A beautiful village, alive with people, nature, and culture

Starry Skies over Hara Village

As night falls in Hara Village, the stars begin to shine brilliantly and beautifully. Won’t you enjoy the feelings stirred by this beautiful and rich environment while embracing the starry sky? They are sure to create a wonderful memory of your visit.

Mt. Yatsugatake and the Refreshing Highland Breeze

There is a plateau extending between Mt. Yatsugatake and Lake Suwa; this is Hara Village. Homes, farmland, and tourist sites cover the highlands at altitudes ranging from 900 m to 1,500 m. Low yearly rainfall creates a refreshing inland climate with low humidity in summer, and makes the area particularly popular with tourists. Only a small amount of snow falls in winter, and when the snow clouds clear, a fantastic bright blue sky, known as “Yatsugatake blue”, spreads over the village and stirs the heart. There are several ski resorts in the surrounding area, hidden off the beaten path of winter sports. Nearby hot springs make for the perfect place to relax tired bodies.

Three Appealing Attractions of Hara Village

Hara is a village of many charms, attracting many migrants from Tokyo who are now living in the area. Since 1975, the population has grown by around 40 to 50 people each year for the past 35 years. When asked why they chose to move to the area, people often reply that the “nature, environment, and landscape are wonderful” or “because the sky is wide and open”. Let us introduce you to three appealing attractions that have made Hara Village such a popular destination.

Village of Falling Stars

Everyone praises the beauty of the starry skies. This is not only due to the surrounding forests and crystal clear air, but also to the low number of light sources competing with the starlight. This can be attributed to no other cause than the careful protection of nature and the environ-ment. We hope that you will enjoy the wondrous nature, environment, and landscape of Hara Village, as symbol-ized by the beautiful starry sky.

Mt. Yatsugatake

Towering to the east of Hara Village, the stately figure of Mt. Yatsugatake is always in our view, giving our hearts a feeling of the rich blessings of nature. The name Yatsug-atake is said to represent the “many peaks” including the highest point in Hara Village, the 2,085-meter summit of Mt. Amidadake. The mountain’s majestic form is popular with hikers and Mt. Fuji is visible from the summit.

Highland Vegetables

Clear air, clean water, and abundant sunlight mean that all vegetables harvested in Hara Village are fresh and delicious. The village is particularly proud to be Japan’s foremost producer of celery. The secrets behind its delicious taste are the long daylight hours and the large temperature difference from morning to midday. These are the reasons that Hara Village grown vegetables taste so good. We urge you taste the garden-fresh produce of Hara Village for yourself!