Shosenkyo Gorge, Fuefuki and Katsunuma driving guide: gorge road rules, Mt Fuji hot springs and wine country

The Shosenkyo Gorge, Fuefuki and Katsunuma area traces the northern and eastern rim of Yamanashi Prefecture's Kofu Basin, pairing the white granite cliffs of Mitake Shosenkyo Gorge and Takeda-clan samurai heritage in Kofu with Mt Fuji views and open-air hot springs above Yamanashi City, then descending through orchard-lined hills into Japan's historic Koshu wine country around Katsunuma. Prefectural Route 7 (the Shosenkyo Green Line), the hillside Fruit Line farm roads and National Route 20 stay open and toll-free all year, whereas the narrow old road along the Shosenkyo gorge floor carries seasonal weekend bans and a permanent rockfall closure, and the higher Crystal Line forest roads close for winter from 10 December.

This guide follows a full-day route from JR Kofu Station South Exit (or Kofu-Showa IC on the Chuo Expressway) via Takeda Shrine, Shosenkyo Gorge, Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, Hottarakashi Onsen, Erin-ji Temple, Koshu Katsunuma Budonooka and Chateau Mercian to Michi-no-Eki Kai-Yamato near Katsunuma IC, with gorge parking strategies, hot-spring renovation alerts and Japan's zero-tolerance drunk-driving rules set out below.

Map of the Shosenkyo Gorge, Fuefuki and Katsunuma area

The line follows the full-day route below, "First visit: one day from Kofu and Shosenkyo Gorge to Fruit Park, Hottarakashi Onsen and Katsunuma". S marks JR Kofu Station (South Exit), and numbers mark the stops: green for views and nature, blue for roadside stations. Markers 11 (Shosenkyo Entrance & Nagatoro Bridge), 12 (Kanazakura Shrine), 13 (Kikyou Shingen Mochi Factory Theme Park) and 14 (Michi-no-Eki Mitomi) show optional detours depending on your schedule and expressway interchange. Tap a marker to see its name.

Recommended drives

First visit: one day from Kofu and Shosenkyo Gorge to Fruit Park, Hottarakashi Onsen and Katsunuma

Start at JR Kofu Station South Exit (S) or Kofu-Showa IC on the Chuo Expressway and drive straight up Takeda-dori to Takeda Shrine (1), built on the moated residence site of warlord Takeda Shingen. From there, climb north on two-lane Prefectural Route 7 (the Shosenkyo Green Line) to the midpoint Shosenkyo Green Line Car Park (2), where a 10-minute walk leads out to the 180 m granite monolith of Kakuenbo (Yume-no-Matsushima) and the overarching boulders of Ishimon. Continue 5 minutes up the Green Line tunnels to Shosenkyo Ropeway & Sengataki Waterfall (3) to walk down to the 30 m cascade of Sengataki and ride the ropeway up to Panorama-dai and Mt. Yasaburo for views of Mt Fuji and the Southern Alps (with extra time, add an 8–10 minute spur further uphill to Kanazakura Shrine [12]).

Around midday, descend the Green Line to the northern edge of Kofu and take the toll-free Route 140 Nishikanto Liaison Road bypass and Higashiyama Fruit Line up onto the sunny hillside of Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruit Park (4) and Hottarakashi Onsen (5), perched at roughly 700 m elevation overlooking Mt Fuji and the Kofu Basin. In the afternoon, swing east via Michi-no-Eki Hanakage-no-Sato Makioka (6) and Zen garden temple Erin-ji (7), then follow the eastern Fruit Line south through hillside vineyards to Koshu Katsunuma Budonooka (8) and the 1904 wooden cellar museum at Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery (9), finishing on Route 20 at Michi-no-Eki Kai-Yamato (10) or Katsunuma IC on the Chuo Expressway (if driving out from Tokyo via Katsunuma IC, run markers 10 to 1 in reverse—or save Fruit Park's night view and Hottarakashi Onsen for dusk before rejoining the expressway).

The route is about 87 km, with around 2 hours 15 minutes of driving. Distance and driving time are calculated from map data and exclude traffic, walking, bathing and museum stops. Every public road on this main route is toll-free.

Shosenkyo Gorge road restrictions, free car parks and winter bus cutbacks

The single most important rule when driving to Shosenkyo Gorge is to stay on two-lane Prefectural Route 7—the Shosenkyo Green Line—rather than turning onto the narrow old road along the river. From 1 May to 30 November, the 3.2 km Gorge Road (Tenjinmori to Ainokakehashi) closes to all vehicles on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays and runs uphill one-way on weekdays (an upper old-road section also closes to cars on Sundays and holidays 10:00–15:00 from 1 July to 30 November). On top of that, Municipal Road Shosenkyo Line between Nosen Liaison Office and Kinkei Bridge is closed to vehicles year-round due to rockfall—pedestrians can walk through, but no car can drive the length of the gorge floor on any day of the year. Entering simply "Shosenkyo" into a car-nav unit or following a map pin in the middle of the canyon often routes drivers straight to a closed gate; set your destination to "Green Line Shosenkyo", "Shosenkyo Ropeway" or "Shosenkyo Tenjinmori" instead.

Pick between three free parking zones according to how far you want to walk. If you want to hike the entire 4–5 km gorge trail (~90 minutes uphill one way), park at the southern entrance at Tenjinmori Municipal Car Park (11, ~60 free spaces beside historic 1925 Nagatoro Bridge). For a shorter two-stop approach that sees all the highlights without backtracking up steep stairs, park first at the midpoint Prefectural Green Line Car Park (2, 37 ordinary cars and 10 buses; free) to walk 10 minutes to Kakuenbo and Ishimon, then drive 5 minutes north on the Green Line to the free car park at Shosenkyo Ropeway Sengataki Station (3) or Shosenkyo Kagee-no-Mori Art Museum (70 free spaces) for the 5–8 minute walk to Sengataki Waterfall (note that Kofu's official tourism portal states the unpaved public "Takiue Car Park" is currently unavailable, so use the ropeway, museum or patronised shop lots). Between 1 December and 31 March, local buses from JR Kofu Station terminate down at Shosenkyo-guchi (Tenjinmori) and the former gorge shuttle van ended service permanently on 31 December 2025—making a car fitted with winter tyres the only practical way to reach Sengataki and the ropeway in winter.

Sunrise and night bathing at Hottarakashi Onsen and zero-tolerance winery rules in Katsunuma

If you are pairing scenic bathing with Kofu Basin night views, check both payment rules and current renovation dates before setting out. Hottarakashi Onsen (5) opens 365 days a year from roughly one hour before sunrise (around 5:20 in mid-November, ~6:00 in midwinter, ~4:00 in summer) until 22:00 (last entry 21:30), offering two gender-separated panoramic outdoor bath complexes—Acchi-no-Yu and Kocchi-no-Yu—facing Mt Fuji across the basin. Admission (¥900 for adults, ¥400 for children per bath) and coin lockers (¥100) are strictly cash only, tattoos are accepted, and bathing after drinking alcohol is prohibited. Just down the hill, Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruit Park (4)—designated one of Japan's New Three Major Night Views—keeps its grounds and 339 permanent parking spaces open 24 hours free of charge. By contrast, the municipal bathhouse Tenku-no-Yu and its lounge at Koshu Katsunuma Budonooka (8) are closed long-term for major renovation from 13 October 2026 through the end of March 2027 (Budonooka's wine cave, shop and restaurant remain open), so route all day-trip bathing to Hottarakashi Onsen until spring 2027.

When visiting Katsunuma's wineries by car, remember that Article 65 of Japan's Road Traffic Act enforces absolute zero tolerance for alcohol: a designated driver may not take even a single sip of wine, and tasting-and-spitting is equally illegal before driving. Both Koshu Katsunuma Budonooka's underground wine cave (where passengers can buy a ¥2,200 tastevin vessel to sample from ~150–180 Koshu-certified wines) and Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery (9) strictly refuse tasting vessels, coins and pours to drivers of cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Designated drivers can still enjoy Chateau Mercian's free, no-reservation Japan Heritage Wine Museum inside its 1904 wooden cellar, order rich 100% Koshu grape juice (or non-alcoholic sparkling wine on reserved tours), and pick up cellar-door bottles to open after returning the car.

Roads you can drive

Places to stop

Views and nature

Numbers match the map.

Roadside stations

Best seasons and crowds

Sunrise in Kofu is at 6:20 and sunset at 16:40 on 14 November 2026, shifting to sunrise at 6:35 and sunset at 16:33 on 30 November (NAOJ). For a sunrise soak at Hottarakashi Onsen in mid-to-late November, aim to park around 5:15–5:30 as the eastern ridge begins to brighten; in Shosenkyo Gorge, finish canyon walks before 16:00 while light still reaches the gorge floor.

Closures, suspensions and traffic restrictions checked on 14 November 2026

• At Koshu Katsunuma Budonooka, the Tenku-no-Yu hot spring bathhouse and lounge are closed long-term for major renovation from 13 October 2026 through the end of March 2027 (the wine cave, shop, view restaurant and hotel remain open). Nearby Ohikage Tunnel Promenade also remains closed for brickwork safety, though the adjacent Ohikage Tunnel Wine Cave (9:00–16:00) is open.
• On the National Route 140 Nishikanto Liaison Road bypass (Kofu-Yamanashi Road between Manriki and Sakurai ramps), lighting-renewal works close sections in both directions every night from 21:00 to 5:00 through 5:00 on Wednesday 9 December 2026. When returning towards Kofu after 21:00 from Fruit Park's night view or Hottarakashi Onsen, detour onto surface Route 140.
• In Shosenkyo Gorge, Municipal Road Shosenkyo Line (Nosen Liaison Office–Kinkei Bridge) remains closed to vehicles year-round due to rockfall (pedestrians only), and the Gorge Road (Tenjinmori–Ainokakehashi) is closed to vehicles on weekends/holidays and uphill one-way on weekdays through 30 November 2026. From 1 December to 31 March, buses from Kofu Station terminate at Shosenkyo-guchi (Tenjinmori), and the former gorge shuttle omnibus permanently ended service on 31 December 2025.
• Kofu's Crystal Line municipal forest roads close for winter from 10 December 2026 to 25 April 2027, and several forest-road spurs (Okusenjo, Tokusa, Kusakazawa, Nekozaka, Fukakusa, plus Mitake Forest Road beyond Kinpusan Omotesando) are already closed due to rockfall and shoulder damage. Mountain passes east of Enzan towards Daibosatsu (Prefectural Routes 201, 218 and 212) also close for winter from mid-December.
• At Hottarakashi Onsen, Acchi-no-Yu closes for maintenance from early morning until around noon on Monday 16 November 2026 while Kocchi-no-Yu operates as normal. The EV quick charger at Michi-no-Eki Hanakage-no-Sato Makioka has been out of service since 16 October 2026.

Getting there and fuel

None of the three Michi-no-Eki serving this area (Makioka, Kai-Yamato and Mitomi) has a petrol station, and there are no fuel stations along upper Shosenkyo Green Line and Kanazakura Shrine, up on the Fruit Park / Hottarakashi Onsen hillside, or along the long mountain stretch of Route 140 north of Makioka across Karisaka Tunnel into Chichibu. Top up in central Kofu, along Route 20 in Isawa/Katsunuma, or in central Yamanashi/Enzan before climbing into the hills. Because Michi-no-Eki Makioka's EV charger is currently suspended, EV drivers should charge at Michi-no-Eki Kai-Yamato on Route 20, Michi-no-Eki Mitomi on northern Route 140, or fast chargers in central Kofu and Katsunuma.

If you don't have a car

Riding the JR Chuo Line Limited Express Azusa or Kaiji from Shinjuku to Kofu, compare the 1–5 minute South Exit counter walks, hours and—crucially for winter trips—which branches include studless snow tyres as free standard equipment versus paid advance options in Kofu Station Car Rental: 7 Companies and 7 Branches Compared, or browse branches across the prefecture in the Yamanashi car rental directory. Starting a wider loop from Tokyo or Nagano, compare Tokyo Station car rental and Matsumoto Station Car Rental: 8 Companies and 9 Branches Compared. Before booking expressway runs, Smart IC exits, one-way drops or winter passes, check ETC Cards for Rental Cars in Japan, One-Way Car Rental in Japan, Japan Winter Road Closures 2026–27, Driving in Japan on a Foreign License and Renting a Car at Haneda, Narita or Kansai Airport.

Frequently asked questions

Which road and car parks should I use when driving to Shosenkyo Gorge?

Always take two-lane, toll-free Prefectural Route 7 (the Shosenkyo Green Line). The canyon-floor road is closed to cars on weekends/holidays and uphill one-way on weekdays from May to November, and the Nosen–Kinkei Bridge section is closed to vehicles year-round due to rockfall. Park first at the free Prefectural Green Line Car Park (37 ordinary spaces) for a 10-minute walk to Kakuenbo and Ishimon, then drive 5 minutes north to the free car park at Shosenkyo Ropeway Sengataki Station or Kagee-no-Mori Art Museum (70 spaces) for Sengataki Waterfall.

Can the driver taste wine at Katsunuma wineries or Katsunuma Budonooka?

No. Japan enforces a strict zero-tolerance drunk-driving law (Road Traffic Act Article 65): drivers of cars, motorcycles and bicycles must not consume even a single sip of alcohol, and tasting-and-spitting is not permitted. Katsunuma Budonooka's wine cave and wineries such as Chateau Mercian refuse tasting service and tastevin sales to drivers. Enjoy the free Japan Heritage Wine Museum, 100% Koshu grape juice, and bottle shopping for after your drive instead.

Are both Hottarakashi Onsen and Tenku-no-Yu at Katsunuma Budonooka open to day bathers?

No—Tenku-no-Yu at Koshu Katsunuma Budonooka is closed for major renovation from 13 October 2026 through late March 2027. During this period, head to Hottarakashi Onsen above Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, which opens daily from roughly one hour before sunrise until 22:00 (last entry 21:30; ¥900 for adults, ¥400 for children; 280 free parking spaces). Bring yen notes and coins, as Hottarakashi Onsen's ticket machines accept cash only.

Can I drive a rental car to Shosenkyo Gorge, Hottarakashi Onsen and Katsunuma in winter?

Yes. Prefectural Route 7 (Shosenkyo Green Line), the Fruit Line and Route 20 stay open all year, and because local buses terminate down at Tenjinmori from 1 December to 31 March, a car is the only practical way to visit Sengataki Waterfall and the ropeway in winter. However, upper Shosenkyo and Kanazakura Shrine (~850 m), the steep climb to Hottarakashi Onsen (~700 m) on cold mornings and nights, and northern Route 140 freeze and receive snow—always book winter studless tyres from December to March.

Should I take the Crystal Line forest road from Shosenkyo across to Yamanashi City and Katsunuma?

No—avoid using the Crystal Line as a sightseeing shortcut. It is a narrow (~4.0 m) high-elevation forest road network (closed to vehicles with 11+ seats) where Kofu's municipal sections close for winter from 10 December to 25 April and multiple spurs are blocked by rockfalls. Descending Shosenkyo Green Line to the northern edge of Kofu and taking the Route 140 bypass and Fruit Line across to Fruit Park, Hottarakashi Onsen and Katsunuma is much safer and faster.

Nearby areas and guides

• Fuji Five Lakes Driving Guide: Lake Kawaguchi to Lake Motosu Route, Fuji Subaru Line and Map
• Mt Fuji fifth stations driving guide: Subaru Line, Fuji Skyline and map
• Yatsugatake and Kiyosato driving guide: bridges, highlands and Nobeyama
• Suwa driving guide: Venus Line, Lake Shirakaba and Tateshina
• Chichibu Driving Guide: Nagatoro, Mitsumine Shrine and Chichibu Muse Park Route with Map
• Yamanashi driving and travel guide