Every year from mid- to late September, 50,000 red spider lilies brightly color the temple grounds and plum orchards, making it a spectacular spot symbolizing the arrival of autumn. The best time to see them is generally short, lasting about a week. The bell towers and guardian deity statues scattered around make for a beautiful landscape that is popular with photographers. This is a perfect place for those who want to enjoy a relaxing autumn day while gazing at the sea of fiery red spider lilies.
The people in the Bena area, located to the east of Matsukawa Town, are working to develop the area so that people can enjoy the rich natural environment and beautiful scenery overlooking the Central Japan Alps, with the motto of Turning the Entire Village into a Park. Recognized as Shinshu Hometown View Hill, the area is dotted with scenic spots on high ground and walking paths where you can encounter rare plants and flowers. Recommended for those who want to be immersed in the nostalgic scenery of satoyama (the area where the villages meet the mountains).
This 59.2-meter-high gravity concrete dam was constructed on the Katagiri Matsukawa River in the Tenryu River system to secure water for agriculture. The lakeside is filled with beautiful seasonal nature, from young leaves in spring, deep green in summer, and red leaves in autumn to snow-covered scenery in winter, captivating visitors. Well-maintained walking paths around the lake enable visitors to refresh themselves in nature while admiring the structural beauty of the dam and the tranquil lake surface. It is also a popular spot for bird watching and photography, beloved by locals and tourists alike. This is a soothing spot where you can feel the changing seasons in a quiet and tranquil atmosphere.
Enjoy the unique experience of savoring seven authentic French dishes while the sunlight gently filters through the trees. Surrounded by fruit tree branches and overlooking the Southern and Central Japan Alps, the experience begins with a guided walk through the farm and a toast with locally produced cider. All ingredients are locally sourced. Reservations are required. We are open only from April to November. You could enjoy your lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and your dinner starts 30 minutes before sunset. Please make a reservation at least 10 days in advance.
Located at the summit of Mount Minobu, the Inner Sanctuary of Shishinkaku is a sacred place where Saint Nichiren prayed in memory of his parents back home. Located at an altitude of 1,153 meters, the summit is easily accessible by ropeway. On clear days, you can see majestic Mt. Fuji directly in front of you from the temple grounds. The breathtaking sight will touch the hearts of everyone who visits. This special place symbolizes Minobu, where nature, faith and views come together as one.
The Mausoleum is a sacred site built where Saint Nichiren spent his final years and was cremated. Many believers still visit to pray. Surrounded by a deep forest, the tranquil space exudes a sacred and special atmosphere. The Sanmon Gate, the main gate of Kuon-ji Temple, is a majestic wooden structure rebuilt during the Edo period, standing approximately twenty-one meters tall. Its imposing appearance invites visitors into a world beyond the ordinary.
Kuon-ji Temple on Mt. Minobu, founded during the Kamakura period as the head temple of the Nichiren sect, is a sacred place of faith and history. The magnificent main hall and five-story pagoda that stand still among the cedar groves, as well as the majestic atmosphere that awaits after climbing the 287 stone steps, soothe the souls of all who visit. The temple’s changing seasonal landscapes are captivating with weeping cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in autumn. You can experience local spiritual culture through morning services and copying sutras.
Mount Omuro, with its distinctive silhouette resembling an inverted bowl, can be reached by a lift that offers a refreshing aerial stroll to the summit. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Mount Fuji, the Izu Seven Islands, and the Sagami Bay while walking around the approximately 1km crater rim. On clear days, the spot for taking photos with Mount Fuji in the background is especially popular! Inside the crater, there is the Omuroyama Sengen Shrine, dedicated to the gods of safe childbirth and matchmaking, as well as facilities for archery. Every year on the second Sunday of February, the traditional “Yamayaki” event is held, where the entire mountain is set ablaze, attracting many tourists.
“Obuchi Sasaba” is a tea plantation located at the southern foot of Mount Fuji in the Obuchi district of Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This place is secluded, surrounded by forests and free from nearby houses, utility poles, and other man-made structures. It maintains its traditional landscape, and photographs of the scenery are used in various places such as the Shizuoka Prefectural Governor’s Office, Fuji Shizuoka Airport, and JR Central’s promotions for Shizuoka Prefecture, making it a scenic spot that represents the iconic Mount Fuji and tea fields of Japan. As depicted in one of the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by the famous ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, titled “Suruga Katakura Tea Gardens and Fuji,” the southern foot of Mount Fuji has been a region famous for tea cultivation since the Edo period. Although Hokusai did not reach Sasaba, the scenery here remains virtually unchanged from that time.
At Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha in Fujinomiya City, many traditional festivals have been passed down through the ages. The “Fujisan Omiya no Shinji-cho” from 1577 lists 65 different festivals, and the main ones are still observed today. The Otaue Matsuri (Rice Planting Festival) is a celebration expressing gratitude for the spring water gushing from Mount Fuji and praying for a bountiful harvest of grains. The festival features the ancient and graceful Otaue Shinji ritual and the planting dance performed by young female rice planters.
