Yamanashi is an inland prefecture with a population of 890,000 and an area of 4,465 square kilometers. It is surrounded by many of Japan's highest mountains: the Yatsugatake range to the north, the Southern Japan Alps to the west, and Mount Fuji to the south. With close to 80% of its area covered by forest, the prefecture is rich in nature.

Looking back at Yamanashi's history, the Takeda clan began ruling over the area during the Kamakura period (1192-1338). Shingen Takeda (1521-73), a military general who was active during the sixteenth century, is a particularly distinguished figure in Japanese history. Even today there are many cultural assets and historic sites remaining from this period.

Yamanashi Prefecture's main industries are farming and tourism. Cultivation of such fruits as grapes and peaches is particularly prominent. Wine making, using the area's specially grown grapes, is also an important industry. In 1870, Japan's first domestically produced wine was made in Yamanashi, and today the prefecture boasts the country's highest wine production. Approximately 37 million people visit Yamanashi each year. In addition to offering easy access to four national and quasi-national parks, the prefecture is conveniently located relatively near the Tokyo area, and the number of tourists has been increasing each year.

Over the past few years, many cutting-edge companies that build industrial robots and precision machinery have set up shop in Yamanashi. The prefecture also has a test track for the linear motor car, a next-generation maglev (magnetically levitated) train. The linear motor car is said to be able to reach top speeds of over 500 kilometers per hour, and research and development aimed at putting it into use are taking place right now.