Hokuto

Not to be confused with Hokuto (Hokkaido) (北斗) City.

Hokuto (北杜市 Hokuto-shi) is a small city in Yamanashi.

Higashizawa Bridge

Understand

Yatsugatake peaks lie in the north of the Hokuto city, and the Kiyosato plateau stretches to the foot.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

Hokuto is near Nagano Prefecture.

Get around

Hokuto is a collection of towns and villages that have pooled their administration, and it is not centered around a single densely populated area. As such it is a very rural area and getting around largely requires a car. There are a large number of stations on the JR Chuo Line and the JR Koumi Line in Hokuto.

See

• 1 Yamataka Jindai-zakura (山高神代桜). A legendary cherry blossom tree planted over 1800 years ago on the grounds of Jissoji Temple. It is said to have been planted by Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, a son of the 12th emperor of Japan, and is said to be the oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan. According to another legend, when the Priest Nichiren visited, the tree was nearly dead, so he prayed and the tree was miraculously revived. With so much history and folklore surrounding the tree, it has been designated as one of Japan's Top 3 Cherry Blossom Trees (三大桜).
  In addition to the Jindai-zakura, a nearby tree is known as the Space Cherry Blossom (宇宙桜). It began as a seed of the Jindai-zakura that was sent into space, orbiting earth for 8 months, before being returned and planted here. It is one of only 2 cherry blossom trees out of 118 taken into space that actually grew. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum (平山郁夫シルクロード美術館), ☏ +81 551-32-0225. 10:00-17:00; closed in winter (late December to early March). Features the famous Silk Road paintings by Hirayama Ikuo along with artifacts from various places along the Silk Road. \1200. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Nakamura Keith Haring Collection (中村キース・ヘリング美術館). An art museum featuring the works of American artist Keith Haring. ¥1500. (updated Apr 2023)
• Hokuto City Go Museum (北杜市囲碁美術館) (2 min walk from JR Nagasaka station). 9:00-17:00, closed Mon. Small museum for the game of Go. Free. (updated Jan 2024)

Do

• 1 Hakushu Distillery (白州蒸溜所). A Japanese whisky distillery.  

Go next

• Nirasaki
• Kai
• Kofu
• Yamanashi
• Minamialps
• Fujimi
• Chino
• Suwa
• Okaya