Three relaxing days begin in a secluded forest retreat.
From the panoramic views above the clouds to the encounter with pristine water refined by history.
Three days spent deep in the heart of the southern foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains, at an altitude of 1,100m.
The journey begins with enjoying the bounty of Koshu at Restaurant high in the clouds.
As the sun sets, we head to our hideaway in the forest.
Undisturbed by anyone, this is the place to relax as you please.
DAY01
11:30 / Lunch
Makiba Park | Savor the bounty of Koshu amidst the clouds
The journey begins at Makiba Ranch, nestled in the Yatsugatake Mountains at an altitude of 1,400 meters. While watching sheep and goats peacefully graze, savor the bounty of the land at Restaurant offering panoramic views of the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Southern Alps, and Mt.Fuji.
14:00 / Stroll
Sanbuichi Spring Water | One of Japan's Top 100 Famous Waters, with a history dating back to the Sengoku period.
On your way to the hotel, stop by this famous spring at the southern foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains. It is said that during the Sengoku period, Takeda Shingen erected a triangular stone pillar here to fairly distribute water to three villages downstream. Take a stroll along the tree-lined path and listen to the sound of the clear water.
15:30 / Arrival
YATSUGATAKE KOGEN RESORT | A tranquil hideaway in a birch forest
This resort, spread across a site the size of 22 Tokyo Domes, features 129 quietly scattered cottages. After checking in and heading to your cottage, you're greeted by a terrace overlooking a forest of birch and larch trees. From the moment you open the door, you know you've found your own private hideaway.
17:00 / Twilight
Observation Hill | Gazing up at the ridgeline of Mt. Fuji bathed in the setting sun
After unpacking at the cottage, head to "Observation Hill," a viewpoint on the property. Sit on a bench surrounded by a variety of colorful seasonal flowers, and you'll see Mt.Fuji and the mountain range stretching out before you. Enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation as the plateau twilight descends, tea in hand.
19:00 / Dinner
Forest Garden | A first night surrounded by forest, savoring Koshu beef
Enjoy your first dinner of the stay at our outdoor BBQ venue nestled in the forest. Gather around a table laden with all-you-can-eat Koshu beef steaks and short ribs, along with local highland vegetables, and enjoy a hearty meal with family and friends. The rustling of the forest and the sounds of evening gently complement the lively dining experience.
21:00 / Stargazing
Starry Sky Plaza | Enjoy a sky full of stars all to yourself.
Head to the stargazing spot set up on the premises. At an altitude of 1,100 meters, in the darkness free from artificial light, the stars shine even more brilliantly. Above you stretches a night sky you'll never encounter in the city. At the end of the day, gaze up at the endless universe.
Waking to the sound of birdsong, and spending the night gathered around the fire.
Forests and art stimulate the five senses.
On a morning when you listen intently to the birdsong in the forest, a paintbrush weaves a story of Eastern and Western civilizations.
A cart soaring through the clouds carries breathtaking views from an altitude of 1,420 meters, and evening meals are enjoyed around the terrace.
Many experiences pile up in just one day.
DAY02
07:30 / Morning
Birdwatching | The drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker echoes through the forest this morning.
When you wake up to the morning light, open the window of your cottage. If you look through binoculars, you'll see woodpeckers pecking at birch trunks and tits flitting through the trees in vivid detail. Take a deep breath of the crisp mountain air and begin your forest walk with a deep breath.
08:30 / Breakfast
Breakfast Buffet | Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the highlands
Enjoy a buffet breakfast featuring both Japanese and Western dishes. Local specialties like Hoto noodles, Shinshu's famous soba noodles, and pickles gently soothe your body as you wake up. Yatsugatake Highland milk and colorful pickles are also popular choices. A refreshing walk through the forest allows your senses to settle slowly into this morning moment.
10:30 / Art
Ikuo Hirayama Silk Road Museum | The path of Eastern and Western civilizations traced by the paintbrush
Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel, you'll find a museum nestled on a plateau at the southern foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains. Alongside works by Japanese painter Ikuo Hirayama, the museum displays approximately 10,000 Silk Road art pieces, including Gandhara Buddhist sculptures. Spend some time letting your mind wander as you immerse yourself in the story of Buddhism's arrival, depicted through the brushstrokes.
12:30 / Sky
Fujimi Kogen Resort | Lunch in the Clouds and a Stroll Through the Creative Forest
In the afternoon, head to a scenic viewpoint at an altitude of 1,420m. The "Sky Cart," an automated cart, will take you up through a birch forest in 25 minutes to the "Hill of Nostalgia Observation Deck" in the Forest of Creation. After enjoying the panoramic view, take a stroll and admire the sculptures in the outdoor art museum while enjoying lunch.
15:00 / Bath
Hot springs bath | Amidst the rising steam, the rustling of the forest
After returning from the clouds, enjoy a moment enveloped in the early rising steam of the hot springs. The open-air bath, surrounded by forest, has a smooth water quality that gently envelops your skin. The breeze from the plateau at an altitude of 1,100m caresses your cheeks. Just quietly let your mind and body relax.
16:30 / Fire
Swedish Torch | A moment gathered around a flaming lantern
The "Flame Lantern," a Scandinavian-style bonfire where a log is cut and burned, is held every Saturday. It quietly lights up in the courtyard of Forest Garden. Roasting marshmallows while watching the flickering flames will envelop you in a gentle warmth.
19:00 / Dinner
Dining in your cottage | Enjoy shabu-shabu under the lights of the terrace
The evening meal takes place in the cottage where you're staying. The prepared ingredients are brought out under the light of the terrace. The meat, simmered in broth, melts in your mouth, releasing its delicious flavor. You can gather around the pot and enjoy it at your own pace, without any worries about anyone else. Enjoy the freedom and culinary bliss of an evening that only a cottage can provide.
Connecting the journey with clear streams and prayer.
Carry the lingering feeling of the forest deep in your heart.
A poignant morning on the terrace, a final walk out of the cottage.
On the way back, you'll encounter the pure spring water of the Southern Alps and an ancient Shinto shrine.
The culture and nature of the southern foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains gently conclude this journey.
DAY03
07:30 / Morning
Terrace | Enjoy your own morning with freshly brewed coffee
On our last morning, we relaxed on the cottage terrace. With bread and pastries bought from the shop in the front building, and a freshly brewed cup of coffee in hand, we watched the morning light filtering through the birch trees. Having breakfast on our own terrace felt just like a scene from our daily life.
08:30 / Memories
Photo Rogaining | Capture memories in photographs amidst a vast forest.
Before checking out, enjoy Activity that takes you around the grounds, which are the size of 22 Tokyo Domes. Armed with the photo album you've been given, it's like a treasure hunt as you search for hidden points within the grounds. With each click of the shutter, your three days in Yatsugatake will be preserved as memories, one for each photograph.
10:30 / Departure
Checkout | Saying goodbye to the cottage in the birch forest
It was time to say goodbye to the cottage where we had stayed for three days. As I packed my bags and looked back, I saw the forest of birch and larch trees stretching out beyond the terrace. The short but enriching moments of relaxation were quietly etched into my memory as a part of the cottage. I resolved to return someday.
10:45 / Pray
Misogi Shrine | A quiet encounter with the spirit of "purification."
To conclude our journey, we visited the main shrine of ancient Shinto. Misogi Shrine, whose name originates from the word "misogi" (purification), is a pure place of prayer, with a beautiful Noh theater floating on a pond. As we passed through the torii gate and walked along the gravel path towards the main hall, a sense of quiet clarity and gratitude for the past three days filled our hearts.
12:30 / Lunch
Hakushu-Ojiro Forest Spring Water Park Belga | The pure water of the Southern Alps and a moment in the forest
On the way back, we stopped at a park in the Hakushu area known for its pristine water and forests. The clear waters of the Ojiragawa River, which springs from Mount Kai-Komagatake in the Southern Alps, flow through the trees. We savored local ingredients at the park's Restaurant while immersing ourselves in the rich water and greenery, soaking up the feeling of travel.
