2025-04-08

Waterwheel Village Park

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  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:54
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 73 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/10

If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:
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  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・08:13
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 28 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/3.5

Traditional Waterwheel Mill and Cherry Blossoms in the Rural Highlands of Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan
山梨の高原に咲く桜と水車小屋のある風景


Nestled in the rural highlands of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Suisha-no-Sato Koen (Waterwheel Village Park) offers a tranquil view of Japan’s traditional countryside, framed by the majestic Mt. Kaikoma in the Southern Japanese Alps. This peaceful green space features a charming waterwheel mill house, a thatched-roof rest area, and seasonal blooms like pink and white sakura (cherry blossoms), making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and photographers.

Established in 1994, the park was created through the efforts of local volunteers to promote tourism, provide a relaxing destination for visitors, and revive the nostalgic scenery of rural hometowns. A functional waterwheel was installed using a gently flowing stream, which is powered by an undershot flow mechanism, and is connected to a working stone mill inside the traditional mill house.

Both the mill house and the covered rest pavilion were designed in harmony with regional architecture and feature authentic thatched roofs, which were renewed in 2020 to preserve their cultural and structural integrity.

The gentle creaking of the turning waterwheel, the sound of flowing water feeding into a pond teeming with colorful koi, and the view of snow-dusted peaks in the distance all create an atmosphere of deep serenity offering an enduring connection to Japan’s rural heritage and the natural landscape.

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© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
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Sakura Palette

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Sakura in Yamanashi’s Hokuto Countryside – A Palette of Pinks and Whites
山梨県北杜市の里山に咲く桜「淡紅と白の春色パレット」


Springtime at Suisha-no-Sato Koen (Waterwheel Village Park) in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is a serene experience where vibrant pink and white cherry blossoms frame a gentle mountain stream that powers the park’s traditional waterwheel. This peaceful rural landscape captures the timeless beauty of sakura and the enduring charm of the Japanese countryside.

Arriving early in the morning, before other visitors appeared, gave me the rare opportunity to slow down and fully take in the scene: the vivid colors of the blossoms, the subtle floral aromas, birds chirping in the trees, the whisper of a soft breeze, the creaking of the waterwheel behind me, and the gentle murmur of the stream as it powered the wheel.

This kind of setting restores my spirit and recharges my motivation, thus giving me the strength to endure another week in the daily grind of life in the Tokyo metropolis before I can escape again to explore another quiet corner of Japan’s countryside with my border collie.

  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・08:12
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 34 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/10

Google Maps link + sources:
Copyright Notice for All Images:
© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.
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Border Collie and Sakura

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Dale-chan Enjoying Spring at Hokuto Waterwheel Village Park
水車の里公園で楽しむデールちゃん


My Border Collie, Dale-chan, truly seemed to enjoy soaking up the warm spring sunshine beneath the blooming cherry blossoms at Suisha-no-Sato Park in Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan.

We were lucky to arrive early in the morning at this rural and somewhat secluded park, which was completely empty of other visitors. It felt especially nice to explore the grounds and set up my shots and tripod without worrying about getting in anyone’s way or causing a disturbance.

Dale-chan doesn’t handle Japan’s hot, humid summers very well, so I’m hoping to return to this park with her in the autumn to enjoy the cooler weather and the beautiful fall foliage!

  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・08:03
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 95 mm ISO 200 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/5.6

Google Maps link + sources:
Copyright Notice for All Images:
© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.
Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.



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Koi Fish

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Tranquil Spring at Suisha-no-Sato: Koi, Cherry Blossoms, and Waterwheels in Hokuto, Japan
春の清流と鯉が彩る北杜の水車の里公園


Springtime at Suisha-no-Sato Koen (Waterwheel Village Park) in Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan, offers a peaceful scene where a mountain stream powers a traditional waterwheel before flowing into a clear pond. In this tranquil setting, colorful koi fish drift gracefully beneath the warm morning sun, embodying the calm beauty of Hokuto’s highland spring.

For photographers and tourists alike, places like this offer a  blend of natural serenity and cultural charm. Away from the crowds, rural locations such as Suisha-no-Sato reveal Japan’s quieter rhythms—ideal for thoughtful composition, slow exploration, and capturing moments of everyday magic free of crowds. Whether it's the reflection of cherry blossoms on water or the creak of a turning waterwheel, these off-the-beaten-path gems remind me that beauty often lives in simplicity.

  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・08:02
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 28 mm ISO 200 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/5.6

Google Maps link + sources:
Copyright Notice for All Images:
© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.
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Suisha-no-Sato Koen

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Cherry Blossoms and a Traditional Rest House in Hokuto’s Countryside
春空の下、桜に包まれた茅葺きの休憩所


Springtime at Suisha-no-Sato Koen (Waterwheel Village Park) in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, where vibrant pink and white cherry blossoms frame a traditional thatched-roof gazebo. In the distance, snow-capped Mt. Kaikoma rises majestically in the Southern Japanese Alps, creating a serene rural landscape that celebrates the charm of historic Japanese architecture and the enduring beauty of cherry blossoms.

Since its opening in 1994, this park has been visited by many locals and visitors from outside of the prefecture as a great spot for sketching, water painting, and photography thanks to its scenic beauty.

Resting beneath the blossoms with my border collie and the mountains rising beyond, I felt a quiet appreciation for how nature and tradition blend so harmoniously in the rural corners of Japan.

  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:59
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 34 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/10

Google Maps link + sources:
Copyright Notice for All Images:
© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.
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Location: Suishanosato Park, 2569 Mukawachō Mifuki, Hokuto, Yamanashi 408-0301, Japan

Jisso Temple Gate

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  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:10
  • 28 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/8

If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:
・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses
・Explore gifts and merchandise

  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:16
  • 28 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/8


Symbols of Devotion: Exploring the Gate and Stone Monument at Jissō-ji Temple
実相寺の山門と法界塔：春の朝に見る仏教建築と信仰の象徴


The impressive temple gate in this photo is called a Sanmon (山門), the traditional main gate of many Japanese Buddhist temples. Standing just beyond the gate is a tall stone monument known as a Hōkaitō (法界塔), inscribed with sacred calligraphy.

The engravings on the monument read:

  1. 南無妙法蓮華経 (Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) – This central phrase is a core mantra of Nichiren Buddhism. Often translated as “I devote myself to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra” or “Homage to the Sublime Dharma of the Lotus Sutra,” it is chanted as a spiritual practice to eradicate negative karma, reduce suffering, and guide the practitioner toward enlightenment.
  2. 法界塔 (Hōkaitō) – This refers to the stone tower itself. It serves both as a symbolic marker and a spiritual vessel, bearing the temple’s name and the powerful chant inscribed above.
  3. 大津山 (Otsuyama) – Located on the lower right of the stone, this part of the inscription refers to the mountain name traditionally associated with the temple.
  4. 實相寺 (Jissō-ji) – Found on the lower left, this is the formal name of the temple. Together with 大津山 (Otsuyama), it forms the full name: Otsuyama Jissō-ji (大津山實相寺), which is read right to left in the traditional Japanese writing style.

Captured on a peaceful spring morning in Yamanashi Prefecture, with cherry blossoms in bloom and the distant mountains dusted with snow, this scene embodies the tranquil beauty and spiritual depth of traditional Japanese Buddhist architecture.

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Jisso Temple Landscape

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Snow-Capped Mountains Beyond Temple Gardens with Spring Blossoms and Manicured Matsu Pines
実相寺の桜を見守る甲斐駒ヶ岳


At Otsuyama Jisso-ji Temple in rural Japan, cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom gracefully behind a weathered stone wall, accompanied by the delicate elegance of a manicured matsu pine. In the distance, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kaikoma towers above the landscape, adding a touch of grandeur to the serene temple grounds.

Although Otsuyama's highlands rest at just 643 m (2,110 ft), the early morning air was frigid when I arrived just before sunrise. By 7:00 a.m., sunlight began to spill over the horizon behind me, warming the gardens in a gentle glow. The contrast was striking with the warmth of spring blossoms against the backdrop of Mt. Kaikoma's snow-dusted peak, which rises to 2,300 m (7,545 ft).

Standing here, I couldn’t help but feel the sense of tranquility  that the Jisso-ji Temple landscape emanates where nature and history exist in perfect harmony.

  • Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
  • Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:09
  • Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
  • 95 mm ISO 100 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/9

Links to Google Maps and references for a deeper dive:
Copyright Notice for All Images:
© 2011-2025 Pix4Japan. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use for AI training is strictly prohibited.
Visit www.pix4japan.com to learn more.



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