Hokuto, City in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
Hokuto is a city in northwestern Yamanashi Prefecture that stretches across highlands and wooded slopes at the base of the Yatsugatake range. Settlements lie scattered between valleys and open spaces, where fields and villages fit into the landscape.
The city formed in November 2004 through the merger of several smaller communities, including Hakushu, Nagasaka, and Sutama. This union brought together different villages and towns under a single administration.
The name connects to northern directions and the mountains that have shaped life here for generations. Residents use the surrounding forests and highlands for farming and tourism, with the seasons setting the rhythm of daily life.
The city sits along the Chuo Main Line and the Koumi Line, which provide access to other regions. Road connections run through the area via the Chuo Expressway and National Routes 20 and 141.
The Kiyosato Plateau hosts a facility that has offered lodging and baths in the mountain air since the 1950s. The plateau location makes the area a destination for rest and stays outside urban centers.
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