⛰ Yamanashi · 2 days
Yatsugatake & Kiyosato Drive: Alpine Highlands, Whisky Water & Peach Country
A 2-day drive along the southern foot of Mt Yatsugatake in Yamanashi: Kiyosato highlands, the famous spring water of Hakushu, the cliffs of Nirasaki and the orchards below the Southern Alps, linked by 5 michi-no-eki roadside stations.
Two hours west of Tokyo the Chuo Expressway climbs onto a terrace of volcanic grassland between two mountain walls: Yatsugatake to the north, the Southern Alps and Mt Kaikomagatake to the west. This is the sunniest corner of Japan — Hokuto City records some of the country’s highest annual sunshine — and it is cool in August, clear in winter, and close enough to drive up for a weekend.
The route runs east along the highland foot from Kobuchizawa to Kiyosato, drops back west to Hakushu where the snowmelt of Kaikomagatake surfaces as some of the most prized spring water in the country, then follows the Shichiri-iwa cliffs down through Nirasaki into the orchard plain of Minami-Alps — peaches, cherries and plums as far as the hedgerows. The michi-no-eki here are the local pantry and, at Kobuchizawa, a hot spring in their own right.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Kobuchisawa 道の駅 こぶちさわ · Yamanashi
Michi-no-Eki Kobuchisawa (道の駅 こぶちさわ) is a government-designated roadside station in 北杜市, Yamanashi, Japan, registered in 2004 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and EV charging. There is free parking for about 65 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00〔施設により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shinshuu Tsuta Ki Yado, Hakushuu and Minami Kiyosato.
Nearby: 🏛中村キースへリング美術館 (1.1 km) · 🏛フィリア美術館 (1.7 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Minami Kiyosato 道の駅 南きよさと · Yamanashi
Michi-no-Eki Minami Kiyosato (道の駅 南きよさと) is a government-designated roadside station in 北杜市, Yamanashi, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, hands-on experiences and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 312 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 物販施設9:00–17:00、レストラン10:00–17:00（12月–3月は11:00–15:00)＜休 1月–2月の火曜日＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kobuchisawa, Hakushuu and Nirasaki.
Nearby: 🏛北杜市須玉歴史資料館 (2.2 km) · 🏛大泉歴史民俗資料館 (3.6 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Hakushuu 道の駅 はくしゅう · Yamanashi
Michi-no-Eki Hakushuu (道の駅 はくしゅう) is a government-designated roadside station in 北杜市, Yamanashi, Japan, registered in 2000 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and a park. There is free parking for about 85 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shinshuu Tsuta Ki Yado, Kobuchisawa and Minami Kiyosato.
Nearby: 🏛清春白樺美術館 (2.5 km) · 🏛北杜市長坂郷土資料館 (2.5 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Nirasaki 道の駅 にらさき · Yamanashi
Michi-no-Eki Nirasaki (道の駅 にらさき) is a government-designated roadside station in 韮崎市, Yamanashi, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, a park and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 37 cars and 12 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:30. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hakushuu, Shirane and Minami Kiyosato.
Nearby: 🏯新府城跡 (1.9 km) · 🏛坂井考古館 (2.3 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Shirane 道の駅 しらね · Yamanashi
Michi-no-Eki Shirane (道の駅 しらね) is a government-designated roadside station in 南アルプス市, Yamanashi, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find EV charging, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk, a baby room and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 32 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Toyotomi, Fujigawa and Nirasaki.
Nearby: 🏛南アルプス市立白根桃源美術館 (0.7 km) · 📸Nakagomi Orchards (1.4 km)
Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Onsen baths and beds along this route (Chubu · 42 with onsen / 13 with rooms)
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Kobuchisawa 道の駅 こぶちさわ · Hokuto, Yamanashi · on the route -
Shinshuu Tsuta Ki Yado 道の駅 信州蔦木宿 · Fujimi, Nagano · ~4 km off the route -
Ooshiba Kougen 道の駅 大芝高原 · Minamiminowa, Nagano · ~34 km off the route -
Tabayama 道の駅 たばやま · Tabayama, Yamanashi · ~44 km off the route -
Marumero No Eki Nagato 道の駅 マルメロの駅ながと · Nagawa, Nagano · ~44 km off the route -
Mimaki 道の駅 みまき · Tōmi-shi, Nagano · ~51 km off the route -
Touyama Sato 道の駅 遠山郷 · Iida, Nagano · ~60 km off the route -
Kurura Toda 道の駅 くるら戸田 · Numazu, Shizuoka · ~79 km off the route -
Kagai Michi Tsukechi 道の駅 花街道付知 · Nakatsugawa, Gifu · ~82 km off the route -
Kawane Onsen 道の駅 川根温泉 · Shimada, Shizuoka · ~83 km off the route -
Shinshuu Hiratani 道の駅 信州平谷 · Hiraya, Nagano · ~83 km off the route -
Pokapoka Rando Miasa 道の駅 ぽかぽかランド美麻 · Ōmachi-shi, Nagano · ~89 km off the route
♨ All 143 michi-no-eki with an onsen bath🛏 All 81 michi-no-eki with rooms on site♨🛏 All 46 michi-no-eki with both onsen and rooms📍 Every michi-no-eki in Yamanashi
Route tips
- Michi-no-eki Kobuchizawa has its own natural hot spring (Enmei-no-yu) and sits minutes from Kobuchizawa IC — the easiest first or last stop of the drive.
- Hakushu is spring-water country: the Ojiragawa valley is on Japan’s list of 100 famous waters, and the Suntory Hakushu whisky distillery nearby draws on the same source (tours must be booked well ahead online).
- Early April turns the Nirasaki and Minami-Alps plain pink with peach blossom; mid-October to early November is the foliage window on the Yatsugatake side.
- Highland roads above Kiyosato sit around 1,200 m and can ice over from late autumn — in winter keep to the valley route and treat the clear night skies, not the passes, as the attraction.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Yatsugatake & Kiyosato
How many days do you need for the Yatsugatake & Kiyosato route?
2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 60 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Kobuchizawa IC, Chuo Expressway (about 2 hours from Tokyo) and ends at Minami-Alps / Kofu (Chuo Expressway back to Tokyo). Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round; peach blossom in early April, cool highlands in midsummer, foliage mid-October to early November, clearest star-filled skies in winter.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →