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Katsunuma in the Kofu Basin is Japan's oldest wine region, producing the distinctive Koshu white grape โ a thin-skinned variety yielding delicate, citrusy wines unique to Japan. Late August to October is harvest season when dozens of wineries open for grape picking, barrel tastings, and cellar tours. The surrounding basin, ringed by mountains and filled with vine rows, resembles a Japanese Provence.
The Katsunuma district of Koshu city is Japan's answer to Burgundy โ a compact valley of small family wineries, co-operative producers, and sleek modern estates all within easy cycling or walking distance of each other. Most wineries offer free or low-cost tastings of their Koshu white wine, Muscat Bailey A red, and seasonal releases, and many include barrel hall tours led by passionate winemakers who speak with infectious pride about the terroir of Japan's oldest wine region. An afternoon here is as relaxed and pleasurable as any winery visit in the world.
The flat circuit around Kawaguchiko lake is one of Japan's most rewarding easy cycling routes, covering roughly 20 kilometres of lakeshore path with Mt Fuji looming over the water for most of the southern stretch. Rental bikes are available at multiple points near the Fujikyu station and the route passes through small fishing villages, lakeside cafes, and the main viewpoint areas at a pace that allows for frequent stops and photograph after photograph. Early morning rides, before the tour buses arrive and while mist still clings to the water, are the closest thing to having Fuji entirely to yourself.
Japan's most famous thrill-ride destination sits at the base of Mt Fuji with the mountain serving as a breathtaking backdrop to some of the most extreme roller coasters on earth โ including coasters that have held world records for speed, steepness, and duration of inversions. Fujiyama, Dodonpa, Takabisha, and Eejanaika line up like a cabinet of horrors, each designed to make even seasoned riders rethink their choices. Between rides, the Fuji view from the park is genuinely spectacular, and the Thomas Land and other family zones offer gentler entertainment for those accompanying smaller adventurers.
Japan's highest lake, Yamanakako sits at 981 metres on the eastern flank of Mt Fuji and offers what may be the most dramatic stand-up paddleboard backdrop in Asia: the perfect symmetrical cone rising directly above you as you balance on still morning water. Rental boards and guided sessions are available at the lakeside sports centre from spring through autumn, and the calm, sheltered conditions make it accessible even for first-timers. As the sun warms the mountain and cloud begins to form around the summit, the light on the water creates a quality of beauty that is almost absurdly photogenic.
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