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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

Parmotrema lichen (Parmotrema tinctorum) and Cypress-leaved plant moss (Hypnum plumaeforme Wilson), Kayagatake, Kai-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2026

Herpothallon lichen (Herpothallon japonicum (Zahlbr.) G.Thor), 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

The CHEAT DAY in the city of Niigata: https://www.daywork-ct.com/cheat-day;

Cuban sandwich: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_sandwich

Mojo (sauce): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojo_(sauce)#:~:text=In%20Cuban%20cooking%2C%20mojo%20applies,fried%20cassava%20(yuca%20frita).

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 Rakanji, and Panorama Hill Station of the Shosen Gorge Ropeway.

Nagatoro Trail to Mount Shirasuna and Mount Rakanji, 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

Yakumo Shrine, Panorama-Hill Ropeway Station, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 01/11/2026

Yakumo Shrine, Panorama-Hill Ropeway Station, Kofu-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.

Shosen Gorge and Shosenkyo Ropeway: https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/13

ITINERARY

(START) Kofu-city, Shosenkyo Tenjinmori Parking Lot – Nagatoro Bridge – Trailhead – Sword Pulling Rock – Mount Shirasuna – Ropeway Panorama Station – (descending) – Ropeway Senga Falls Station – Senga Falls – (Shosenkyo Gorge Trail) – Nagatoro Bridge – Shosenkyo Tenjinmori Parking Lot (GOAL)

Time: 4h 42min (Rest: 48 min), Distance: 11.5 km, Ascend: 755 m, Descend: 773 m

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, Fujikawa-cho, Yamanashi, 01/10/2026

The water on the water wheel and under it has frozen and blocks of ice were there.

Also, please visit the article on December 22, 2024.

Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_standishii; https://hosho.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/tsuyu/top/plt/cypress/thuja/sta.html; https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/plant/japanese-arborvitae; https://www.conifers.org/cu/Thuja_standishii.php

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanakusa-no-sekku; https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/january/nanakusa.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinjitsu; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gosekku

A set of seven herbs, produce of Izumi Shokuhin in the city of Hokuto and sold by Ogino Co., Ltd. in Yamanashi Prefecture, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/07/2026

Izumi Shokuhin: (In Japanese) https://9499349888.amebaownd.com/pages/5031555/profile; OGINO: (In Japanese) https://www.ogino.co.jp/

Also, please visit my previous articles:

https://yamanashietsuo.net/having-the-seven-herbs-of-spring-2025/;

https://yamanashietsuo.net/having-the-seven-herbs-of-spring/

Fugaku Fuketsu (Wind Cave), Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

Narusawa Hyoketsu (Ice Cave), Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

https://www.mtfuji-cave.com/en/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narusawa_Ice_Cave; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugaku_Wind_Cave

Aokigahara Forest, Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

Views from the rooftop of Koyodai Resthouse, Narusawa-village, Yamanashi, 01/03/2026

Shosen Gorge, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Senga Falls and Shosen Gorge, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Senga Falls in Shosen Gorge is approximately 30 meters (about 98 feet) high, formed by tectonic plate movement.

Shosen Gorge: https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/12; https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/; https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/

Senga Falls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senga_Falls

Also, please read my previous articles on Shosen Gorge: (This Site) “One Afternoon in Shosen Gorge” on September 11, 2024, “Oyanagawa Valley and Itajiki Valley in Yamanashi” on July 21, 2025, and “Shosen Gorge and Kanazakura Shrine” on November 18, 2024;

(https://etsuo.tokyo): “Shosen Gorge* on New Year’s Day 2026” on January 2, “A Little Autumn Colors in Shosen Gorge ” on October 29, 2022, “Walking the Shosen Gorge Trail” on May 2, 2021, “Shosen Gorge or Shosenkyo in Kofu, Yamanashi” on May 1, 2021, and “Kanazakura Shrine, Kofu, Yamanashi” on May 1, 2021.

Takaohomi Shrine is a real, historic, and small shrine located in the city of Minami Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Takaohomi Shrine, Minami Alps, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

(In Japanese) https://www.nippon-matsuri.net/report/takao

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Horse; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagenary_cycle

Kadomatsu made of bamboo, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Kadomatsu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadomatsu; https://chikutan.net/news/820/

Year of the Horse Daruma doll (made by Arai-darumaya), Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

(In Japanese) https://arai-darumaya.com/

Mount Ishiwari is located in the village of Yamanakako in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Ishiwari Shrine is situated at the 8th waypoint of Mount Ishiwari. First, you have to climb 403 steps to reach the trail leading to the shrine. The summit of Mount Ishiwari is 1,413 meters (approximately 4,636 feet) above sea level, and that of Mount Hirao is 1,318 meters (4324 feet) above sea level.

Ishiwari Shrine, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Views from Mount Ishiwari, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Views from Mount Hirao, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Sign of the Tokai Nature Trail and small pine cones, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025