Self-guided tour
Old houses, spring water, art and an onsen: a day around Kobuchisawa
Start at an Edo-period headman's farmhouse within walking distance of the station, then visit a spring linked to Takeda Shingen, lunch in a forest dining room, a small museum of woodblock prints and a hillside village of artists' studios. End the day in the roadside station's hot spring.
- Duration
- Full day (9:30–16:05)
- Area
- Southern Yatsugatake Highlands Area
- Start
- Kobuchisawa Station
- Getting around
- Train + taxi
- Best days
- Some stops close Mon–Thu; go Fri–Sun
What you can do
card-self-2-water-heritage.webpAn Edo headman's house
Look up at the earthen floor and beams of a thatched farmhouse, an Important Cultural Property.
city-h14bnc0012.webpShingen's spring
One of Japan's 100 best waters, a spring said to have been split three ways.
place-8004-hero.webpA hillside atelier village
Walk the garden between artists' studios and small galleries.
Itinerary
9:30
Start at Kobuchisawa Station (10 min on foot)9:40
A thatched farmhouse of a village headman from the late 17th century (Important Cultural Property). Look up at the beams and imagine Edo-era life in the earthen-floored hall and stable.
- Time there
- 45 min
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed
- Tue, Wed (Thu if a holiday), the day after a holiday, 28 Dec–4 Jan
- Price guide
- About ¥210
- Booking
- No booking needed
- Taxi, about 10 min (approx.)Route on Google Maps
10:35
A spring said to have been split into three channels by Takeda Shingen to settle water disputes. Next door, the Sanbuichi Spring House explains how the spring works and its history.
- Time there
- 40 min
- Hours
- Open all day
- Closed
- Open all year
- Price guide
- Free
- Booking
- No booking needed
- Taxi, about 5 min (approx.)Route on Google Maps
11:20
Lunch in a dining room in the woods, made with seasonal vegetables from nearby fields.
- Time there
- 60 min
- Hours
- Lunch from 11:00 (last order 14:00), café from 14:00 (last order 16:30), closes 17:00
- Closed
- Wednesdays (Wed and Thu, Dec to Mar)
- Price guide
- About ¥2,200
- Booking
- Book externally
- Taxi, about 10 min (approx.)Route on Google Maps
12:30
A small museum where you take your time with woodblock prints of the Yatsugatake mountains, in three galleries.
- Time there
- 60 min
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed
- Tuesdays (the next day if a holiday), 28 Dec–4 Jan
- Price guide
- About ¥800
- Booking
- No booking needed
- Taxi, about 5 min (approx.)Route on Google Maps
13:35
A hilltop village of artists' studios and gardens. Walk from studio to studio through the garden, and try hand-building pottery if you like.
- Time there
- 75 min
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00
- Closed
- Mondays and Thursdays (open on holidays); Dec–Mar weekends and holidays only
- Price guide
- About ¥500
- Booking
- Booking in Japanese — ask us
- Taxi, about 10 min (approx.)Route on Google Maps
15:00
Warm up in the day-use hot spring and pick local vegetables and souvenirs at the farm stand.
- Time there
- 60 min
- Hours
- Farm shop 9:00–18:00 (17:00 in winter), hot spring 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
- Closed
- Two days a year (maintenance in February and June)
- Price guide
- About ¥850
- Booking
- No booking needed
16:05 · Where the day ends
Choose to head home or stay the night. If you stay, you can add another route the next day.
Go home
Kobuchisawa Station
Taxi, about 5 min. About 2 hours to Shinjuku by limited express.
Stay the night
- Miharashi Highland ResortSample Kobuchisawa
- Hoshimi Highland Onsen HotelSample Oizumi
Tips
From December to March, the atelier village opens only on weekends and holidays.
The roadside station's hot spring is open until 21:00 (last entry 20:30). Bring a towel and you can go straight in.
Days and bookings
Closed days. Hirata Family House (Important Cultural Property): Tue, Wed (Thu if a holiday), the day after a holiday, 28 Dec–4 Jan. Komorebi Forest Kitchen (sample): Wednesdays (Wed and Thu, Dec to Mar). Yatsugatake Little Museum (sample): Tuesdays (the next day if a holiday), 28 Dec–4 Jan. Hillside Atelier Village (sample): Mondays and Thursdays (open on holidays); Dec–Mar weekends and holidays only. Go Fri–Sun.
Approximate cost
From about ¥11,400 per person (for two people)
- Entry, food and activities (per person)
- About ¥4,600
- Local transport (per car)
- Taxi, booked leg by leg: about ¥13,500
- Train from Tokyo (per person, return)
- Limited express Azusa, about ¥11,000 (not included)
Estimates only. Excludes accommodation and travel from Tokyo. Getting around locally
Guides and drivers
We can arrange a guide or a chartered taxi.