Rina Watanabe, Local Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Rina Watanabe

A GAO girl who loves nature

She takes on challenges that interest her!
Staff/staff members are proud of their light footwork, enjoying nature such as trekking and mountain climbing, as well as going out to eat delicious food and visit fashionable cafes.

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake: Japan's leading design hotels are stylish treasure chests. The pool where you can relax and sway in the waves, the Books & Café, the vibrant Italian cuisine and spa treatments, and other superb holiday styles. The many activities that attract families are sure to be a hit.

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Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend in the Yatsugatake area (places, experiences, food)?: I recommend visiting "Zyuryu no Taki Falls" in Kawamata River Valley.
First, have breakfast at Kukoo Cafe on the way there and take a breather. After listening to the murmuring of the mountain stream while taking a walk in the forest, you will see the waterfall. The waterfall is made of subterranean water, which is rare in Japan, and it is very beautiful to see the water flowing down the rock surface between lush mosses.
It is recommended for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Yatsugatake's nature and water.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: There is a mountain called Mt. Irikasa, and you can reach the summit in about 30 minutes on foot from the Parking.
Fuji and Yatsugatake, and the sunset from there and the starry sky at night are truly spectacular.
Last year, my colleagues and I gathered at 4:00 a.m. to walk there as a morning activity before work. As soon as we got out of the car, we were impressed by the amount of stars. At the top of the mountain, I felt as if the sky was much closer, and I was really excited to see satellites and shooting stars with the naked eye.
It is a privilege for those who live near mountains to be able to spend such a wonderful time in the early morning.

Where did you travel to last year and with whom?: We went to the fresh green Oirase mountain stream for a family trip.
I have fond memories of changing into trekking clothes with my father and walking along the mountain stream as soon as we arrived. I was healed by moss, waterfalls, and plants.
Reuniting with colleagues and classmates I used to work with was also a happy memory.

What do you do on your days off?: Driving with my camera, trekking, day hiking, going to a café I was curious about and spending time relaxing... When it was sunny outside, I thought, "I have to go out, or else! When it is sunny outside, I often decide where to go on the day of the trip and go out on a spur of the moment.
What I cannot miss when I travel is beautiful scenery and delicious food!

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: Pens and stamps. I like to buy postcards of the place I am traveling to write on and send out to myself, and I always have stamps in my wallet so that I can take them out from wherever I am.
A letter from myself that arrives a few days later with a postmark from that place is a great keepsake. I have been doing this since I was in elementary school, so I already have more than five files. Sometimes I look at the postcards I am filing and enjoy the aftermath of the trip.