Oshino Hakkai

Oshino (忍野) is a small village in Yamanashi Prefecture. The village used to be a lake called Lake Utsu (宇津湖). Lake Utsu used to be the biggest lake surrounding Mount Fuji. When Mt. Fuji erupted around 800 AD, the lava from Mt. Fuji split the lake into two, Lake Yamanaka (山中湖) and Lake Oshino. Later, the lake Oshino dried up, but the eight spring (pond) still remain and they are called Oshino Hakkai (忍野八海).

The spring waters are underground water that flowed down from Mt. Fuji. When the snow melt into water from the top of Mt. Fuji, it got filtered down the mountain through layers of lava, traveling for over 80 years to finally spring at Oshino Hakkai, resulting a very pure, clear water.

The purity of the water is the proud of the locals. It is said that the water is one of the best waters in Japan.

Yamanashi Prefecture

Yamanashi Prefecture is one of the most popular tourist destination in Japan. Yamanashi Prefecture is rich in nature, surrounded by mountains and forests. Mount Fuji, Fuji Q Highland, Fuji Five Lakes, Minami Alps National Park are some of the famous places. For nature lover, this place feels like heaven. Clean air, refreshing breeze, forests, mountains, hot springs, parks, ranches, stylish towns among the natures, the natural surroundings are just breathtaking.