The area at the foot of Mount Fuji was once known as the "wellspring of the Gods". Oshino Hakkai is the name for 8 lakes created from the melting snow on the top of the mountain.
Water flows down the foothills and lies underground for more than 80 years and is heated by lava. When they emerge, these lakes create stunning wonders typical of Japan.
The ancient village of Oshino Hakkai is located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The terrain located at the foot of Mount Fuji creates ideal conditions for tourists to explore and explore. There are currently 10 thousand residents in the area.
Rice fields and fresh vegetables are the pride of this peaceful village. The vegetables picked here are also known as "highland fresh vegetables" because the terrain is quite high.
The area around the lakes has countless interesting activities for the elderly and children. Many restaurants lately use fresh highland vegetables and unique local ingredients to create specialties unique to Oshino Hakkai. Particularly famous are soba noodles, which feature pure spring broths and Hoto noodles, Yamanashi Prefecture’s specialty noodles made with miso.
The lake water here is completely safe to drink and also has special healing properties (Photo: Fun-Japan).
If you feel thirsty, you can even try purified lake water. Thanks to the 80-year lava cover, the lake water here is completely safe to drink and also has special healing properties. Experience it for yourself and find out if this is real or not!
To reach the largest-scale Sokonashi lake in Oshino Hakkai Village, we need to go through an open-air museum called Hannoki Bayashi Shirinois. You can visit the traditional thatched-roofed farm inside the museum. In addition, the museum displays a wide variety of ancient wares, ancient farming tools and real samurai armor!
The beautiful, charming scenery of Oshino Hakkai (Photo: Fun-Japan).
Unlike other areas at Oshino Hakkai, the museum and lake "Sokonashi" charge entrance fees. Admission is 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for children under 15 years old, and 100 yen for children over 1 year old. The opening hours of the Hannoki Bayashi Shirinois museum are from 9am to 17pm.
Oshino Hakkai’s shimmering, charming landscape attracts many photographers and celebrities online in the community because of its pure and pure image quality.
Oshino Hakkai is considered a cultural symbol in Japan. In 1934, the Japanese government designated the source of the spring here as the National Treasure. And in 2013, the entire area here (including Mount Fuji) was designated by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site.
Oshino Hakkai is considered a cultural icon in Japan (Photo: Fun-Japan).
How to get to Oshino Hakkai is a bit complicated though. If traveling from Tokyo by train, we can take the Chuo-limited Express train to Otsuki station, then change the Fujikyuko line to Mt.Fuji station.
From Mt.Fuji Station, take the Fujikyuko Bus that goes to Oshino Hakkai Station! Travel costs around 6,000 yen (not including the way back), and this way is relatively expensive.
Mount Fuji seen from Oshino Hakkai Village (Photo: Fun-Japan).
Going by bus from Tokyo is the best idea. Take the bus at the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal, located near Shinjuku station going to Kawaguchiko (towards Yamanakako). You will see 新宿 ~ 河口湖 ・ 山 中 湖 in Japanese on the bus.
Just sit back and relax and the bus will take you to Oshino Hakkai for just 2,000 yen. But be aware as there is another bus line that will stop at Fuji Q Highland station and not go any further. Just in case, you can take the Fujikyuko Bus from Fuji Q to Oshino Hakkai station to avoid getting lost!
