Distance: 180km; Drive time: 5 hours (some highway driving); Highlights:
- Mt. Fuji,
- Fuji 5-lakes region (Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Saiko, Lake Shojiko),
- Mt. Yatsugadake views,
- Kobuchizawa,
- Chino district,
- Lake Shirakaba,
- Venus Skyline,
- Utsukushigahara (2000m elevation),
- Matsumoto castle town.
Route Description: Follow route 21 west along the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko. Weather permitting there should be some nice Fuji views across the lake. Next, make the slight incline up to Lake Saiko; hopefully there will be more Fuji views from here as well. The best spot for taking photographs is at the rest area at the western edge of the lake. This is where you will also find the turn off for Nemba village.
Nemba village is a beautiful old village, which features traditional Japanese houses and buildings that have been restored to their original appearance, and the village is open to visitors as a tourist destination. Visitors can learn about the traditional lifestyle and culture of the area, and experience traditional activities such as making soba noodles and dyeing fabrics. Most of the old thatched roof buildings now act as little boutique shops for local craftsmen and others selling their wares and souvenirs. It is well worth the 500yen entrance fee (250 yen for children). We recommend taking a stroll through the village to see what you can find.
Next up on your drive through the Fuji 5-lakes region is Lake Shojiko, the smallest of the Fuji 5-lakes. Take a right here at route 358, stopping off briefly at the lake if you so choose, before then bidding a final farewell to Fuji and heading north towards Yamanashi prefecture. Join the Chuo Expressway at Minami-Kofu, and stay on the highway for 25 minutes so (this will save you driving through urban areas around Kofu city). Exit at Nirasaki. From here, you will be weaving your way through the picturesque farming regions of Hokuto, Kobuchizawa and Chino. You will have Mt. Yatsugadake to your right for an hour or so. Kobuchizawa or Chino may be a good stop-off point for lunch. You will find numerous little restaurants and cafes in and around this area. Most are family run, and offer up a range of culinary delights.
After passing through the rice fields, grape vineyards and apple orchards of Chino, head up to Lake Shirakaba, a touristy little lake that saw its best days back in the 80s, but is still a quaint little stop-off point if time allows.
Next, you will be driving the famous Venus Skyline, a road popular with motorcyclist because of its many twists and turns, and its scenic views. At the very top, you will find a plateau, cattle farm and rest area called Utsukushigahara. At an elevation of 2000 meter, this can be a lovely place to park up on clear sunny days. The views down into the valley below are magnificent, and if you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of Matsumoto town off in the distance; your ultimate destination for the day.
When you are ready, start to make your decent down from the summit by way of the Yomogikoba road. It’s another 20-30 minutes of weaving your way along small mountain roads before finally arriving at the old castle time of Matsumoto. There are three or four main areas of town, so pick your accommodation depending on what you would like to do.
Stay near the castle if you wish to spend time here in the early morning or late evening. The Matsumoto station area is more for Japanese business travelers, with many hotels here for those kinds of overnight stays. Our recommended location for the night would be somewhere between the station and the castle. Here you will find a nice little walking street with many cafes and restaurants, and it is also not far from here to the riverside markets.
The fourth area is somewhat out of the center of town, at a place called Asama onsen. If you are looking for quality hot springs and old-fashioned Japanese-style ryokan, then this area may be your best bet. Wherever you choose to stay, we recommend exploring Matsumoto Castle, the riverside markets, and all the other sites this unique historic town has to offer. To find out more about Matsumoto, check this link.
Driving route map: Kawaguchiko to Matsumoto
