Lately I visited Oshino Hakkai near Mt. Fuji.
Oshino is a village name in Yamanashi Prefecture, and Hakkai means eight seas (or waters). As its name shows, Oshino Hakkai is an area with eight natural spring ponds, and you can see picturesque Japanese traditional houses as well. It is a touristy place indeed, but if you would like to feel what a traditional Japanese village was like, this would be a good option. You can go there by an express bus in two hours from Tokyo.
Please look at the photos taken there.
This is also a part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing "Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration." It includes 25 sites, and 8 of them are 8 ponds of Oshino Hakkai.
You can also enjoy a small bite of Yomogi Mochi, a piece of mugwort-flavored sticky rice cake. It was tasty and I loved it. Only 100 yen!
On a clear day, you might be able to see Mt. Fuji from there (this was taken from a bus).
If interested, please contact me.