By Yutaka Nagai

Oshino Hakkai（忍野八海）

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Oshino-Hakkai is located at the foot of Mt. Fuji just between Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi prefecture. Hakkai means eight seas, but it is inconceivable that there are seas in the mountain area. Actually sea means small pond made by spring water. In Oshino village there are eight ponds made by very clear spring water which came out after 20 years of filtering of melted snow in the locks made by lava underground Mt. Fuji.

In spring, cherry trees planted along the river called Shin-nashogawa where spring water flows from the ponds, come into bloom and together with Mt. Fuji in the background they create the most beautiful scenery.

In winter, snowcapped Mt. Fuji and ancient style houses which is reserved  as one of the assets of Cultural World Heritage of Mt. Fuji also create beautiful old scenery as shown on next video.