A day trip from Tokyo ! Visit famous cherry blossom spots and spring sweets and bakeries in Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture
Enjoy a spring trip to Hokuto City on a day trip from Tokyo . Visit the approximately 2,000-year-old Yamataka Jindai Sakura tree, Kiyosato bakery "megane," and Yamanashi-born sweets brand "Chateraise Mount Yatsugatake Kobuchizawa Branch." We'll introduce a itinerary that shows you how to get there and around the area.
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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.
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Introduction | Spring Takaharu , about 2 hours from Tokyo
Hokuto City in Yamanashi Prefecture is a Takaharu area surrounded by the Mount Yatsugatake and the Minami Alps . In spring, cherry blossoms bloom in the clear air, and you can enjoy the scenery of the snow-capped mountains at the same time, making it a place where you can feel the arrival of the seasons in a slightly different way than in the city .
It's easily accessible, about two hours by train from Tokyo , making it perfect for a day trip .
In this article, we will introduce the Yamataka Jindai Sakura, one of the oldest and largest cherry blossom trees in Japan, as well as a recommended itinerary that takes you around the area and visits cafes and bakeries.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Yamataka Jindai Sakura | Approximately 2,000 years old, one of Japan's three great cherry blossom trees
- 2. Megane Bakery | A bakery perfect for a morning on the Takaharu
- 3. Chateraise Mount Yatsugatake Kobuchizawa Store | Popular sweets from Yamanashi
- 4. Access | From Tokyo to Hokuto City
- 5. itinerary(example)
- 6. Summary
1. Yamataka Jindai Sakura | Approximately 2,000 years old, one of Japan's three great cherry blossom trees
The Yamataka Jindai Sakura tree standing in the grounds of Jisso-ji Temple is an Edohigan cherry tree, one of Japan's three most famous cherry trees . It is said to be about 2,000 years old , making it one of the oldest cherry trees in Japan .
With pale pink flowers and the Minami Alps in the background, this is a famous cherry blossom spot that represents Hokuto City and is a symbol of the Japanese spring scenery.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is held every year from late March, and the area is bustling with visitors as it is lined with stalls selling local gourmet food, Japanese sweets, miscellaneous goods, vegetables, and more.
*The event period may change depending on the flowering situation.
Tourist information
Admission fee: Yes (during flowering season)
Visiting hours: 8:30-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Parking: Temporary parking available during the flowering season (paid)
Parking lot hours: 8:00-17:00
Toilets: Permanent toilets available within the grounds. Temporary toilets are also available in the parking lot during the flowering season.
Estimated time required: Approximately 30 to 60 minutes
Access: Approximately 25 minutes by car from JR Kobuchizawa Station using a rental car
Key points of the visit
- We recommend arriving around 8:00am
- Visiting hours start from 8:30
- During the peak viewing period, it is expected to be crowded immediately after the opening of the temple.
It is possible to view the Yamataka Jindai Sakura from outside the temple grounds even before the opening hours. If you want to take your time taking photos of the entire view, we recommend arriving early.
2. Megane Bakery | A bakery perfect for a morning on the Takaharu
After seeing the Jindai Sakura, we drove to the Kiyosato Takaharu.
Megane Bakery, which opens at 8:30, is a popular bakery with tourists.
The store is filled with hard breads and seasonal baked goods, with the selection at its best in the morning .
They often sell out in the afternoon, so we recommend stopping by in the morning .
Enjoying a bread breakfast in the clear air of the Takaharu is a typical way to spend time in Hokuto .
It's just the right distance to visit after cherry blossom viewing.
Store Information
Store name: Bakery Restaurant Megane
Reservations and inquiries: 0551-37-6007
Business hours: 8:30~16:00
Bread sales from 8:30
Morning 8:30 - 10:00 (LO)
Lunch 11:30-13:00 (LO)
Closed: Irregular holidays (check Instagram)
Address: 3545-6970 Kiyosato , Takane-cho , Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Access: Approximately 30 minutes by car from Yamataka Jindai Sakura
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3. Chateraise Mount Yatsugatake Kobuchizawa Store | Popular sweets from Yamanashi
To conclude the trip, head to Chateraise, a sweets brand that originated in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Located in an open space surrounded by nature at the southern foot of Mount Yatsugatake, the shop offers a Toyotomi selection of cakes, baked goods, ice cream and more .
In spring, a special corner for cherry blossom sweets will appear in the store.
The limited edition pale pink gift is also popular as a souvenir .
What you should definitely check out at this store are the limited edition products that you can only find here .
The grilled dumplings, made with Takekawa rice from Hokuto City, are lightly grilled after being ordered , making them fragrant on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Although simple, the quality of the materials stands out.
And the popular freshly squeezed Mont Blanc.
Another appealing feature is the live feeling of the delicate chestnut cream being squeezed and finished right in front of you .
Take-out is available, but the Mont Blanc served in the shop is topped with ice cream and fresh cream, making it even more luxurious. If you want to enjoy the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture that only freshly made cakes can offer, we recommend eating in the shop .
The grilled dumplings and freshly squeezed Mont Blanc are limited edition items sold in only two or three stores in Yamanashi Prefecture . This is a special sweet experience that can only be enjoyed by visiting Hokuto City.
Whether you're looking for souvenirs or want to treat yourself to some sweet treats, this is the perfect spot to end a day enjoying the cherry blossoms and Takaharu scenery .
Store Information
Store name: Chateraise Mount Yatsugatake Kobuchizawa
Business hours: 9:00-19:00 (April-October) / 9:00-18:00 (November-March)
Closed: Generally open every day (*There may be maintenance closures on a few days a year in February and June. Please check the official website for details.)
Multilingual support: No
Free Wi-Fi: None
Payment method: Cash/Credit/Electronic payment
Average price: Sweets (around 500 yen) / Meal (800 yen)
Address: 2968-1 Kobuchizawacho , Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture Prefecture
Access: Approximately 29 minutes by car from the megane bakery restaurant
4. Access | From Tokyo to Hokuto City
train
JR Shinjuku Station → Azusa Limited Express (approx. 2 hours) → JR Kobuchizawa Station
There are rental car shops around Kobuchizawa Station, and we recommend renting a car to efficiently get around the tourist spots.
The spots are far apart, so it may take a long time to get around by public transportation alone .
5. itinerary(example)
8:00 Yamataka Jindai Sakura (take photos of the exterior before visiting → enter the temple grounds from 8:30)
10:15 Arrive in Kiyosato and have breakfast at the bakery megane
11:00 Seisenryo (approximately 1 hour) Stroll through the Takaharu pastures and enjoy the famous soft serve ice cream
12:15 Moegi Village (approx. 1 hour) Visit shops and cafes in the Mori and take photos
13:30 Lunch at HAPPY MEDIUM CLUB
15:00 Search for sweets and souvenirs exclusive to Chateraise Mount Yatsugatake Kobuchizawa store
16:30-17:00 Departure from Kobuchizawa Station
Arrives in Tokyo between 18:30 and 19:00
This is a day trip plan that allows you to enjoy the historic cherry blossoms, the nature of the Kiyosato Takaharu, and sweets unique to Yamanashi all in one day .
It's easily accessible from Tokyo, allowing you to experience spring in Japan in a relaxed atmosphere .
6. Summary
The charm of spring in Hokuto City is that you can enjoy not only the cherry blossoms but also the natural beauty of the Takaharu and local sweets .
Experience spring in Japan in one day by touring the historic cherry blossoms, bakeries, and Yamanashi born sweets.
It's easily accessible from Tokyo and is a recommended day trip destination for those who want to relax and enjoy the spring .
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.
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