Oshino Hakkai: Eight Clear Ponds, a Serene Village Escape

Traveling to Japan during the summer season offers several advantages, including the availability of affordable flights, lower accommodation costs, and fewer tourists. However, the summer months (June-August) can experience high temperatures, which may not be ideal for everyone. On the positive side, travelers can pack lighter clothing due to the warm weather. During my recent trip, I had the opportunity to visit Oshino Hakkai, also known as the "Eight Seas" or "Clear Water Village" in Thai.

Kawaguchiko Station

This trip, I will be using the Fujijo Yamanashi bus service throughout the entire trip. The appearance of the bus is shown in the picture. If you are staying near Lake Kawaguchiko, you can purchase a 5-lake bus pass at the Public Relations Department. In my case, I have a Hakone-Fuji pass that is valid for all 5 lakes for 3 consecutive days, so I will make the most of it. I will review the Hakone-Fuji pass in my next post.

For those who live near Fuji Train Station,

The Location of Oshino Hakkai Village

Oshino Hakkai Village, also known as "Oshino Hakkai" or "the village of eight ponds," is located in the Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan.

Oshino Hakkai Village

Location: Shibokusa, Oshino-mura, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi

Opening Hours: Varies by shop/museum; generally 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Entrance Fee: Free for the village grounds; museums charge 300 yen

Getting There:

• From Fujisan Station on the Fuji Kyuko Line, take the Fuji Kyuko Route Bus towards Lake Yamanakako for approximately 25 minutes. Get off at the Oshino Hakkai bus stop.

I chose the 8:00 AM departure time. The journey took approximately 30 minutes, and it was a comfortable ride. There were hardly any passengers in the morning.

The bus will stop here.

I stopped to take a picture at the parking lot.

After getting off the bus, walk across the street to the opposite side. It's a 5-10 minute walk to the destination. You'll pass Pond 7 first, but don't worry.

If you're feeling peckish along the way, you can grab some mochi to snack on. It's easy to read, as it's in Thai, and the vendor speaks some Thai words.

This is also delicious. It's grilled just like a meatball.

This may be a favorite of many people.

The crystal-clear water of the oil well allows for exceptional visibility of algae and fish.

There is a video available for viewing.

This mineral-rich fish looks delicious, but we can't catch and eat it. It's illegal and could lead to imprisonment.

We finally arrived at the most crowded pond in the heart of the village, the Nigori Pond.

Biography

"Oshino Hakkai Village" is located near Mount Fuji, by Lake Yamanaka-ko. In 2013, it was selected as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It was also chosen as part of the Fuji-san area. The area has eight clear ponds, which are so beautiful that they were registered as a Natural Monument in 1934 and selected as one of the 100 best water landscapes in 1985. This is why Thai people call it "the village of clear water".

Even on a cloudy day, the sky is still beautiful.

The area was originally a lake surrounding Mount Fuji. Over time, the lakes naturally dried up over hundreds of years, leaving behind eight clear ponds. The water in these ponds is replenished by snowmelt from the mountain during the summer, which filters through porous lava rocks and various minerals, resulting in the crystal-clear water we see today.

The Japanese believe that the water in these eight wells is not only clean and refreshing, but also sacred. They believe that drinking from these wells will grant longevity and freedom from illness.

This koi fish is truly beautiful.

Let's take a quick look at Pool 8.

Today, there are children on a field trip.

Due to time constraints, I was unable to visit all eight pools. If you have the opportunity to visit, I recommend taking the time to explore all of them.

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