Oshino Hakkai Springs

Oshino Hakkai is a mystical group of spring pools, where Mount Fuji’s snowmelt seeps underground and emerges after decades of natural filtration through volcanic rock. A vast lake called Utsuko that once existed, was split in two by an eruption of Mount Fuji, after which the eight spring pools that remained on the dried-up Oshinoko lake bed became what is now known as Oshino Hakkai Springs. The astonishingly clear, deep blue water was revered as a sacred site for purification and worship by the Fujikō pilgrimage groups during the Edo period. Designated as a National Natural Monument in 1934, selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Famous Spring Waters in 1985, and recognized as a component asset of the Mount Fuji World Cultural Heritage listing in 2013. This precious site, reflecting the seasonal expressions of Mount Fuji across its water surface, quietly conveys the inherent beauty of water and a reverence for nature.