Oshino, Rural village in Minamitsuru district, Japan
Oshino is a village in Yamanashi Prefecture built around eight natural ponds fed by spring water from Mount Fuji. The ponds sit at around 2,000 feet (600 meters) elevation and are surrounded by historic farmhouses and green hillsides.
The village was established in 1889 during the Meiji era as a separate administrative unit after the region had long been controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate in Kai Province. This founding marked a new beginning for the community after a long period of relative isolation.
The name Oshino refers to the eight ponds that define the village and have sustained residents for generations. Around the ponds, visitors encounter traditional farmhouses with thatched roofs where local craft techniques remain part of daily life.
The village is easiest to reach by bus from Kawaguchiko Station, with the journey taking about an hour and running regularly throughout the day. A visit works well as a half-day trip since the main attractions are walkable.
The water in Waku Pond undergoes a natural filtration process through volcanic rock that takes around eighty years and was recognized by Japan's environment ministry in 1985. This process makes the water exceptionally clear and pure, something many visitors overlook.
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