Kiyosato Terrace (Sunmeadows Kiyosato)

Kiyosato Terrace sits atop the Sunmeadows Kiyosato ski resort in the highlands of Hokuto City on the slopes of the Yatsugatake mountain range, reached by a gondola ride that operates as a summer and autumn sightseeing lift outside the winter ski season. The terrace itself is an open wooden deck built at roughly 1,900 meters elevation, offering wide views across the Yatsugatake foothills toward the Southern Alps and, on especially clear days, toward Mount Fuji in the distance, with the surrounding highland air noticeably cooler than the Kofu basin below, making it a popular summer escape from lowland heat. The gondola ride itself takes about 15 minutes each way and passes over forested slopes that turn deep red and gold in autumn, extending the deck's scenic appeal beyond the summer season. Kiyosato more broadly is known as a highland resort town developed in the postwar decades around dairy farming, cheese and ice cream shops, and a cluster of cafes along its main road, giving visitors a reason to combine the terrace visit with a wider stop in the town itself. Because the terrace depends on the gondola's seasonal operating schedule, which is closed for a period each spring and can shift year to year, checking current dates before visiting is advisable, and cloud cover at this elevation can obscure the more distant Fuji view even when the immediate mountain scenery remains clear.