Journeys in Japan

Peach Trees and Rural Retreat Kofu Basin (4x19)

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The Kofu Basin, in Yamanashi Prefecture, lies north of Mt. Fuji. In mid-April, when peach flowers blossom, the landscape becomes a carpet of pink. Over time, many farmers here switched from silk farming to fruit cultivation, taking advantage of demand, climate and geography. Now often called a "kingdom of fruits" Yamanashi is the largest domestic peach producer. On this edition of "Journeys in Japan," German national Lana Bergmann, who is studying film, visits Kofu when the peach flowers are in full bloom. And she is shown how farmers produce the delicious fruit. She then heads to a nearby mountain village to spend the night in a house built more than a century ago. Villagers tell her about a Japanese way of life in harmony with nature and share the wisdom that made it possible. This journey introduces viewers to beautiful rural landscapes.