Hokuto City Purple Emperor Center: Japan's largest habitat for the national butterfly, the Purple Emperor

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You can observe the ecology of the purple emperor butterfly throughout the year, and there are also many experiential events such as observation sessions and craft classes.

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Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture

It is located in the northwest of Yamanashi Prefecture, on the border with Nagano Prefecture. It is a vast area surrounded by 3,000m-class mountains such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Southern Alps, and Mt. Kinpu, and overlooking Mt. Fuji to the south. It is about a two-hour drive from Tokyo, about an hour from Mt. Fuji, and about an hour from Matsumoto, and is easily accessible, so many tourists visit throughout the year. It is also known as a "village of famous water," and three places have been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous water sources. This bounty of water is loved as natural water, and the area boasts one of the largest production volumes of mineral water in Japan. Sake is also produced from the pure water, and you can enjoy beautiful natural scenery and rich food.

Address : 2812 Tomioka, Nagasaka-cho, Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture, 408-0024

Business hours : 9:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)

[July-August] 9:00-18:00 (last entry at 17:30)

[December to March] 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry at 15:30)

[Normal hours (periods other than those mentioned above)] 9:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays

Admission fee: 420 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students

This facility is involved in the protection and research of the Great Purple Emperor butterfly, which can be considered a benchmark for measuring the natural environment, and allows visitors to observe it. It consists of three facilities: the Main Building, the Forest Science Museum, and the Ecological Observation Facility "Vibarium Nagasaka." The facility is surrounded by the Great Purple Emperor Nature Park, which covers an area of approximately 6 hectares.

1. Main building

This is a facility where you can learn about the Satoyama where the Great Purple Emperor lives. You can learn about butterflies, insects, and various other creatures and animals, large and small, that live in Satoyama.

In the spacious facility, there are many butterfly specimens on display, and you can learn more about them. People who love butterflies will be able to enjoy themselves at their leisure.

2. Forest Science Museum

Continuing through the main building leads to the Forest Science Museum, where approximately 10,000 specimens of butterflies and rare insects from around the world are on display.

There is also an exhibition room for rhinoceros beetles.

You can observe rhinoceros beetles up close.

3. Ecological Observation Facility "Vivarium Nagasaka"

A 1,400㎡ steel-framed observation facility where you can observe live Satoyama insects such as purple emperors and rhinoceros beetles.

Various insects live in the lush natural environment.

It was raining on the day we went, so unfortunately there were fewer butterflies than usual.

The great purple emperor is a beautiful and majestic butterfly with a wingspan of over 10 centimeters. It is a representative and elegant butterfly that Japan is proud of around the world, and was designated Japan's national butterfly in 1957.

They emerge from late June to late July.

If you want to see the adult insects, it is recommended that you come at that time.

There is also a small workshop where you can experience making things.

There is also a wide selection of souvenirs.

How about going on an educational journey to learn about the insects of Satoyama?

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Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture

Yamanashi

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