Etsuo Yamamoto _ Certified National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter
Yatsugatake is a mountain range of the eight mountains located in Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatsugatake_Mountains). Kaikomagatake is a mountain of Kaikoma located also in Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kaikoma).
Views of Yatsugatake and Mount Kaikoma, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/21/2025
The Narusawa Ice Cave and the Fugaku Wind Cave are lava tubes in the Aokogahara Woodland (forest) at the northern foot of Mount Fuji. The Ice Cave is located in Narusawa village and the Wind Cave is in Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
Narusawa Ice Cave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narusawa_Ice_Cave
Fugaku Wind Cave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugaku_Wind_Cave
Narusawa Ice Cave, Narusawa, Yamanashi, 2/12/2025
Fugaku Wind Cave, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 2/12/2025
Aokigahawa Woodland between Narusawa Ice Cave and Fugaku Wind Cave, Narusawa and Fujigawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 2/12/2025
Also, please refer to the article on May 15, 2018 (https://yamanashietsuo.net/fugaku-wind-cave-and-narusawa-ice-cave-aokigahara-woodland/).
This year’s Lake Sai Ice Festival was held during February 1 through February 11, 2025.
Saiko Wild Bird Forest Park, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 2/09/2025
Grilled kokanee salmon, Saiko Wild Bird Forest Park, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 2/09/2025
Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokanee_salmon
Japanese pampas grass or Silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_sinensis
Lake Sai, Kawguchiko, Yamanashi, 2/09/2025
A Daruma doll is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. Most of Daruma dolls are made in the city of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma_doll; https://takasakidaruma.net/multilingual/english/; https://artsandculture.google.com/story/iwWBdP-p-nmkKA?hl=ja
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma
Daruma dolls, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/03/2025
A leaf of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025; Furouen (Plum garden of eternal life) https://www.furouen.jp/english
Wintersweet or Japanese allspice (Chimonanthus praecox) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimonanthus_praecox
Flowers and fruit of Wintersweet or Japanese allspice, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025
Japanese apricot or Japanese plum (Prunus mume) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume
Japanese apricot, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025
Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_turtle_dove
Oriental turtle dove, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025
Wooden statues of a rabbit and a Japanese racoon dog, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025
There are some hiking courses in Yamanashi Prefectural Atagoyama Children’s Country. https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/kosodate/atagoyama.html; https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/70?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en. A hiking to Mount Ohgasa was enjoyable.
The elevation of Mount Ohgasa is 548 meters above sea level.
Mount Ohgasa, Atagoyama Children’s Country, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/02/2025
Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melia_azedarach
Chinaberry tree, Mount Ohgasa, Atagoyama Children’s Country, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/02/2025
The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) in the Arakawa River in the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_coot; https://flightforsurvival.org/birds/common-coot/
Eurasian coots, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/29/2025
The Arakawa River is a river primarily flows through the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. It merges with the Fuefuki River after crossing the Chuo Expressway and the New Yamanashi Ring Road. The Fuefuki River is a tributary of the Fuji River.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuefuki_River; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_River
Mallards and grebes in the Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/28/2025
Facing Yatsugatake (eight mountains), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/28/2025
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Yatsugatake_Volcanic_Group
Facing Akaishi Mountains, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/28/2025
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akaishi_Mountains
FYI: Chūō Expressway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D_Expressway; The New Yamanashi Ring Road is a planned regional expressway that will encircle the city of Kofu area in Yamanashi Prefecture.
A common ladybug or seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) strolling.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinella_septempunctata
Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/26/2025
