Gotemba (御殿場)

Map

Getting There

• train
• bus
• car

Best Times to Visit

• spring: Cherry blossoms, azaleas, garden flowers, and the Gotemba Cherry Blossom Festival make spring especially attractive.
• summer: Summer is best for Mount Fuji climbing, foothill activities, lush scenery, and the Mount Fuji Drum Festival.
• autumn: Pleasant hiking conditions, colorful foliage, harvest-related scenery, and often clearer mountain views favor autumn visits.
• winter: Snow-covered Mount Fuji, winter scenery, and seasonal resort illuminations create distinctive sightseeing opportunities despite colder conditions.

What's There

• architecture: The Peace Park stupa and historic villa architecture add distinctive built landmarks to Gotemba’s attraction mix.
• cherry blossoms: Gotemba hosts a cherry blossom festival, while spring blossoms enhance views around parks and Mount Fuji’s foothills.
• culture: Traditional confectionery, tea production, local festivals, and historic sites provide accessible regional culture.
• farm: Tea fields and cultivation of local Koshihikari rice, vegetables, and wasabi reflect Gotemba’s agricultural identity.
• festival: Seasonal events include the Gotemba Cherry Blossom Festival, Mount Fuji Drum Festival, and traditional summer festivities.
• flowers: Memorial Park gardens and nearby foothills feature seasonal flowers including azaleas, lavender, hydrangeas, and autumn foliage.
• food: Local specialties include beer, green tea, rice, wasabi, and Kintoki Chikara Manju.
• garden: Chichibu-no-miya Memorial Park offers extensive landscaped gardens, historic grounds, and seasonal plant displays.
• hiking: Gotemba provides access to Mount Fuji trails and foothill nature areas suited to hiking and outdoor exploration.
• history: The former imperial villa, historic parks, and traditional regional products connect visitors with Gotemba’s local history.
• mountain: Mount Fuji dominates the landscape and supports climbing, sightseeing, and mountain-oriented attractions.
• nature: Forests, foothills, gardens, volcanic landscapes, and Mount Fuji surroundings provide varied natural experiences.
• park: Peace Park, Chichibu-no-miya Memorial Park, and Fujisan Juku no Mori are prominent recreational green spaces.
• shopping: Gotemba Premium Outlets is a major shopping destination with extensive retail and Mount Fuji views.
• spiritual: The Buddhist stupa at Peace Park offers a contemplative setting and a prominent spiritual landmark.
• views: Clear-weather viewpoints provide broad vistas of Mount Fuji, surrounding mountains, parks, and countryside.

Specialties

• Gotemba Kogen Beer (御殿場高原ビール): Gotemba Kogen Beer is brewed in Gotemba using Mount Fuji groundwater. The brewery produces several styles, including Gotemba Koshihikari Lager.
• Gotemba Green Tea (御殿場茶): Gotemba has tea fields and local tea retailers specializing in tea grown in the city’s cool, highland environment. The region’s tea is noted for soft leaves, deep color, and a refreshing sweetness.
• Gotemba Koshihikari Rice (御殿場コシヒカリ): Gotemba Koshihikari is rice cultivated at the foot of Mount Fuji using the area’s groundwater and agricultural environment. It is featured as a local Gotemba food product by Shizuoka’s official gastronomy tourism program.
• Wasabi (わさび): Wasabi is included among Gotemba’s regional agricultural and food products in the city’s official English guide. The guide presents it alongside locally produced rice and soba as a taste of the Mount Fuji foothills.
• Kintoki Chikara Manju (金時力まんじゅう): Kintoki Chikara Manju is a traditional Gotemba confection made by Higashiyama Seika. The producer offers steamed and fried versions filled with sweet red-bean-based paste.