Local Guide
Yatsugatake, Kobuchizawa, Kiyosato, and the surrounding area, even on a rainy day

Although the Yatsugatake area has a high percentage of sunny days, there are many Properties that can be enjoyed even on rainy days.
The variety of factory tours, science museums, art museums, shopping, and swimming pools is also a great point of interest.

Visit the world-class whiskey and famous water village

Whiskey barrels neatly lined up in a cellar
Whiskey barrels neatly lined up in a cellar

Japanese whiskey is now the focus of attention in Europe and the United States. Suntory, Japan's leading whiskey maker, has also received many world-renowned awards, including the "World Whiskey Award" and "Icons of Whiskey. Suntory Hakushu Distillery offers the Hakushu Distillery Tour (paid tour, reservation required), which lasts about 1 hour and 20 minutes. After observing the whisky production process, including wooden fermentation tanks, distillation kettles, and a storage cellar lined with barrels, visitors can enjoy a tasting of rare malt whisky whiskey.
The site also includes the Whiskey Museum, BAR Hakushu, a factory store and restaurant, and the adjacent Suntory Natural Water Hakushu Factory in the southern Alps, which also offers free tours (reservations required).

Local Guide Comment
The many barrels in the cellar are a sight to behold. Whiskey lovers will love the bars where you can compare the different types of whiskey.
Suntory Hakushu Distillery, Natural Water Southern Alps Hakushu Plant
  • Address 2913-1 Shimabara, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 15 minutes drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Direction *Shuttle bus service is available (check the website for operation dates)
  • Business hours 9:30 - 16:30 (last admission for factory tour is 16:00) *Period and departure time vary depending on the tour.
  • Closed Year-end and New Year holidays and factory closing days are available.
  • Admission Fee Hakushu Distillery Tour 1,000 yen (no participation by those under 20 years old)
  • TEL 0551-35-2211
  • Parking Free of charge

Inspiring music played by a fantastic music box and live music

Precious antique music boxes on display
Precious antique music boxes on display

The Hall of Halls, a music box museum located in Moegi no Mura, is a great place to visit on rainy days when you want to spend a relaxing time indoors. The museum displays valuable antique music boxes and automata (automatic dolls) collected from all over the world, and offers music box concerts featuring music boxes and automatic pianos and violins, as well as demonstrations of automata. Also very popular is "The World of Music Boxes with Musicians," a collaboration of live music and music box performances by internationally acclaimed musicians, held for a limited time only. The wonderful performances and light-hearted talk are well known for making time fly by. The schedule can be checked on the website.

Local Guide Comment
You will be healed by the sound that resonates in your heart. The "Limonaire 1900," which was exhibited at the Paris Expo, is very impressive!
Hall of Halls" Music Box Museum in Moegi no Mura
  • Address 3545 Kiyosato, Takane-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 8 min. walk from JR Kiyosato Station
  • Business hours 10:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee Adults 1000 yen, high school and university students 800 yen, elementary and junior high school students 500 yen, free for children under elementary school age
    The admission fee for "The World of Music Boxes with Musicians" is 500 yen in addition to the museum admission fee.
  • TEL 0551-48-3535
  • Parking Free of charge

A museum where street art and nature merge

Permanent exhibition room with colorful works All Keith Haring Artworks © The Keith Haring Foundation Courtesy of Nakamura Keith Haring Collection.
Permanent exhibition room with colorful works All Keith Haring Artworks © The Keith Haring Foundation Courtesy of Nakamura Keith Haring Collection.

Keith Haring was one of the leading artists of American art in the 1980s, and the works he left behind during his all-too-short 31-year life are still loved around the world. The Nakamura Keith Haring Museum in Kobuchizawa combines a building designed by architect Atsushi Kitagawara, the lush greenery of the Yatsugatake mountains, and Keith Haring's bright and powerful works. The museum has approximately 300 works in its collection, and curators give gallery tours every Sunday from 2:00 p.m.
The museum also has a ceiling-to-floor art café and a museum store with pop-up items that are not to be missed.

Local Guide Comment
Everything from the exterior to the interior is an exciting space. The café space is also a popular photo spot.
Nakamura Keith Haring Museum
  • Address 10249-7, Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 8 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Business hours 9:00-17:00
  • Closed Winter *Closed from April 9 to 12, 2019 and May 15 to 17, 2019 for exhibition change.
  • Admission Fee Adults 1,200 yen, Students (16 and older) 600 yen, Free for 15 and younger
  • TEL 0551-36-8712
  • Parking Free of charge

A beach resort in the forest where you can be healed by the lapping waves

The poolside is reminiscent of a sandy beach. Marine blue rippling waves lapping against the shore.
The poolside is reminiscent of a sandy beach. Marine blue rippling waves lapping against the shore.

If you are looking for an active place to spend a rainy day, head to Il Mare, the all-weather swimming pool at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake. Relax your body and mind by plunging into the big waves of up to 1.2 meters that occur for 10 minutes every hour.
In July last year, a children's area was opened in the image of the world of small creatures living in the forest. The area is also recommended for families, with seven types of playground equipment, including sliders, and a relaxing space where visitors can relax while watching over their children.
Piment Street, lined with cafes, restaurants, and select stores, is a great place to enjoy shopping without getting wet from the rain.

Local Guide Comment
The spa zone will gently warm your body after a long day at the pool.
Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake Il Mare
  • Address 129-1 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture ("Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake" Property) MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Bus Direction Free shuttle bus service to Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake is available.
  • Business hours Il Mare 10:00-19:00 (last admission at 18:00), Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays - 21:00 (last admission at 20:00) *Opening hours may change depending on the season.
    Piment Street Varies by store
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee One-day use Adults 2,000 yen, 3 years old to elementary school students 1,000 yen, 2 years old and younger free *Prices may vary depending on the season
  • TEL 0551-36-5111
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Piment Street https://risonare.com/yatsugatake/facilities/

After enjoying sightseeing, spend a relaxing time at a wine resort on the Yatsugatake plateau. Enjoy shopping and dining at the 19 stores along Piment Street, decorated with seasonal events and unique decorations, and meet your favorite wines at YATSUGATAKE Wine House, which offers a wide selection of regional wines. The indoor wave pool can be enjoyed before check-in or after check-out, and visitors can spend their time playing in the abundant nature with a variety of activities ranging from horseback riding, which is a part of the town's culture, to aerial tours above the trees.

A wine resort with a European townscape on the Yatsugatake plateau

Guest rooms expressing the nature of Yatsugatake and the wine resort
Guest rooms expressing the nature of Yatsugatake and the wine resort

This highland resort is located at the foot of a 960-meter-high mountain, about 90 minutes by car from Tokyo, and offers a 360-degree view of Yatsugatake, the Southern Alps mountain range, Mt. It is a summer retreat in summer and a place to enjoy winter sports in winter. The Property, which was designed by a world-renowned architect to resemble an Italian mountain town, is equipped with Guest rooms where you can relax as if you were living in a house, an indoor pool with large waves, a Books & Café, the YATSUGATAKE Wine House with 24 kinds of wines from Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures, Activities in the magnificent nature, and a restaurant where you can taste the local wines and meals. The YATSUGATAKE Wine House offers 24 varieties of wines from Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures, and activities in the magnificent natural environment. The Pet Room, where you can spend time with your dog, will be renovated in April 2020.

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake
  • Address 129-1 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 5 minutes drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station, 5 minutes from Kobuchizawa Interchange on Chuo Expressway
  • Direction Free shuttle bus available from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Business hours YYgrill" Breakfast 7:00-9:30 (L.O.), Lunch 11:30-13:30 (L.O.), Dinner 17:30-20:00 (L.O.) *Pets are not allowed at dinner.
    BOOKS & CAFE" 10:00-22:00 (L.O.21:30), Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9:00
  • Closed YYgrill" and "BOOKS & CAFE" are open every day. For details, check the website.
  • TEL 050-3134-8093（RISONARE Reservation Center/9:30-18:00)
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo For reservations, click here.
    Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake Reservation Site

The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.