Tokaichi, or the Tenth Day Market, in the city of Minami-Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is a historic, 400-year-old traditional open-air market held annually on February 10th and 11th (Feb. 7th and 8th in 2026) to herald the arrival of spring. It is a massive market known for selling everything “except cat eggs and horse horns,” featuring traditional wooden crafts (mortars, pestles), local food, and Daruma dolls.
Wooden Crafts stand
Tokaichi, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, 2/08/2026
Food stands: kebab, taiyaki (fish-shaped cake with sweet red bean paste), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles), okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) and the like, Tokaichi, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, 2/08/2026
Onigawara are decorative roof tiles placed at the ends of the roof ridge, often depicting the face of an oni (Japanese ogre) or other designs. The city of Minami-Alps is recognized as the production site for Koshu onigawara. The Wakakusa district in the city has a long history of tile-making, and today the Wakakusa Kawara Kaikan (Tile Museum) preserves this tradition and allows visitors to experience making these crafts.
“Koshu” historically refers to the former Kai Province, which is largely equivalent to modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture.
Shachihoko are mythical Japanese creatures with a tiger’s head and a carp’s body. They are also placed as roof ornaments on Japanese castles and temples to serve as protective, fire-extinguishing spirits, usually appearing in male-female pairs. Shachihoko are also made in the Wakakusa district using the local clay.
February 6, 2026. It was unseasonably hot and sunny. The maximum temperature in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, was 17.9℃ with a minimum temperature of -2.0°C.
Lenticular clouds in a hot day, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/06/2026
Mount Hinata is located in the Hakushu area in the city of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefeture, Japan. The summit elevation of Mount Hinata is 1,660 meters (5,446 feet). Mount Hinata lies on a ridge extending north from the ridge connecting Mount Kaikoma (Kaikomagatake) and Mount Nokogiri in the Akaishi Mountains (Southern Japanese Alps). The mountain is typically accessed via the Yatateishi Trailhead.Â
Peak of Mount Hinata (the triangulation point), Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
Gangahara panoramic viewpoint for Mount Kaikoma (Kaikomagatake) and the Yatsugatake Mountains, a slope with exposed granite rubble, Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
Gangahara panoramic viewpoint, Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
From Ojiragawa Gorge Parking LotFrom Ojiragawa Gorge Parking LotToward the trailheadToward the trailheadSign of Mount Hinata TrailStone statue of the BuddhaToward the trailhead2nd Waypoint of Mount HinataSnowy TrailSnowy Trail
Snowy Trail, Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
Snowy Trail, Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
Snowy Trail, Mount Hinata, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto-city, Yamanashi, 01/25/2025
ITINERARY
(START) Ojiragawa Gorge Parking Lot – Yatateishi Trailhead of Mount Hinata – Mount Hinata – Yatateishi Trailhead of Mount Hinata – Ojiragawa Gorge Parking Lot (GOAL)
Time: 5h 21min (Rest: 23 min), Distance: 7.5 km, Ascend: 925 m, Descend: 927 m
Shakagatake or Mount Shaka and Kurodake or Mount Black are located in the Misaka Mountains, a mountain range located in the city of Fuefuki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, situated between the Kofu Basin to the north and the Fuji Five Lakes region to the south. The summit elevation of Shakagatake is 1,641 meters (5,384 feet) and that of Kurodake is 1,793 meters (5,883 feet). The Misaka Mountains is a popular hiking destination.
ShakagatakeShakagatakeShakagatakeShakagatakeMount Fuji and JizoMount Fuji and JizoGoddess of Mercy
Views from the peak of Shakagatake (Mount Shaka), Fuefuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/24/2026
Views from the peak of Kurodake (Mount Black), Fuefuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/24/2026
Shakagatake – (Trailhead) – KurodakeComing up from the Parking Lot Mount FukomaKurodakeShakagatake – KurodakeKurodake – ShakatakeKurodake – Hinatazaka PassWildlife Protection AreaKurodake – ShakagatakeKurodakeKurodakeKurodakeice and snowice and snowMount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi
Trails between Shakagatake (Mount Shaka), Mount Fukoma, and Kurodake (Mount Black), Fuefuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/24/2026
ITINERARY
(START) Lily of the valley Colony Parking Lot – Trailhead of Shakagatake – Mount Fukoma – Shakagatake – Mount Fukoma – Shakagatake & Kurodake Branch Point – Kurodake – Lily of the valley Pass – Lily of the valley Colony Parking Lot (GOAL)
Time: 5h 19min (Rest: 24 min), Distance: 8.8 km, Ascend: 861 m, Descend: 860 m
Kayagatake or Mount Kaya is located between Hokuto-city and Kai-city in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The elevation of Kayagatake is 1,704 meters. The trailhead of the mountain is near Kayagatake Fukada Memorial Park in the city of Nirasaki in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Mount Fuji from Kayagatake, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026
Mount Fuji from Kayagatake, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026
Yatsugatake Mountains from Kayagatake, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026
Yatsugatake Mountains from Kayagatake, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026
Views from the top of Kayagatake, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026
Peppercorn laurel (Lindera glauca) and the leaves of Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima Carruth), Kayagatake, Nirasaki-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026
ITINERARY
(START) Nirasaki-city, Kayagatake Fukada Memorial Park Parking Lot – Trailhead – Meiwa (Rock) – Kayagatake (Peak) – (descending rout) – Trailhead – Kayagatake Fukada Memorial Park Parking Lot (GOAL)
Time: 4h 23min (Rest: 39 min), Distance: 6.6 km, Ascend: 785 m, Descend: 787 m
A Cuban sandwich is characterized by its layered fillings (mojo-marinated roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard) on Cuban bread, pressed and grilled until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted, creating a warm, savory, tangy, and buttery sandwich with a distinct crispy crust and soft interior. It seemed that Cuban-style sandwiches in Japan were created by DAY WORK & COMPANY・TOKYO in Niigata Prefecture with their CHEAT DAY brand around 2018. The inclusion of a spicy sauce suggests a departure from the traditional recipe, creating a flavor profile that appeals more to the Japanese palate.
The Cheat Day Kofu, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 01/14/2026
Top of Mount Shirasuna, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
Top of Mount Shirasuna, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
Before 40 minutes,
Views from Tachi-no-Nuki (sword-pulling) Rock, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
Showing below is the Nagatoro Trail starting from Nagatoro Bridge to Mount Shirasuna, Mount Rakan Temple, and Panorama Hill Station of the Shosen Gorge Ropeway.
Nagatoro Trail to Mount Shirasuna and Mount Rakan Temple, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
Hiroshige’s Large Rock and another similar rock, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
It is said that Utagawa Hiroshige, a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, drew a painting based on the rock.
Views from Tachi-no-Nuki (sword-pulling) Rock, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
Hakusan (white mountain) Observation Point, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
Mount Shirasuna, Senda, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026
It was a very interesting day. It was clear and fine when we started walking; however, it was windy and getting snowstorm on the top of Mount Shirasuna. After 40 minutes, back to the trail, the sun came out and it was calm.
Experience climbing 519 stone steps surrounded by cedar trees to reach the shrine and view a 1200-year-old sacred cedar tree and a traditional water wheel, immersing yourself in a forest.
Himuro Shrine is situated on the southern side of Mount Kushigata at an elevation of about 1,000 meters.
Haru no Nanakusa (In Japanese) translates to the Seven Herbs of Spring, which are edible plants eaten in a rice porridge (Nanakusa-gayu) on January 7th for good health, symbolizing new life and bringing color to the winter table. The individual herbs are Seri (Japanese parsley), Nazuna (shepherd’s purse), Gogyo (cudweed/jersey cudweed), Hakobera (chickweed), Hotokenoza (henbit deadnettle), Suzuna (turnip greens), and Suzushiro (daikon radish greens).
Nanakusa no sekku is one of the long-standing Japanese customs. The day of January 7 is called Jinjitsu (Human Day) and one of the five seasonal festivals (In Japanese go-sekku) that were integrated into the Japanese Imperial calendar over 1,000 years ago. Sekku is the term given meaning special day of observancen. The custom is to ensure good health and to ward off away evil spirits in the coming new year.
