You probably have heard of Odhino Hakkai, but have you heard of Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba? This traditional Japanese village is located on the shores of Lake Saiko.

You can explore the village, learn about traditional crafts like pottery and weaving, and even try your hand at making your own crafts! This village is much less crowded than Oshino Hakkai. We went here on a very crowded Fuji day and the village was almost empty.

It's a great place to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and pick up some unique souvenirs along the way but it's not very big so it can be a good stop in between other things.