Fuji Five Lakes · Lakeside near Kawaguchiko Station (Funatsu)
Yamanashi Gem Museum
How to get there and what to see · facts checked 2026-10-24
Photo: Abasaa・Public domain
A museum devoted to gemstones and crystal, with more than 2,000 pieces from rough stones to finished jewellery.
- Nearest station
- About 10 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station by retro bus
- Hours
- 9:00-17:30 (last entry 30 minutes before closing); winter (Nov-Feb) 9:30-17:00
- Admission
- Adults 600 yen; elementary and junior high students 300 yen
What to see
- Giant quartz crystal: a Brazilian specimen 1.8 m tall and weighing 1,270 kg; a single crystal this large and white is rare worldwide.
- From rough stone to gem: about 50 main gem types shown as a set of rough stone, cut stone and jewellery, so you can compare them.
- Yamanashi and jewellery: about a quarter of Japan's jewellery is made in Yamanashi, the largest share in the country.
- Master craftsmanship: works by a German gem cutter and by Yamanashi's crystal carvers.
History
Rock crystal is said to have been found in Yamanashi around 1500, and polishing skills took root in Kofu. The museum opened in Kofu in 1975 and moved to Kawaguchiko in 2007.
Getting there
About 10 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station on the Kawaguchiko-Saiko retro sightseeing bus. Get off at "Yamanashi Hoseki Hakubutsukan / Kawaguchiko".
Address：6713 Funatsu, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi
Before you go
Closed on Wednesdays (open on public holidays; open daily during Golden Week, July and August). Over the New Year: 31 December 2026 is 9:30-16:00, and 6 January 2027 is closed. Photos and video are allowed inside, but not flash, monopods or tripods.
Around Lake Kawaguchi
Tap a red pin to open that sight's page.
Nearby sights
← Fuji Five Lakes guide: trains from Tokyo
Sources
Hours, prices and history come from the official websites and public tourism pages listed here. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
- 山梨宝石博物館（トップ）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 同（利用案内）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 同（展示紹介）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 同（施設概要）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 同（年末年始の営業）（checked 2026-10-24）
Map data：© OpenStreetMap contributors