Yamanashi Prefecture Local Quiz for Elementary Schoolers! A Workbook to Learn While Playing

Takeda Hishimaru

“Takeda Hishimaru” is a dog designated as a Natural Monument of Yamanashi Prefecture. The name comes from the Takeda family name and their family crest, the “Takeda-bishi.” Bred as a hunting dog, it is wary of strangers and other animals, but shows a very affectionate side toward its owner. It is known as a smart and adorable dog that embodies Yamanashi’s traditions and closeness to nature.

Hōtō (a traditional flat noodle soup from Yamanashi, Japan)

Hōtō is a local dish from Yamanashi Prefecture that uses flat noodles made from wheat flour. It’s simmered in a miso-seasoned broth with ingredients like pumpkin, potatoes, seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, and meat. It’s a warming dish that has been eaten since long ago. It’s said that Takeda Shingen ate it as food during battles, and it remains a traditional dish long cherished by the people of Yamanashi.

the year 1871

In 1871, at the beginning of the Meiji era, Yamanashi Prefecture was established through a policy called Haihan-chiken (the abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures). The area had formerly been known as the Province of Kai. When naming prefectures, it was decided to use the names of districts, mountains, or rivers. Since the name of Yamanashi District was used for the area where Kofu was located at the time, the region was named Yamanashi Prefecture.

one

There are three trailheads on the Shizuoka side of Mt. Fuji—Fujinomiya, Subashiri, and Gotemba—and one on the Yamanashi side, Yoshida. All routes start from the 5th Station, and each has a parking lot, so you can get there by car. From these points, climbers can head for the summit, making them convenient entry points that are easy to access even for beginners.

Isawa Onsen

Isawa Onsen is a hot spring that gushed forth from a vineyard in Isawa in 1961. Since then, it has become a popular tourist destination. The water is a simple alkaline spring and is said to help with bruises, nerve pain, and sensitivity to cold. It’s also said to leave your skin feeling smooth after a soak. This famous Yamanashi Prefecture spot lets you relax both body and mind in its soothing waters.

Hottarakashi Onsen

Hottarakashi Onsen is a day-use hot spring located in Yatsubo, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture. From here you can look out over Mount Fuji and the Kofu Basin, and the view is truly beautiful. While warming your body in the baths, you can enjoy the gorgeous natural scenery and surrounding mountains, making it popular with tourists. If you go in the morning or evening, you can simultaneously enjoy the changing colors of Mount Fuji and the sky—it's a very pleasant hot spring.

steadily; calmly; with dignity

“Dōdō” is a place name in Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is said to originate from the onomatopoeic sound “dōdō,” which was used to represent the vigorous flow of the nearby Mitakegawa River. Because the river’s current was lively and powerful, people long ago turned that sound into the place name. It’s a very interesting toponym in which the natural scenery and the character of the river became the name itself.