Local Guide
6 recommended general stores in the Yatsugatake area and the cities of Kofu and Nirasaki

Finding sundries on the road is fun.
One-of-a-kind handmade goods, traditional local crafts, and items that can only be purchased at that particular store are just waiting for you to encounter once-in-a-lifetime encounters.
Here are six unique stores in the Yatsugatake area, Kofu City, and Nirasaki City.

A unique world of stationery, minerals and natural history paintings

A full lineup of stationery purchased from Europe and the U.S.
A full lineup of stationery purchased from Europe and the U.S.

Near the Kobuchisawa Interchange, a little off Prefectural Route 608, is a well-known stationery store. Stationery purchased directly from Europe and the U.S., as well as discontinued domestic stationery, all have a nostalgic atmosphere. In addition, picture books, natural science books, letterpress natural history paintings, minerals, fossils, and other items are neatly arranged, giving the shop the feel of a small museum. The owner, who used to be a furniture craftsman, has long been fond of these items, and in particular, many of the minerals are gemstones that are rarely seen in other stores. Original calendars and card and envelope sets are also popular.

Local Guide Comment
This store is a must-see for stationery lovers, filled with carefully selected products.
PAPYRUS
  • Address 3269-65 Kamisasao, Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Business hours Open 11:00-17:00
  • Closed Open irregular holidays *Confirmation required via website or official Instagram
  • TEL 0551-45-8468
  • Parking Free of charge

Asian goods and fashionable clothing

A wide variety of ornaments, toys and accessories
A wide variety of ornaments, toys and accessories

The store's name, "sarasa," refers to a traditional Indian dyeing technique in which cotton cloth is dyed with floral patterns and other designs. The store offers a variety of colorful and fun products, including Indian chintz, which is useful for many purposes, as well as sundries, accessories, incense, basket bags, chimes, and wind chimes from various Asian countries. The owner is particular about fabrics, so her clothing and accessories are made of high quality cotton and linen, which are comfortable to the touch. Fair trade clothing, in particular, has a simple design that retains an ethnic feel and blends easily with both Japanese and Western tastes. Adding them to your wardrobe will broaden your coordination.

Local Guide Comment
We recommend that you take your time and visit this general merchandise store.
SARASA
  • Address 2749-2 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 10 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Business hours 10:00-18:00 (~17:00 in winter)
  • Closed Thursdays *Special holidays are available.
  • TEL 0551-36-4082
  • Parking Free of charge

A "rented goods shop" with one-of-a-kind products

Colorful coconut buttons and delicate laces
Colorful coconut buttons and delicate laces

The store is run by amy, an artist of goods using twine and wire. Located in a corner of a PC store in Nirasaki City, it is a hideaway store that opens only when a reservation is made at least one day in advance, and is well known among general merchandise and handicraft lovers as a place to find wonderful goods.
The store offers handmade goods by various artists, linen clothing, French country-style goods, tableware, and other items that are hard to find anywhere else, making it a treasure hunt. Also, don't miss the ribbons, buttons, and laces imported from Japan and abroad. They will be useful not only as materials for handicrafts, but also as interior decorations.

Local Guide Comment
A store of miscellaneous goods and handicrafts. The owner's handmade linen bags are very popular.
& COMPATH
  • Address Takano No.2 Building 1F, 2661-1, Komai, Fujii-cho, Nirasaki City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 7 minutes drive from JR Nirasaki Station
  • Business hours Open only on weekdays. Reservations are required by the day before.
  • Closed Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays *Closed irregularly.
  • TEL 070-4083-1009
  • Parking Free of charge

A variety of traditional crafts that Yamanashi Prefecture is proud of

Daruma dolls with a child in their belly are good luck charms to bring prosperity and safety to the family.
Daruma dolls with a child in their belly are good luck charms to bring prosperity and safety to the family.

This Property, which promotes and sells local industries in Yamanashi Prefecture, is a great place to find sundries and souvenirs. The museum is divided into four corners: "Hikari," which displays and sells approximately 5,000 pieces of jewelry from one of the leading jewelry producing areas in Japan; "Kura," which sells prefectural wine; "Aji," which features local sweets and foods; and "Takumi," which offers traditional crafts. In the "Takumi" corner, visitors will find traditional crafts such as "Inden," which is deer skin with lacquer patterns, inkstones, and hand-carved seals, as well as silk products and knitted goods, many of which can be used in daily life. The "Oyako-Daruma" (father-and-child Daruma dolls), made using the papier-mâché techniques of the 400-year-old Koshu Daruma dolls, are recommended as a good-luck souvenir.

Local Guide Comment
The wine selection is well-stocked and you can taste the wines, so you can buy the one you like.
KAITERUS (Yamanashi Local Industry Center)
  • Address 3-13-25 Tokoji, Kofu City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Kofu Station
  • Business hours 9:00-17:00
  • Closed 4th Tuesday of the month (closed the following day if the Tuesday is a national holiday), Year-end
  • TEL 055-237-1641
  • Parking Free of charge

A store where you can feel the lifestyle of the south of France

A wide variety of foods and sweets from the south of France
A wide variety of foods and sweets from the south of France

Located on Piment Street at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake, this store sells food and sundries imported directly from Europe. According to the French owner, the name of the store is the name of a mountain range in southern France, and since olives are used in various aspects of daily life in that region, he has a large selection of olive-related products. The store offers not only olive oil and bottled olive nuts, but also soaps, body soaps, sundries made from olive trees, and linens with olive designs, all of which are unique to this store. Also popular are calissons, a traditional Provencal pastry, nougat flavored with honey lavender, and wine jam.

Local Guide Comment
The owner personally selects the best of Provence.
Conversation with the friendly owner, who is full of smiles, is also enjoyable.
Épicerie Fine ALPILLES
  • address (e.g. of house) Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake, 129-1 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Direction Free shuttle bus available
  • Business hours 10:00-18:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0551-30-4294
  • Parking Free of charge

Read books, enjoy tea, and look for sundries

A wide selection of art and design books. You can spend a relaxing time with a cup of tea.
A wide selection of art and design books. You can spend a relaxing time with a cup of tea.

This is one of the popular spots at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake. It is stocked with books of various genres, including technical books and photo collections. You can enjoy drinks and sweets while reading your favorite books at this café, which also sells fashionable sundries and stationery. Among the sundries, the most noteworthy items are bags, pouches, and business card holders made of "wine leather," leather dyed with wine grape pomace. The 99% pure, natural wine color is characterized by its deep hue, and its simple yet feminine design is also attractive. Cute bookmarks and hair bands made from Yatsugatake's flowers and grasses make great souvenirs.

Local Guide Comment
You can spend a relaxing and luxurious time with a book in a calm atmosphere. Why not find your favorite book?
BOOKS&CAFE
  • address (e.g. of house) Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake, 129-1 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Direction Free shuttle bus available
  • Business hours 10:00-22:00 (L.O.21:30), open from 9:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0551-36-5111
  • Parking Free of charge

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.