EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Peach blossoms, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi, 4/03/2026

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba is a traditional restored thatched-roof village located on the western shore of Lake Sai (Saiko) in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba: https://saikoiyashinosatonenba.jp/en/

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi, 4/03/2026

Thatched roofs in Japan, known as kayabuki, primarily use kaya (a general term for thatch) harvested from Miscanthus grass, specifically Japanese pampas grass susuki (Miscanthus sinensis) and kariyasu. Other materials include reed (yoshi), cogongrass (chigaya), and rice straw. These materials are harvested, dried, and bundled to create a durable, insulating 30–40 year roof.

susuki (Miscanthus sinensis): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_sinensis

kariyasu (Miscanthus tinctorius (Steud.) Hack): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus

yoshi (Phragmites australis): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phragmites_australis

chigaya (Imperata cylindrica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperata_cylindrica

rice (Oryza sativa): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryza_sativa

A wine tasting tour for an American couple was conducted on April 2, 2026. Five wineries Grace Winery, Lumiere Winery, Marufuji Winery, Haramono Winery and Manns Wines Katsunuma Winery were visited.

1. Grace Winery: https://www.grace-wine.com/en/
2. Lumiere Winery: https://www.lumiere.jp/en
3. Marufuji Winery: https://www.rubaiyat.jp/en/
4. Haramono Winery: https://www.haramo.com/index.html
5. Manns Wines Katsunuma Winery: https://mannswines.com/

Manns Wines: https://mannswines.com/

Manns Wines, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

Haramo Winery: https://www.haramo.com/

Haramo Winery, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

An old storehouse and an old Citronnelle grape planted in 1949

Dodan-tsutsuji (Enkianthus perulatus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enkianthus_perulatus

Wood violet (Viola odorata): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_odorata

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum

Lumiere Winery: https://www.lumiere.jp/en

Lumiere Winery, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

Scenes from the veranda of Grape Hill Katsunuma, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

Grape Hill Katsunuma: https://budounooka.com

As I previously wrote in my sites (#1 ~ #3), in the town of Katsunuma, located in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is renowned as the birthplace of Japanese wine, boasting over 80 wineries concentrated in the area. As Japan’s premier grape-producing region, it offers scenic vineyards, numerous wine tastings, and deep historical roots in wine-making.  With a long history and tradition, it’s wine production accounts for about 30% of Japan’s domestic wine.

#1. https://yamanashietsuo.net/visiting-chateau-mercian-katsunuma-winery-2/

“2. https://yamanashietsuo.net/chateau-mercian-katsunuma-winery-and-miyakoen/

#3. https://yamanashietsuo.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=2187&action=edit

Sago cycad (Cycas revoluta): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas_revoluta

Sago cycad ♀, Miho Shrine, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuola, 3/27/2026

Nihondaira Ropeway, Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Negoya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 03/27/2026

https://ropeway.shizutetsu.co.jp/; https://www.toshogu.or.jp/english/

Blue rock thrush (♂) is greeting to the visitors, Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Negoya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 03/27/2026

Blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_rock_thrush

While spring approaches, higher elevation areas in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, remain cold in late March.

Narusawa Ice Cave (Hyoketsu): https://www.mtfuji-cave.com/en/ice_cave/; https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/201/

Narusawa Ice Cave, Narusawa Village, Yamanashi, 3/22&23/2026

Mount Fuji, Lake Motosu and Aokigahara Forest, and Lake Sai from Sankodai Lookout, Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi, 3/23/2026

Japanese andromeda, Koyodai Entrance, Narusawa Village, Yamanashi, 3/23/2026

Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieris_japonica

Koyodai and Sankodai Lookouts: https://www.narusawa-kanko.jp/koyodai.html

Also, please visit my previous article on February 12, 2026: Icy Fugaku Fuketsu (Wind Cave) and Narusawa Hyoketsu (Ice Cave), Yamanashi

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced the opening of Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms in Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, on March 16, 2026.  This is the earliest recorded flowering since observations began in 1953.

Release of 2026 Cherry Blossom Forecast (9th forecast): https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/sakura/?lang=en

Kofu Station, Kofu, Yamanashi, 3/14/2026

Somei-Yoshino: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_%C3%97_yedoensis

Yet, the air is still cold in the morning. There was ice on the surface of the reservoir in Kotogawa Dam in Yamanashi City.

Kotogawa Dam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotogawa_Dam

Kotogawa Dam, Kitabara, Makioka Cho, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi, 3/14/2026

Views of Gojoiwa and Mount Kinpu from Kotogawa Dam, Makioka Cho, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi, 3/14/2026

Mount Kaikoma (Kaikoma-ga-take) is a mountain of the Akaishi Mountains, located on the border of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture, and Ina in Nagano Prefecture, in the Chubu region of Japan. Mount Kinpu (Kinpu-san), or Mount Kinpo (Kinpo-san) is a mountain and the main peak in the Okuchichibu Range in Kanto Mountains.  It is located in Chichibu Tama Kai National Park on the boundary of Nagano Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kaikoma; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kinpu

Views of Mount Kaikoma and Mount Kinpu (or Kinpo), and views from Yozaburo Rock, Panorama Hill Ropeway Station, Shosen Gorge, Kofu, Yamanshi, 3/08/2026

Some popular house plants,  a jade plant and a snake plant:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassula_ovata; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracaena_trifasciata

A jade plant and a snake plant, a clinic, Kofu, Yamanashi, 3/08/2026

Nishizawa Gorge is located at the headwaters of the Fuefuki River, a tributary of the Fuji River, in the city of Yamanashi in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Ryujin Falls (a height of approximately 6 metres, just under 20 feet), Nishizawa Gorge, Yamanashi-city, Yamanashi, 2/28/2026

Views of Nishizawa Gorge, Yamanashi-city, Yamanashi, 2/28/2026

ITINERARY

(START) Nishizawa Gorge Parking Lot – Mie Falls – Hojo Bridge – (return) – Nishizawa Gorge Parking Lot (GOAL)

Time: 3h 8min (Rest: 23 min), Distance: 7.5 km, Ascend: 416 m, Descend: 386 m

Also, please read the articles “Nishizawa Gorge Hiking” on August 18, 2025 and “Hiking the Nishizawa Gorge Trail” on May 6, 2021 (https://etsuo.tokyo/2021/05).

Henbit dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_amplexicaule

Also, please read the articles “Spring is nearly Here” on March 10, 2025 and “Riverbank Flowers” on April 30, 2025.

Henbit dead-nettle, Arakawa riverbank, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/26/2026

Curly dock (Rumex crispus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumex_crispus

Curly dock, Arakawa riverbank, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/26/2026

Mustard greens (Brassica juncea Czern. et Coss.): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassica_juncea

Mustard greens, Arakawa riverbank, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/26/2026

Common vetch (Vicia sativa subsp. nigra): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_sativa

Common vetch, Arakawa riverbank, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/26/2026

Symbiosis:

Seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinella_septempunctata and Thyme-leaf sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arenaria_serpyllifolia

A Seven-spot ladybird and Thyme-leaf sandwort, Arakawa riverbank, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/26/2026

Additional Information:

“Roadside and Riverbank Wildflowers in Kofu” on October 13, 2025

“Some Riverbank Weeds” on May 11, 2025

“Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow and Japanese Bindweed” on June 19, 2025

Today it was very warm. Although we are still in the middle of the winter season, Japanese apricot blossoms (ume in Japanese) began to bloom. They are the first to announce the arrival of spring. Japan is home to about 400 varieties of Japanese apricot trees, and their blossoms can be enjoyed nationwide from December to March. In Furoen Japanese Apricot Blossom Garden located in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, Japanese apricot trees began to bloom in early February. Here, there are more than 2,000 Japanese apricot trees of some 30 different varieties. I was luckily able to hear the singing sound of the Japanese bush warbler (Horeites diphone). They are also known as a signal of the arrival of spring in Japan.

Furoen: https://www.furouen.jp/english/

About Furoen (Garden of Eternal Life) from the Garden’s pamphlet: Passing through the Gate of Eternal Youth and strolling among exotic rocks and ancient trees, one arrives at the Hermitage of Longevity (derived from one of the Chinese historical idioms).

Japanese apricot blossoms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume; Japanese Apricot Blossom Patterns: https://www.gov-online.go.jp/hlj/en/january_2026/january_2026-04.html

Japanese bush warbler (Horornis diphone): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_bush_warbler; https://ebird.org/species/jabwar; https://www.nippon.com/en/guide-to-japan/cs00066/

Furoen Japanese Apricot Blossom Garden, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/24/2026

Additional Information:

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), Furoen Japanese Apricot Blossom Garden, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/24/2026

Winter jasmine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasminum_nudiflorum

Temple juniper (Juniperus rigida), Furoen Japanese Apricot Blossom Garden, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/24/2026

Temple juniper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_rigida

Thunberg spiraea, Furoen Japanese Apricot Blossom Garden, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/24/2026

Common greenshield lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata) and Palm ruffle lichen (Parmotrema tinctorum) on Japanese apricot blossom trees, Furoen Japanese Apricot Blossom Garden, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/24/2026

Common greenshield lichen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavoparmelia_caperata; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=172615

Palm ruffle lichen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmotrema_tinctorum; https://lichenportal.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxauthid=1&taxon=54568&clid=1052#

Also, please read the previous article on Furoen, February 10, 2024