The Spirit of Yamanashi Aboard the Hamanashi Houseboat: An Interview

When people think of dining with a view, few would think of a meal on a lake with an iconic landmark in the background. But imagine enjoying a fine dining experience of meals curated using locally sourced food and wines, while drifting seamlessly across Lake Kawaguchi, which transforms into a digital art show after dark. Illuminated against the backdrop of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji, the world aboard the Hamanashi Boathouse provides just that. As the only floating restaurant on Lake Kawaguchi, it’s one of Japan’s most distinctive fine dining experiences.

Showcasing the finest of Yamanashi Prefecture’s local cuisine, wines, and artistry, this exceptional venue unites the region’s natural beauty with its spirit of craftsmanship. You can embark on a multisensory journey that celebrates the harmony between people, place, and nature, from the delicate creations of local chefs and winemakers to the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you. As the sun sets behind Mount Fuji and twilight descends, the lake transforms into a living canvas, illuminated by digital art projections inspired by the soul of Yamanashi. Through taste, sight, and sound, Hamanashi Houseboat invites you to experience the region’s deep cultural and natural essence.

In this interview, we will learn more about their inspiration, philosophy, and the magic that unfolds aboard. 

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us today! To begin, could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Hamanashi Houseboat?

My name is Moto Sakaguchi, Director and Creative Producer of HAMANASHI HOUSEBOAT. I majored in Form and Spatial Design at university, and after graduation, I worked on spatial design and promotional planning for commercial facilities and retail stores.

About ten years ago, I began what has become my life’s work by organizing an annual art festival called Shibuya Pixel Art with friends who share my passion for digital expression centered around pixel art. Through this activity, I met many talented creators, and together we started looking for new ways and new spaces to express our creativity. That search eventually led to the founding of HAMANASHI HOUSEBOAT.

As part of my continued effort to transform pixel art into a tangible and experiential form of expression, I encountered the land, ingredients, brewers, and chefs of the northern foothills of Mount Fuji. Through these encounters, I was inspired to create a place where people can experience the culture rooted in this region, including its nature, craftsmanship, and spirit, in a new and immersive way.

For new guests, how would you describe Hamanashi Houseboat, and what makes it such a unique part of Yamanashi’s gastronomic landscape?

HAMANASHI HOUSEBOAT is the only floating restaurant on Lake Kawaguchi. While gazing upon Mount Fuji, guests are invited to experience a unique fusion of local gastronomy and pixel art, created together with local chefs. What we aim for through our concept of local gastronomy is to create the finest culinary experience through conversations and collaborations with experts from the northern foothills of Mount Fuji, including hunters, fishermen, farmers, brewers, chefs, and sommeliers.

Through these dialogues, we seek to express the region’s nature, climate, history, and the dedication of its producers by pairing food and drinks with art, offering guests a truly immersive taste of this land’s culture and creativity.

How did the idea of creating a floating restaurant come about? Was there a particular inspiration or story behind the concept?

The idea began when I often found myself visiting Lake Kawaguchi through various connections. Each time, I thought to myself that I wanted to create a place where people could not only admire this breathtaking view but also savor it as part of a story. I met the owner of a tatami-style yakatabune (traditional Japanese pleasure boat) and earnestly asked if I could turn it into a floating restaurant. That was the beginning of this project.

What’s the story behind the name “Hamanashi Houseboat”? Does it showcase or express anything in particular that ties back to the project’s mission? Could you tell us more about the design of the boat itself? Was it influenced by traditional Japanese craftsmanship or local maritime traditions?

The name “HAMANASHI” comes from an alpine plant that grows in clusters between the fifth and eighth stations of Mount Fuji. In summer, it bears white flowers, and in autumn, red berries. Inspired by its strength to thrive gracefully in the harsh environment of Mount Fuji, we chose this name to express our wish to live with the same resilience and adaptability, no matter the circumstances.

The boat’s design is based on the traditional yakatabune but reimagined with modern renovation. To ensure comfort for international guests unaccustomed to tatami seating and for elderly visitors, we adopted a table-style layout and adjusted the cabin height so that the outside scenery can always be enjoyed from within. As a result, guests can admire the serene reflection of Mount Fuji upon the lake’s surface, as if gazing at a work of makie (a lacquer painting) delicately mirrored on the water.

Your experience beautifully weaves together local gastronomy and digital art. How do these two elements complement each other to tell the story of Yamanashi?

Another defining feature of HAMANASHI HOUSEBOAT is the collaboration between art and cuisine.

Projected onto the dining tables is a pixel art piece titled A Grain of Memory. This work was inspired by Mount Fuji’s designation as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site as both an object of faith and a source of artistic inspiration. The piece expresses the memories and traditions that have been passed down in this land through the medium of pixel art.

In the same way, our cuisine emphasizes the importance of experiencing and tasting the stories of local nature and producers. By allowing art and food to complement each other, we invite guests to experience the region with all five senses, to let the art resonate throughout their body, and to leave a lasting impression in their hearts and minds.

Your menu highlights the prefecture’s terrier and local producers. How do you choose your ingredients and collaborate with farmers, winemakers, and artisans who bring Yamanashi’s flavor to life?

Yamanashi is home to many outstanding producers. We always entrust the selection of fresh ingredients to the discerning eyes of our chefs and culinary artisans. We also place great emphasis on pairings, which allow the world of cuisine to expand in infinite ways.

One example is 7C Winery, established in 2022, about fifteen minutes from Lake Kawaguchi. Guided by the concept of “turning entire grape farms into wine,” winemaker Hiroko Takano crafts wines of the highest quality. Another notable producer is Sasaichi Brewery, which has a history spanning more than 360 years. Its signature sake, Dan, meaning sunrise, dawn, or beginning, is inspired by the Fuji tohai, or pilgrimage to Mount Fuji, and has attracted attention from overseas.

A common feature among these producers is their use of Mount Fuji’s snowmelt water, deep underground spring water filtered through the Misaka mountain range, as the foundation of their winemaking and brewing. Our sommelier and drink director supervises pairings to communicate the passion and intentions of these producers alongside each dish.

Mount Fuji can often be hidden by clouds. How do you maintain the magic for guests when the mountain isn’t visible?

It is true that, depending on the timing of the visit, Mount Fuji may be hidden behind clouds. Even on such days, the pixel art projections are designed to spark guests’ imagination, allowing them to picture a second Mount Fuji in their minds.

Finally, for travelers looking to discover more of Japan’s hidden gems, what other experiences in Yamanashi would you recommend that embody this similar parallel between food, art, and nature?

At 7C Winery, each vineyard is treated separately for each producer, allowing the unique character of the grapes to emerge even within the same variety. For example, Koshu grapes are fermented and aged separately by each producer, carefully expressing the differences in both terroir and human craftsmanship. Visitors can enjoy tastings at the winery and also stay overnight at the adjoining villa.

Nearby, Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, home to the seven cedars that inspired the name 7C (Seven Cedars), is one of the memory-rich places that is deeply connected to the world of HAMANASHI HOUSEBOAT.

Thank you very much for sharing this story behind this remarkable project. As a reflection of Yamanashi’s spirit, Hamanashi Houseboat goes beyond the ordinary fine dining experience, collating taste, landscape, and culture into one. If you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind experience in Japan that captures the beauty of food, art, and nature, all aboard the Hamanashi Houseboat!

Follow Hamanashi Houseboat on:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/li1cGWP9PTU?si=UyUcHUFCNG694pDy

Website: https://hamanashi.jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamanashi.houseboat/

Feature photo credit: Hamanashi Houseboat

Looking to create your own Yamanashi adventure, including this amazing restaurant and more? Our Tailored Travel team is more than happy to help prepare a trip around Mt. Fuji area, tailored directly to you and your interests!