Koshu Kaido Walk （12）Tsuruse-Isawa：Nov. 25, 2023

 

I had another series of my Koshu Kaido walk this weekend. I enjoyed the autumn color, beautiful landscape of the Kofu Basin, historical buildings and monuments and many other things in Yamanashi Prefecture. This is a report of the first fay.

 

Today’s walk started from JR Ka-Yamato station. Tsuruse shukuba is not far from the railway station. It was the 35^th shukuba station from Nihonbashi, (now in Tokyo) in the Edo era.

It was a small shukuba station, but a military checkpoint was placed in Tsuruse. Now, they have a monument there.

 

Koshu Kaido goes through the mountainous areas. The leaves of the trees were turning red or yellow. Highway runs in and around the mountains.

 

I found a solar power plant at the side of a mountain. Kashiwao, a historical battlefield at the end of Edo era lies under the plant.

 

Daisenji Tenple has a long history as it was first built in the 8^th century, according to the temple. Its main building was built in the 13^th century and is registered as a national treasure.

 

The red and orange colors of maple trees were so impressive. (See also the top photo)

  

I found many vineyards in Katsunuma area, the 36^th shukuba station. Japan’s first wine was made in Katsunuma in the Meiji era.

There are also many vineyards in the area of Kurihara, the 37^th shukuba station. See also the 3rd photo)

Hundreds of grape picking centers stand along Koshu Kaido, I found.

It is out of season of grape. The grape trees do not have fruits (the picking season is from July to October). Still some shops were open to sell vines and other materials.

I walked about 20km before arriving in Isawa, the 38^th shukuba station.　I will write the Isawa story in another post.

I had views of the Kofu Basin from many places today. This photo, as well as the 2^nd photo, was taken from Daizenji Temple.

The photo was taken from Isawa.

The Southern Alps mountains, covered with snow, are behind the Kofu Basin. One of the mountains is Mt. Kitadake of 3193 meter high, the 2^nd highest mountain after Mr. Fuji in Japan.

The good view sometime came into my sight when I was walking Koshu Kaido. The photo was taken between Tsuruse and Katsunuma.