Activities

Fun activities at YC

YC does not charge extra fees for the recreation equipment on the property. However, we do ask that our guests will take excellent care of the equipment and put everything away after using it. This includes all the items your children may use. Please leave things organized for others on the property and for the next guests.

BBQ

Charcoal grills and cooking utensils are in the Boat House. Please bring your own charcoal and do not use wood in the charcoal grills. Make sure to clean the grills properly after use; the ashes need to be cleaned out and disposed of in the ash barrels by the bicycle shed. Enjoy your barbecue meals!

Bonfire

There are 3 concrete fire pits around the property and a brick fire pit near cabin #5. You may use the metal roasting sticks in the Boat House for marshmallows or franks.
IMPORTANT:
-You may use wood from the woodshed, but PLEASE use only what you need.
-After your outdoor fire, please dispose of the ashes in the barrels by the bicycle shed.
-PLEASE do not light fires anywhere other than in the fire pits.


Playground

A new playground for young children (age10 and younger) is between cabins #6 & #7. It has 2 slides, a miniature climbing wall and swings for very young children. In front of cabin #6 is a larger swing set, and the rope swing is hung from a high tree in front of cabin #5.




Basketball

The basketball hoop is in front of Cabin #3, and the basketballs are in the Boat House. Please return them after use.

Volleyball

If you like to play volleyball, we have an outdoor volleyball court behind Cabin #1.


Badminton

There is a badminton court between cabins #6 & #7. The rackets and shuttlecocks are in a plastic box behind cabin #7.


The Boat House

There is a table for table tennis (ping pong) in the Boat House. Paddles and balls are in the baskets on the wall near the back. Upstairs is a foosball table and lounge. There are also outdoor games near the stairway.


Games, puzzles and books

In the cabins are a variety of games, small and large puzzles and books. If you don’t find exactly what you’re interested in, please ask what’s available in one of the other cabins.


The Lake

From June through August, swimming in the lake is very enjoyable. The water is clear and clean, and by July the water temperature is very comfortable. We have a short dock in the lake and a raft that you may swim to and jump or dive from. The rocks on the beach are sharp and hurt your feet, so sandals, crocs, or water shoes are advisable.

  • PLEASE practice good safety habits by the lake:

  • The lifesaving ring needs to be hanging on the ladder for everyone to see.

  • Never swim alone; children need to be supervised while swimming (please don’t be reading or distracted with your phone while supervising children in the lake).

  • Do not allow anyone to dive into water that is less than 2 meters deep

  • Kayaks, Canoes & Stand-up paddle boards (SUPs)

  • YC has 3 kayaks, 2 canoes, and 2 stand-up paddle boards that you may use. PLEASE observe our safety rules while boating:

  • Do not go boating by yourself; another individual should be watching from shore or in the boat with you.

  • Every person in the boat MUST wear a lifejacket

  • PLEASE do not drag the boats on the beach because the sharp volcanic rock will damage them

  • The paddles are stored in the paddle box behind the garbage shed. Please return them and don’t leave them on the beach.

  • If you wish to go some distance, please travel parallel to shore, not straight out into the lake. Inexperienced paddlers should not travel more than 100m from shore. The line of orange buoys about 100 from shore marks the are where the speed boats will be traveling. Please stay inside the buoys.

Fun activities around YC

Cycling

YC has many bicycles of all sizes for exploring around the lake or going to buy groceries. There are two tire pumps in the bicycle shed if needed. Please always return the bicycles to the bicycle shed and report any problems with the bicycles to the Chalet hosts

Hiking

While some like to climb Mt. Fuji during their summer stay at YC, others prefer a local hike. All around the lake there are hiking trails in the hills. The Yamanaka-ko city office (Yakuba) has current hiking maps. There are also hiking trails near Kawaguchi-ko or a hike around Sai-ko or Motosuko is enjoyable.



Restaurants

Click on the link to see the location of all the restaurants around Yamanaka Chalet. (MAP)

Recommendations from the YC hosts :

  • Hashibito (Paris) - coffee & pastries

  • Noa - coffee shop

  • Mori-no-Arumu - coffee shop and lunch; the building looks like it’s from a Ghibli movie

  • Paper Moon - coffee, tea, pies (children under 10 not allowed)

  • Patisserie HACONIWA - coffee, sweet treats, lunch

  • Ringa Ringo - coffee shop with gift shop

  • XIV - fancy restaurant in a resort hotel; open until 22:00 for a late night coffee or tea

  • Zeit - bakery & coffee shop

  • Amano-ya Farmer’s Cafe - featuring venison & locally grown vegetables; open only for breakfast & lunch

  • Chianti Como - Italian Food

  • Dosanko - ramen

  • Fujiyama Kitchen - locally sourced beef; organic herbs and vegetables; a beautiful setting

  • Lakeside Cabin - pizza curry, other specialties

  • Tres Hermanos - Mexican street tacos (on the beach below the parking lots near Asahigaoka)

  • Kosaku - most popular restaurant for houtou

  • Shouya - houtou, tendon

  • Taiho - houtou, many other Japanese specialties (near Ogino Supermarket)

  • Sakaba Steak - steak house & Izakaya

  • Moose Hills Burger — fantastic burgers, the best in Japan (Kawaguchi-ko)


Parks

Please click on the link to see the list and location of all parks near Yamanaka Chalet. ( MAP )

Onsen

  • Beni-Fuji-no-Yu (5 minutes away)

  • Yamanakako Hirano Onsen (at the other end of Lake Yamanaka)

  • Fujiyama Onsen (Fujiyoshida; open late)

  • Fuji Sensui (Fujiyoshida; open late)

  • Oasis Gotemba (Gotemba)

  • Fuji Hakkei (Gotemba)

  • Hakone Kowakien Yunesun — swimming, water slides, onsen (Hakone)

Local stores

Less than 1 km behind YC is a small shopping center: the Ogino Supermarket is very well stocked for all the groceries you need. There is also the Ogino clothing store that has outdoor supplies, Seria and a large drugstore across the street.


Shopping

For a serious shopping experience, the enormous Gotemba outlet mall is about 45 minutes away. There are also stores in Fujiyoshida and Gotemba.

  • Goosie House — country craft store

Places of interest

  • Dallas Village — craft making featuring items made of glass (Yamanaka-ko)

  • Hana-no-Maiyako Flower Park (about 2 km away, behind the YC property)

  • Oshino Hakkai — famous ponds filled by water that flows from Mt. Fuji (Oshino)

  • Fujisan-no-Nuku “KipoKipo” — indoor playground and children’s activities, enormous outdoor playground, mountain bike course through the woods, walking trails, barbecue garden (Fujiyoshida)

  • Shinobi-no-Sato Ninja Village (Fujiyoshida)

  • Doggy Park (Fujiyoshida)

  • Fujikyu Amusement Park (Kawaguchi-ko)

  • Fujiten Snow Resort — skiing, snowboarding & sledding in the winter (Narusawa)

  • Narusawa Ice Cave, Wind Cave, Bat Cave (all near Saiko)

  • Thomas Land (for young children; next to Fujikyu)

  • Forest Adventure rope course (parks in Kawaguchi-ko, Gotemba and Hakone)

  • Fuji Safari Park (near Gotemba)

  • Fuji Speedway Karting (Go-Cart track beside the Fuji Raceway; minimum age limit)

  • Hakone — a famous tourist destination in Japan, about 75 minutes away

  • Makaino Farm — meet and pet farm animals (on the other side of Mt. Fuji about an hour away). Stop at the Asagiri Kogen rest area on the way home for the best, fresh ice cream.

  • Fuji Milk Land — more farm animals (on the other side of Mt. Fuji)