- Nature and Outdoor
- Food
- Families
- Couples
- Summer
Summer Highlights - explore the Yatsugatake Mountains and the villages beneath-
In summer, explore the natural wonders of the Yatsugatake Mountains. Hike a lush mossy forest, drive above the clouds along flowery hills and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Japanese Alps and more. On the way, don't forget to stop by one of the rural villages under the Mountains' shadow to taste fresh summer vegetables and experience the countryside's pastoral charm.
| Duration | 2 days (1 night) |
|---|---|
| Price | JPY43,000/person 〜 |
| Period | From June to early November |
| Overall level | 1 (easy) |
Highlights
First things first: let's rent a car at one of the many shops close to Chino station. *This itinerary can also be done without a car, but if you can drive, we suggest you rent one to make the best of your time.
50 min by car
or
60 min by bus
Meruhen Kaido Bus (Chino Station bus stop → Shirakoma-ike bus stop)
*Pick-up by guide available when the bus does not run
Up in the mountains, at 2100m, there is a fairytale-like forest completely covered in moss which looks like it just came out of Hayao Miyazaki's anime world. Enjoy the "macro" forest of igneous rocks and gnarly trees covered by a deep-green layer, then take a closer look at the "micro" forest of moss and lichens, which most people pass by without even realizing. A local guide will accompany you on this adventure to help you unveil the secrets of this mysterious corner of the Yatsugatake Mountains.
20 min by car
or
30 min by bus
Meruhen Kaido Bus (Shirakoma-ike bus stop → Tateshina Village Iriguchi bus stop)
*Drop-off by guide available when the bus does not run
Enjoy a French galette made with local ingredients such as Shinshu buckwheat flour, locally grown summer veggies, and wild game. *The restaurant is always open on Saturdays, Sundays, and festivities, but if you plan to go on a weekday, please call in advance to check.
5min by car
*Pick-up by guide available
Explore a tiny rural village standing right under the Yatsugatake Mountains' shadow. Almost all the 90 houses which form Sasahara village are traditional farmhouses, each with their own Kura storehouse and well-curated Japanese garden. A local guide will show you around and answer all your questions about everyday life in the Japanese countryside. On the way, you will meet many locals working on the rice paddies and farming fields which encircle the village and, maybe, you can visit one of the villagers' houses for a cup of tea.
A few steps away
A local grannie will welcome you to her house and introduce you to the variegated and colorful world of summer Yamaura cuisine. Follow her outside to pick some fresh veggies in the field and use them to prepare some delicious traditional teatime snack. You might cut cucumbers and tomatoes into slices to decorate a colorful agar cake, or maybe grind edamame beans to put on top of a bowl of steaming rice. Once everything is ready, have a seat and enjoy a nice cup of tea with the grannie.
3 min by car
or
15 min on foot
A few steps away from Sasahara village, there is a lovely cafe where you can enjoy a steaming cup of coffee while browsing through a small gallery featuring pottery and wood craftworks. The traditional building which houses the cafe is a spacious farmhouse with a beautiful Japanese garden. Food and beverages are served in cups and plates made by the owner, a pottery craftsman himself.
15 min by car
or
15 min by taxi
Traditional onsen ryokan tucked away in the Yatsugatake Mountains, surrounded by verdant woods. This accommodation's most impressive feature is the hot spring bath, with its velvety milky hot spring waters and antique wooden bathing pools. Many famous samurai are said to have soaked in these healing waters. Food is also something to look forward to. The Japanese course meal dinner contains many regional delicacies made with plenty of locally grown vegetables.
Meiji Onsen is an onsen ryokan located deep into the mountains, nearby Mishaka pond. The ryokan features unique reddish onsen baths, which have relaxing and rejuvenating effects. Some of the rooms have a nice view of Oshidori-gakushi Falls.
Spend the night at a local family's house. Experience many fun farming activities, cook some typical Japanese dishes, and eat your meals together with your hosts.
Before you go on to your next destination, stop by Mishaka Pond, a tiny pool of crystalline water that reflects the surrounding conifer forest. In the summer, the scene is dominated by a deep emerald color, and you can take some great pics.
30 min by car or taxi
Participate in a canoe guide tour in Lake Shirakaba, a mountain resort at about 1400m. After learning the basics from the guide, enjoy gliding over the lake water. The air up in the highland is crisp and cool even in the middle of summer, and from the center of the lake, you have a great view of Mt.Tateshina-yama and Mt.Kurumayama. During the tour, you can also stop by a small shrine on a tiny island in the middle of the lake to pray for good luck.
5 min on foot
Asahigaoka is a family-run minshuku and soba restaurant. The soba master is also a farmer who grows and mills buckwheat by himself. Here you can eat some high-quality hand-made soba noodles, crispy tempura made with home-grown veggies or wild herbs, and home-made pickles. This restaurant is a hidden gem unknown to most travelers.
10 min by car
or
15 min by bus
Shirakabako~Kurumayama Kogen Line (Tonyagawa bus stop → Kurumayama Kogen bus stop)
Take the Kurumayama ski lift to reach the summit of Mt.Kuruma-yama at 1925m. From here, you can enjoy a breath-taking view of the three ranges of the Alps, Mt.Fuji, the Yatsugatake Mountains, and Mt. Asama. Kurumayama and Kirigamine plateau are always covered in flowers (red Japanese Azaleas in June, yellow daylilies in July, and Pincushion flowers in August and September). You can take a short walk around the summit and go back down with the lift, or if you are a hiker, you can proceed on to Kirigamine and Yashima Wetland on foot.
To Yashima Shitsugen
20 min by car
or
30 min by bus
Shirakabako~Kurumayama Kogen Line
(Kurumayama Kogen bus stop →Yashima Shitsugen bus stop )
The road which connects Kurumayama and Kirigamine is called Venus Line and is considered one of Japan's most scenic routes. Just imagine driving up in the mountains, the gentle Hills of Kirigamine Plateau on one side and a spectacular obstructed view on the Alps on the other. You will want to stop and take pics at every turn.
Pay a visit to Yashima Wetland, a scenic peatland encased by the grassland hills of Kirigamine Plateau. Along the wooden trail, there are countless variations of Alpine flowers, which come in all colors and shapes. It takes 90 min to do one lap around the wetland, but if you have a tight schedule, you can walk a shorter track, take a few pics and be back in no time.
60 min by car or 70 min by bus to Chino Station
Shirakaba-ko~Kurumayama Kogen Line
(Yashima Shitsugen bus stop → Chino Station bus stop)
60 min by bus to Kami-suwa Station
- Shirakaba-ko~Kurumayama Kogen Line-
(Yashima Shitsugen bus stop → Kami-Suwa Station bus stop)
Other attractions recommended by our team!
-
Tateshina Ootaki FallsYou can reach this enchanting spot with a 10-minute walk from Pool Daira bus stop/parking lot. Along the way, you will encounter massive trees perched on
rocks, their gnarly roots cloaked by moss, and a lively waterfall plunging into a crystalline pool. -
Kita-Yatsugatake RopewayGet on Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway and reach an elevation of 2237m in less than 7min. From the top, you can enjoy a superb panoramic view of the three ranges of the Alps. If you have time, walk through Tsuboniwa Natural Park, a lovely garden of igneous rocks and short pines created by the hand of Nature.
-
The Flying Mud BoatIf you like architecture and design, you will love Fujimori Terunobu's teahouses. These quirky buildings made using only natural materials look like they just came out of Hayao Miyazaki's anime world.
To create a tailor-made travel
plan based on this itinerary.
*This service comes with no obligations.
Your reservation will not be finalized until you give us confirmation.
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