THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Hokuto
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Things to Do in Hokuto
Check out must-see sights and activities:
Suntory Hakushu Distillery, Sun Meadows Kiyosato Highland Park, Scenic Walking Areas, Nature & Wildlife Areas. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
Suntory Hakushu Distillery, Sun Meadows Kiyosato Highland Park, Scenic Walking Areas, Nature & Wildlife Areas. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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- fromper group (up to 4)AU$2,108
Full-day Toursfromper adultAU$240
Day Tripsfromper adultAU$256
Winter Sportsfromper adult (price varies by group size)AU$1,043
Extreme Sportsfromper adultAU$371- fromper adultAU$84
- from
AU$480per adult (price varies by group size)AU$442 - fromper adultAU$115
- fromper adult (price varies by group size)AU$519
Cooking Classesfromper adultAU$173
Distilleries
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Other Top Attractions around Hokuto
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What travellers are saying
- HNDLondon, UK82 contributionsThis was a great day out from Tokyo and I would highly recommend it.
I used a standard Passmo card for the return journey from Shinjuku to Kobuchizawa. If you turn left when leaving Kobuchizawa station and walk for a couple of minutes you will see a Suntory bus stop. The distillery run a complimentary shuttle bus during standard opening hours (check the website first for running times).
I arrived about 45 minutes early but this wasn’t a problem as the lovely girls on reception checked me in and allowed me to visit the distillery grounds, including the museum, while I waited for my tour to start.
The tour itself is conducted entirely in Japanese but the distillery have an audio guide on an app that can be downloaded and you are then able to follow the tour in your own language.
It was very interesting to see the process of how malt whisky is made from start to finish.
But the highlight was a whisky tasting at the end with a very comprehensive explanation from the tour guide. For English speakers they have a written guide that is very good.
Finally, I was able to buy a bottle of 12 year old Hakushu Single Malt for a very reasonable price compared to my own country.
There was an interesting gift shop at the end with Suntory branded goodies including various glasses.
I would highly recommend a visit here.Written 30 April 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Guillaume AShizuoka, Japan2,378 contributionsThe main attractions (outside the ski season) are the kiyosato terrace at the top of the mountain and the go kart track.
There is a souvenir store as well as a lounge and a restaurant.
They do have tables set up outside to hang out. There's a huge free parking lot.
Plenty of lockers available in the main lobby.Written 14 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Victoria G3 contributionsDoryunotaki and the surrounding forest were absolutely beautiful. I had so much fun seeing the sights and exploring the forest. This was truly an amazing experience, and I loved getting to walk around. It's not a difficult or scary walk at all. I felt completely at peace here, as it was very tranquil and quiet. The waterfall was magnificent and I definitely recommend visiting this hidden gem. Even without any background information, this place is still amazing to look and take pictures at. No background info needed!Written 24 June 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Tearose333Yokohama, Japan44 contributionsWe stayed at a local camp site during golden week 2015, which was just a 15 minute drive from Ojiragawa Canyon.
We stopped here on the way back from a day trip to Matsumoto castle (also recommended). We didn't expect too much of our visit to Ojiragawa Canyon but it was so stunning we just loved it. The walk was lovely and gentle. The car park is free and the walk starts from here. We took our 5 year old and he didn't find it too difficult.
The start of the walk takes you around the top of the canyon and the drop is quite big so hold the hands of any young children. Then you'll pass through a beautifully well kept temple. The temple have left branches of trees that can be used as walking sticks for the hikers and day trippers which was so kind. Many young children and older people used them along the walk and returned them on the way back.
The walk takes you over a suspension bridge and over the river at the bottom of the canyon. Only 5 people at a time are allowed across. Then we walked to the river at the bottom of the canyon and sat on one of the rocks. Children and adults were wading through the crystal clear water. Stunning.
At this point we turned around and went back as our 5 year old had a long day, as we combined this visit with a visit to Matsumoto earlier in the day. You can carry on the walk much further. I'd recommend a half day here. Well worth it to explore more of this lovely area.
On the way back from here about 15 minutes drive from Ojiragawa Canyon there is a day onsen/hot spring spa. Really lovely and recommended to soothe your muscles after the walk. The name in Japanese is 尾白の湯 Verdant Gardens Onsen.Written 4 May 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PANKAJKofu, Japan101 contributionsWent in july with small kids. Perfect place for kids in summers especially in hot n sunny days. Water is cold . Have 1 small slide. Can enjoy waterfall felling. Camping is available.Written 30 July 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- peterfuchs2017Tokyo, Japan41 contributionsThe mountainous Kiyosato area at the foot of the towering Yatsugatake mountains has several good roads connecting Yamanashi and parts of Nagano to the north, as well as the quirky little JR Koumi Line which most people board from the transfer at Kobuchizawa, others from Komoro in Nagano, getting express connections back to Tokyo. The region is associated with the work of agricultural pioneer Paul Rusch, an American who came to Japan in the 1920s to help rebuild the Tokyo and Yokohama YMCA as well as the St. Luke's Hospital in Tsukiji after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. He built KEEP, the Kiyosato Experimental Education Project, with the farm and now hotel/restaurant at Seisenryo to help villagers who had been relocated to this cold, infertile region from Okutama where the dam was built, flooding the woodsman village. Paul introduced sturdy Jersey cows, and began the dairy operation.
To make a long story short, the station village of Kiyosato has fallen into disrepair as the college coeds who flocked here in the '70s and '80s have gone elsewhere. But the founder of Moegi no Mura was a Paul Rusch disciple, and has found a way to bring those patrons back.
There is a distinct European-style atmosphere to the well-tended gardens and little shops, as well as the main restaurant where they serve Touchdown brew-pub ales named in honor of Dr. Rusch, who also introduced American football, lacrosse and curling to Japan. Just below the "village" is a cluster of Japanese "pension" hotels, and we now and then stay at "Josho Kiryu" and take our dinner at the Yatsugatake Shokudo restaurant, literally just a few hundred steps down the grassy lane from Moegi no Mura.
Definitely a nice place to relax, stretch your legs, check out shops and have a coffee and cake, or as we do, stay in the pensions below and come up here for the flowers and the mid-summer ballet performances, sky-watching, and fresh air.Written 9 July 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - peterefuchsTokyo, Japan10 contributionsTo be honest Makiba Park is not really a park but a pull-off rest area from the road connecting Kobuchizawa down in the valley (with its highway exit and train terminal) with the local resort area around Kiyosato. But you may enjoy it as having just a little bit extra - including the "soft-ice" cones in summer, great views any time, and a small roadside restaurant and gift shop. Kids can meet the sheep and baby goats at the edge of the pastures. Several working farms are nearby - introduced to the poor hardscrabble area by American educator Paul Rusch in the 1930s. He built an experimental farm, schools and a chapel to help improve livelihoods of the local people, many of whom were forcefully resettled there when dams were built in the upper Tama River. Stop by and admire his legacy at Seisenryo - where you can buy fresh dairy products and stay overnight in the rustic lodge that offers nighttime stargazing and nature walking tours. Even an Anglican Chapel, as Paul was a leader of the Society of St. Andrew in Japan.Written 19 February 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ReikoRingLos Angeles, CA36 contributionsI went to Heidi's village in September so they had some Halloween decorations put up, but the best time to go is in August when they have a lot of sunflowers. It's like going into a small Swiss village. If you have a baby they can play on the playground and in the garden. There's also a trolley that goes around the garden. This place is good for families with babies and small children. Also if you like Swiss sweets there's a lot in the gift shop.Written 14 November 2014This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ABCmartMadrid, Spain78 contributionsI went to this place by JR and local bus. Go to Nirashaki station first, then take a bus to sunflower place, kurarakan, about 30 minutes.
Here is a place that we can see the overview of all the sunflower places.
Then I went to the main place. Lots of sunflower here. Take photos and enjoy the sunflowers. One hour or one and a half hour is enough to enjoy here. Some sunflower has a special face make us feel good.
Close to sunflower world, here are other place that we can kill time, but we skip it.Written 14 August 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - peterefuchsTokyo, Japan10 contributionsMichi-no-Eki (or "Roadside Stations") have become popular with Japanese families when they are out for a drive in the countryside - there are hundreds, some regarded as destinations - but really a way for local farmers to sell directly to visiting city-dwellers. Selection of produce varies by season - you are best off during Yamanashi fresh peach and seedless grape season - but you can try various local delicacies, and stock up on miso, soy and other condiments, if you don't have a kitchen handy. The Hakushu location is decidedly "average" in what's offered, but if you are staying in a rental cottage or condo, there is a large supermarket with fresh meats, wine and beer, etc. next door, and just a few kilometers on Rt. 20 from world-famous Suntory Hakushu distillery, Free tastings if you are not driving.Written 19 February 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- peterfuchs2017Tokyo, Japan41 contributionsCherry blossoms are intoxicating and irrepressible every year when the Sakura season rolls around. Sure there are many well-known, widely advertised "hot spots" and this is one of them, and somewhat shy of the hype, I rode over there on my KTM 390 Duke motorcycle, found it easy to park despite the crowds and also very positively surprised.
The cherry blossoms and other spring blooms are indeed gorgeous in this local and quite sedate little village temple location. If you are traveling around this area in spring, do consider giving it a look, walk around, you can spend an hour here, and maybe get a little bite to eat from the food stalls. Should you drive up here from say Tokyo JUST for the blossoms? Not in my view, but the timing could be good as the sakura may be a week or so behind the Tokyo full-bloom.Written 9 July 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Jason moofangKuala Lumpur, Malaysia55 contributionsA member of the venerable Hyakumeizan (100 famous mountains) and just within striking range from Tokyo, Mt Mizugaki is a somewhat rough and rocky climb with a very spectacular view waiting at the summit.
Getting to the trailhead at Mizugaki Sansou is a bit of a chore, requiring a rather long (and expensive!) bus ride from Nirasaki station on the Chuo. The good news is you get to start your journey up the 2230m peak from roughly 1500m. Don't sigh your relief just yet though - the entire climb is squeezed into about 3.5km of horizontal distance. What's more: after an initially benign climb up to the Fujimidaira hut campsite, the trail proceeds to plunge through a sizable amount of altitude before skyrocketing again steeply all the way to the top.
Basically, it's definitely more of an endeavor in practice than it looks on paper!
While there is nothing particularly technical about the climb, this was certainly one of the trickiest trails I've done as a novice mountaineer. You'll be clambering over many steep and rocky sections with many infuriatingly smooth boulders - gloves with a good grip would be handy. Keep your eyes peeled for the trail markers (well spaced throughout the climb) so that you don't wander off the trail. There are several roped-up sections where it looks like a landslide had previously occurred so stay clear of those. You'd probably not want to do this one for your first couple of climbs, but if you've done rocky sections along other trails before then the experience should serve you well. There wasn't yet any snow when I climbed, but it was easily cold enough for bits of ice to show up and make a nuisance of themselves here and there along the climb. Still, I got on fine without needing to use crampons.
Once you burst through to the summit (itself a bunch of large boulders), you'll find a magnificent, almost 360 degree view waiting for you. Mt Fuji towers on the horizon over the numberless minor peaks, and nearby Mt Kinpu - itself a day's hike or so away - is clearly visible. The steep drops all around the smooth summit boulders make it feel like a false step would end you, but hey - after all the climbing you deserve this extra bit of thrill too :)
Pay attention to the bus timetable at the trailhead - if memory serves, the last bus leaves well before it gets dark (I think before 4pm), so you don't want to miss it. The campsite at Fujimidaira hut is lovely and it is well worth considering staying the night after the climb instead so you don't have to rush. If you stay, there's also the option of bagging Mt Kinpu on the morrow.Written 11 December 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
