5 Must-Visit Spots Near Mount Fuji as Recommended by JR East Staff
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Hello everyone! We are a group of station staff and crew members from JR Otsuki Station (大月駅) and Kofu General Management Center (甲府統括センター). You might recognise Otsuki Station as a transfer station to get to various viewpoints near Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain, from Shinjuku!
Today I will introduce you to Koshu City (甲州市) and Otsuki City (大月市) in Yamanashi. While Mount Fuji is a popular must-visit spot, there are plenty of other spots to visit around in Yamanashi!
Visiting East Japan this autumn? Here are five of our recommendations of top sightseeing spots to check out nearby Otsuki Station.
Mount Iwadono (岩殿山) has a height of 634m (the same as Tokyo SkyTree), and it is recommended for hiking. There is a hiking course that starts and ends at Otsuki Station, taking about 4 hours to complete.
The mountain is characterised by its rocky surface, and from the top you can enjoy the panoramic view of Mount Fuji and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Mount Iwadono (岩殿山) Address: Hatagura Nigiokamachi, Otsuki, Yamanashi 401-0001
Close to Otsuki Station, you’ll find Saruhashi (猿橋), one of Japan’s three most unusual bridges (日本三大奇橋). Saruhashi is famous for its beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons, and its unique structure is depicted in several Japanese paintings.
The view of the colourful trees from the bridge is really stunning in autumn. Equally breathtaking is the view of the bridge from below, which you can check out while riding on a sightseeing boat along the Katsura River.
Nearby, you can also see the Meiji Era-aqueduct bridge of a power station, Shin-Saruhashi bridge on National Route 20, and the old tracks of the Chuo Main Line.
Why not visit Saruhashi on the way to Mount Fuji or Lake Kawaguchi?
Saruhashi Bridge (猿橋) Address: Saruhashimachi, Otsuki, Yamanashi 409-0614 Access: 20-minute walk from Saruhashi Station (猿橋駅) / 10 minutes from Otsuki Station by taxi. Buses from Otsuki Station and Saruhashi Station are also available.
When visiting Koshu City, be sure to try the sweet local grapes!
Around Katsunuma-Budokyo Station, there are about 20 to 30 grape farms where you can enjoy grape picking. You can pick’n’eat the most popular grapes, including the prized Shine Muscat. Try the grapes on the spot to savour their natural flavour!
The best season for grape-picking is between September to October, but some farms and shops are also open all the way till the end of November!
Speaking of grapes, the areas of Katsunuma and Enzan of Koshu City are some of Japan’s leading wine-producing areas and home to about 40 wineries.
At Katsunuma Budou no Oka (勝沼ぶどうの丘), you can visit many of these wineries while sampling various types of Koshu Wine, including a wine cave storing about 200 types of Koshu City-certified wines!
Budou no Oka is a sanctuary for grapes and wine, offering a 360-degree view of the surrounding vineyards, and you can enjoy meals and wine at the restaurant.
Katsunuma Budou no Oka (勝沼ぶどうの丘) Address: 5093 Katsunumacho Hishiyama, Koshu, Yamanashi 409-1302 Access: 20-minute walk from Katsunuma-Budokyo Station (勝沼ぶどう郷駅)
Erinji Temple (恵林寺) is one of Japan’s most famous zen temples, and is known as the final resting place of the famous feudal lord Takeda Shingen. Here, you can enjoy both the precious temple treasures and autumn leaves together.
The best time to view the leaves is from mid to late November. Enter through the main gate and walk along the approach to the shrine, you will be greeted by vibrant autumn leaves and a charming landscape.
Erinji Temple (恵林寺) Address: 2280 Enzan Oyashiki, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi 404-0053 Access: Take the bus bound for Nishizawa-Keikoku from Enzan Station (塩山駅) and alight at “Erinji-mae” Bus Stop. / 20 minutes by taxi from Enzan Station.
As you can tell, Koshu and Otsuki in Yamanashi are brimming with hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. So, the next time you are visiting Kawaguchiko for the autumn festival near Mount Fuji, make sure to stop by Otsuki Station and the neighbouring stations along the JR Chuo Line to explore these charming spots!
こんにちは！ We are a group of crew members from various stations and railway centres in JR East. JR East is the largest railway company in Japan, and our trains run Tokyo, Yokohama, Omiya, Nagano, Sendai, and Aomori, to name a few. We work hard every day to provide excellent service to our passengers. We are excited to introduce local recommendations and hidden gems around East Japan to international visitors in Japan. See you in Japan!
