Yamanashi,Koshu / YamanashiHot-spring heaven and fruit - park paradise in Yamanashi's Koshu Valley

Fuefukigawa Fruit Park is less than 10 minutes by car from Yamanashishi Station and 20 minutes from Katsunuma's nexus of wineries. The park, which sits atop a hill covered in vineyards, boasts trees and shrubs teeming with peaches, pears, persimmons, and apricots. Locals say the area is particularly stunning in spring, when peach and cherry blossoms color the hillsides pink.

Once in the park, you'll find steamy tropical greenhouses, tiny stalls selling fresh fruits, a foot bath, and even a fruit museum. This child-friendly facility has playgrounds and indoor rest spaces, making it perfect for a family outing. After exploring the park, venture further uphill and unwind at a hot-spring retreat.

Fruit Spa Pukupuku is an onsen (hot spring) facility perched on a plateau next to Fuefukigawa Fruit Park. Its open-air baths offer stunning panoramic views of the mountains that make up the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park and the Kofu Basin. You might even catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji in the distance if you visit on a clear day.

However, the night view from Fuefukigawa Fruit Park over the city of Fuefuki steals the show: Bathe in the glow of the star-studded sky as you watch the city lights glitter below. In 2003, the vista was selected as one of the New Three Major Night Views of Japan.

While most hot springs are characterized by the smell of sulfur, Pukupuku's are different. Seasonal fruits such as pineapple and pear float in the water, filling the air with sweet aromas. The bathing area is made up of six baths, each with a different temperature.

Rose quartz in the women's bath and lapis lazuli in the men's bath imbue the facility with a luxurious touch. "We get a lot of regular visitors, who come here both for the quality of the hot spring and the amazing views," a staff member explains.

The bathing areas in the recently built facility are modern and well-furnished - the changing rooms feature lockers, vanity tables, and vending machines. Pukupuku offers the use of towels and a variety of other amenities, so even if you visit empty-handed, you can still enjoy yourself.

The lounge at Pukupuku has a range of devices to help you unwind. Relax in a massage chair or try the facility's unique hot stone therapy - eye masks stuffed with warm stones. The gift shop sells a variety of rocks, crystals, and minerals that are said to have therapeutic effects.

Once you've worked up an appetite after soaking in the hot springs, head to the on-site restaurant, Tenku. On clear days, the view from the terrace is spectacular, but if your visit coincides with inclement weather, you can relax indoors in the cozy tatami-mat room instead. The restaurant dishes up a variety of fare, including rice with wild plants, and regional specialties like hoto noodles. If you haven't had your fill of fruits yet, try their grape or peach juice.

To round things off, tuck into a bowl of shingen soft cream. Shingen mochi, a soft rice cake coated in soybean flour and brown-sugar syrup, is the quintessential Yamanashi confection. Pukupuku's shingen soft cream is a modern take on this traditional dessert, topped with marshmallows and wafers.

Pukupuku also offers an extensive range of souvenirs, including juicy peaches and other fresh, seasonal fruits. If you're looking for something with a longer shelf life, opt for fruit-infused treats such as peach-mousse pudding or blueberry juice.

If you spend the night in Koshu Valley, it's worth making a trip to Hottarakashi Onsen the following day. This no-frills hot spring - a five-minute drive from Pukupuku - sits 700 meters above sea level and is all about the view. As it opens before daybreak, it's a popular place to watch the sunrise. The simple wood-and-stone construction of the baths further enhances the panorama.

Hottarakashi Onsen has two main baths: Kocchi no Yu and Acchi no Yu, literally "this bath" and "that bath." The hot spring water here is highly alkaline, and some believe it eases muscle and joint pains. The fantastic views more than compensate for Hottarakashi's modest amenities, and consequently, it's usually crowded on the weekends.