EXCITING YAMANASHI AND MORE

2021-05-122024-02-20

Visiting Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle is located in the city of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. It is easy to get there. You can take the Town Sneaker bus from JR Matsumoto Station. It takes about 5 minutes by bus (15minutes if you walk). It is enjoyable to stroll around the castle grounds. The inside castle is dark and the stairs are narrow and steep. You need to watch your step, and watch your head because some beams are rather low. Yet, it is fun. (https://www.matsumoto-castle.jp/lang/)

*Gates, Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Matsumoto Castle Towers and Surrounding Moats, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Stone Walls and Wainscoting, Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Suit of Armor and a Sign for the Route Direction, Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Ceilings, Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Matchlock Guns and Bullets, a Helmet, Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Koi Carp, Matsumoto Castle Moat, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

*Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) and Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), Matsumoto Castle, Matsumoto, Nagano, 5/11/2021*

2021-05-062025-12-01

Hiking the Nishizawa Gorge Trail

The Nishizawa Gorge is located in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, upstream of the Fuefuki River, created by fast-flowing streams of the river. The Nishizawa Gorge trail runs along the river.

*The Sign of the Nishizawa Gorge near the Starting Point of the Trail;*
*The Sign of the Wildlife Protection Area, Hunting is Prohibited,*
*Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Small Shrines dedicated to the nature god to pray for the safety and prosperity of the regions, One Each from the North Side and the South Side,* *Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*The Fork Suspension Bridge and a Bodhisattva Statue,*
*Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Facing the Upstream, the Tosaka Mountains from the Suspension Bridge,* *Three-Layered Waterfall, Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Three-Layered Waterfall, Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanash, 5/06/2021*

*Dragon-God Waterfall and Pure-Spring Waterfall, 5/06/2021*

*Seven-Basins and Five-Stages Waterfall and No-Move Waterfall, Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Lichens on the Rock and the Iron Bridge, Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Mosses on the Rock, Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Small Plants on the Rock and Mosses on the Rotten Wood,*
*Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Views from the Observatory Point, Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

Rhododendron degronianum, *Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Log Samples Transported by the Trolley Rail in the Early Showa Era (1933~1968),* *Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

Remains of the *Log Transport Trolley Rail in the Early Showa Era,*
*Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Decaying Old Suspension Bridge from the Netori Bridge,* an Upstream View, and a Downstream View, *Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

*Mosses Grown on the Sides of the Stream, and the Remains of the Netori No.1 Tunnel*, *Mitomi, Yamanashi-shi, Yamanashi, 5/06/2021*

( https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/foreign/english/spot/p1_4789.html) (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6951.html)

2021-05-022025-03-14

Walking the Shosenkyo Gorge Trail

The Shosenkyo Gorge walking trail runs along the Arakawa River. It has about six kilometers from the Nagatoro Bridge to Takiguchi-Ue and provides scenic views of the rocks and the stream.

*Kakuenpo Peak and the other Rocks and the Stream*
*Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 5/02/2021*

*Sengataki Waterfall, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 5/02/2021*

*Gohyakurakan and Kannonzo, Rakanji* (*Rakan Temple*)*, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 5/02/2021*

(https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/) (https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/12)

2021-05-012023-09-15

Kanazakura Shrine

Kanazakura Shrine, built to worship Mount Kinpu, is located at the uppermost stream of the Shosenkyo Gorge.

*Huge Shimenawa, Sacred Ropes, and Tassels, Mitakecho, Kofu, 5/01/2021*

*Lantern and Ascending Dragon, Mitakecho, Kofu, 5/01/2021*

(https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/31) (https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/kankou/spot/p1_4473.html)

2021-05-012024-02-13

Mitake Shosenkyo Gorge

The Shosenkyo Gorge is located just north of Kofu, part of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. A ride on the Shosenkyo Gorge Gondola will take you to the summit of the mountain where you will find expansive views of the Southern Japan Alps and Mount Fuji on clear days.

*A Bamboo Forest Near the Entrance of the Shosenkyo Gorge Trail, Ikaricho, Kofu, 5/01/2021*

*Views from the Shosenkyo Aerial Tramway, Ikaricho, Kofu, Yamanahi, 5/01/2021.*

Scenic Views From the *Top Terminal* of *the Shosenkyo Aerial Tramway, Irikuracho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 5/01/2021*

*A Shrine and a Tanuki Japanese Raccoon Pottery on the Top, Irikuracho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 5/01/2021*

At the Shosenkyo Gondola Station, there is a fish pond where gold koi (brocaded carp) fish have been raised. The gold koi is one of the nishikigoi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus), the Amur carp, a species of cyprinid fish.