River, 20-minute walk from Ishiwaka Onsen Station
Website:https://www.fuefuki-kanko.jp/scontents/summerfes/1011/index.html

Monde Brewery produces a variety of wines, liqueurs and soft drinks. Surrounded by Mt. Fuji and the Southern Alps, the brewery strives to produce delicious sake every day.

Here, you can visit the glass restaurant on the tour route and learn about the history and products of Monde Winery. On the way, there are also signboards introducing the history and products of Monde Winery, so you can learn more about wine. You can see the production line, the wine cellar, the brandy cellar, the winery, and other places that you don't usually get to see.

After touring the wine-making process, it's time for some wine tasting. In the Wine Tasting Zone store, you can sample more than 10 wines, liqueurs and soft drinks for free. Whether you like spicy or fruity-sweet, there's something for everyone. If you find large bottles of wine too heavy to carry around, there are also small metal cans for easy drinking and carrying. Whether you want to enjoy it yourself or give it as a gift to your friends and family during your trip to Japan, it's worth checking out here.
*Factory tours and drinks are free of charge.

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Address: 〒406-0031 476, Ishiwacho Ichibe, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture
10-minute walk from Ishiwaka Onsen Station, 3 minutes by cab
tel:055-262-3161 fax:055-263-5326
Official Website:https://www.mondewinery.co.jp/shopinfo/

Shindo-tōge is a famous observation point in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and has long been favored by mountain climbers and photographers. The Fujiyama Observation Deck at Shindo-tōge is the newest and most beautiful observation point to be opened at the end of July 2021, and you can see the magnificent Mt. Standing here, you can enjoy the magnificent view of Mount Fuji, Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi. Photography enthusiasts should remember this spot for a great viewpoint.

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Mode of transportation:
Take the Fujikyu Bus Ashikawa Line from the south exit of JR Ishiwa Onsen Station and get off at Kami-Ashikawa Station. Walk for about 5 minutes to the Ashikawa Agricultural Products Outlet and take the free shuttle bus to Fujiyama Twin Terrace.
By taxi, it takes about 35 minutes to get from Ishiwaji Onsen Station to Sawasumi-tei.

If you are tired of seeing crowds of tourists everywhere you go, and just want to find a quiet and peaceful place to spend a rare vacation, then the city of Fuefuki is definitely on the to-go list. Surrounded by Mt. Fuji and the Southern Alps, the city offers not only delicious fruits, fish and wine, but also the healing benefits of hot springs. Fuefuki City in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, is a unique destination for foodies and travelers alike.