Yamanashi’s Vision for the Future

By Daniel de Bomford

At the foot of Mt. Fuji lies a land akin to Togenkyo, a fabled paradise of peach blossoms and harmony. Today, Yamanashi Prefecture is aiming to turn that myth of Togenkyo into reality. The prefecture is cultivating a garden beneath Mt. Fuji, a living and breathing landscape where education, technological innovation and sustainability flourish in unison with the lush green forests, pristine waterways and towering mountains that encompass Yamanashi. It is a place where technology and nature will nurture each other, forming a blueprint for what regional revitalization can and should be.

Confronting Japan’s Challenges

It is a vision driven by necessity. Japan is facing a demographic emergency: by 2040, up to 30 percent of municipalities may disappear due to depopulation. Yamanashi is no exception. Governor Kotaro Nagasaki attributes the population decline to uncertainty among younger generations, especially around their future prospects. “Without a strong belief in stable future income and standard of living, they are understandably hesitant to start families,” he says.

The prefecture’s own research shows a significant gap in household income between those who had children 20 years ago and those who have their first child today. Nagasaki attributes this to Japan's economic boom and economic security, when couples could reliably expect their social and personal earnings to increase over time. After a prolonged period of economic stagnation, young people can’t rely on automatic income growth, and Nagasaki points to this uncertainty as a significant influence on marriage and childbearing.

The solution? Rebuilding social confidence. “In Yamanashi, we’re promoting a model where ‘if you work hard, it pays off,’” Nagasaki says.

Building a Society Where Effort Pays Off

To counter stagnation, Yamanashi Prefecture emphasizes three key pillars: skill development (skill-up), corporate performance improvement (profit up), and corresponding wage increases (wage-up). “We’re embedding this mindset and structure into the fabric of our regional economy and culture,” Nagasaki says.

The Governor hopes that the prefecture can influence a national movement by demonstrating that regional revitalization and population policy are intrinsically entwined.

A key challenge for Yamanashi is that many companies in the prefecture view upskilling as a personal matter rather than a business priority. To change that mindset, the prefecture is working with employers and encouraging them to see skill development and wage increases as core management issues.

The prefectural government is directly offering professional training services for all working-age adults through its public platform, Career-Up University. Nagasaki emphasizes that it is open to all businesses, especially those without in-house training capabilities.

Education is foundational, and the prefecture is also focusing on the next generation. “We place great importance on long-term human capital investment,” Nagasaki says. The prefecture provides small-class education from grades one to six, ensuring children receive personalized attention that nurtures their unique potential.

At the same time, it is introducing “international early childhood education” to help children grow with a global perspective. Furthermore, the program emphasizes international exchange programs for middle and high school students to give them hands-on experiences with peers from around the world.

“Historically, Japan has struggled to provide such services due to financial constraints, but here in Yamanashi, we treat investment in education as a top priority—one that will drive our long-term development,” Nagasaki says.

Fuji Tram glides on smooth rubber tires, reading white lines with cameras for precise guidance—no rails required

Hydrogen: Yamanashi’s Engine for Green Growth

Yamanashi’s main industries are precision machinery and electronics. “We’re now encouraging these companies to expand into three promising growth sectors: medical devices, aerospace and defense, and green hydrogen,” Nagasaki says.

Yamanashi University’s decades of fuel cell research underpin Japan’s most advanced power-to-gas (P2G) hydrogen production system at Mt. Komekura. Nagasaki describes the process by which the prefecture arrived at the P2G system as an “accident.” Land that was initially zoned for industry sat unused after the bubble burst. The prefecture installed solar panels; then, to avoid wasting electricity, it chose hydrogen as a storage solution.

PEM electrolyzers respond quickly to power fluctuations, which allows them to pair well with renewable sources whose output shifts with weather conditions. Systems can be built by combining compact units, so layouts can range from large installations to container-based setups. This approach supports safe, straightforward hydrogen production without relying on hazardous materials. Nagasaki suggests that hydrogen production systems may eventually be introduced at the community level, enabling each household to utilize green hydrogen.

Yamanashi is engaging globally and collaborating with the Korean and Indian governments on joint development of hydrogen infrastructure and technology exchanges. In April 2026, Yamanashi Prefecture will host the International Hydrogen Summit, bringing together stakeholders to help shape the future of hydrogen in society and position the prefecture as a global hydrogen hub.

Environmental Development for Sustainable Tourism

Its location on the foothills of Mt. Fuji has made Yamanashi a popular tourism destination for international visitors. Nagasaki says the prefecture welcomes tourism with open arms, even as it has brought some friction to the community.

Case in point: tourists were obstructing roads to take photos of Mt. Fuji. To encourage respectful behavior, multiple planters with flowers were placed. This creative, non-coercive governance is the backbone of the prefecture’s strategy to divert tourists away from crowded areas. “Rather than concentrating tourists at a few hotspots like the 5th Station or summit, we want to introduce them to lesser-known but deeply cultural routes—such as ancient pilgrimage trails and the Aokigahara Forest at the mountain’s base,” Nagasaki says.

By offering more options, the prefecture can reduce overcrowding and offer new experiences and education programs. This, in turn, will help people appreciate the area’s cultural and natural richness and truly experience the depth of Mt. Fuji’s heritage.

Yamanashi Prefecture is also investing in the Fuji Tram Project and will link it directly with the Chuo Linear Shinkansen station, to open a new access point to Mt. Fuji, further dispersing visitors.

Yamanashi leads the world in green hydrogen innovation at the Tokyo Stock Exchange ceremony

Connectivity and Sustainable Mobility

With the opening of the Chuo Linear Shinkansen, Yamanashi Prefecture will be a mere 25-minute trip from Tokyo. “That’s a game-changer,” Nagasaki says. “It will likely increase the number of trains stopping at Yamanashi prefecture stations, which in turn will make the line more convenient for tourists—not just residents.”

With more frequent trains, Nagasaki expects the convenience to transform the local economy and quality of life. With affordable land and abundant nature and outdoor activities, Yamanashi becomes a compelling place to live and do business.

“Togenkyo,” A Regional Model for National Renewal

Governor Nagasaki’s philosophical vision for Yamanashi is a utopia that serves as a blueprint for regional revitalization efforts across the country. By creating a place where ideal living conditions and natural beauty come together, Yamanashi is a tempting alternative to the nearby Tokyo metropolis. This is especially true in a time when remote work continues to disrupt the market.

Those who do come can experience greater opportunities for both themselves and their children, where education nurtures children to their full potential and removes barriers to success. Nagasaki says it’s a place where, “There are no barriers to growth—only opportunity.”

Nagasaki’s Yamanashi represents a tangible journey towards Togenkyo, not as a distant ideal or notion but rather as a model for communities to both live in harmony and progress. Every initiative from hydrogen energy to education is a seed of renewal being planted in the fertile ground of the garden beneath Mt. Fuji. In the years to come, as new technologies and cherry blossoms bloom in tandem, Yamanashi reminds Japan and the world that paradise is not a place to be found, but one to be cultivated. And beneath Fuji’s enduring vigil and gaze, that garden is already growing.

To hear more from President Kotaro Nagasaki of Yamanashi Prefectural Government, check out this interview with him.