Month: March 2026

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).