History / Culture / Tour Spots in Kofu / Shosenkyo Area

  • Takeda-jinja Shrine
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    4.0
    444 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Kofuchumachi 2611
    Takeda Shingen, a pre-eminent daimyo from the Sengoku (warring states) period, is enshrined here as a deity. It is said that for those praying at this shrine, not only luck in competitive games can be attained, but you can also be rewarded with a stronger mind to better oneself. In addition, through its efforts to attain prosperity in agriculture, commerce, and industry, the enshrined deity draws many worshipers as the god of industry and economy. The sanctuary within the grounds of the shrine houses a host of treasures such as a Kamakura period sword, Yoshioka-ichimonji, designated a national important cultural property. The Tsutsujigasaki-yakata Ruins, a national historic monument of Japan, is the place where three generations of the Takeda family, Nobutora, Shingen, and Katsuyori, actually lived. Festivals are held throughout the year and attract many, many people.

    This shrine is dedicated to Shingen Takeda who was a famous Samurai in the Sengoku period. He was so strong in wars that this shrine is known as giving luck to a battle. The precinct has wide space...

  • Maizuru Castle Park
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    3.5
    283 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Marunouchi 1
    This castle park is located in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Originally the site of Kofu Castle, built at the end of the 16th century, today parts of the castle ruins are a public park. The area in and around the park features a number of historic sites that help visitors imagine what the castle would have looked like in its heyday. These include Yuki Bridge, the castle quarry, and Inari Yagura Tower. The park has a great team of volunteer tour guides.

    Basically just the ruins of castle. While it can be a great view, the steps up are steep and uneven with no handrails.

  • Kai-Zenkoji Temple
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    4.0
    187 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Zenkouji 3-36-1
    This temple is located in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It was built in 1558 by Takeda Shingen, who feared that the fires caused by the Battles of Kawanakajima would reach Shinano Zenkoji Temple, as a place to relocate the temple's statues, scriptures, and other properties. The temple's gate and main hall are nationally-designated Important Cultural Properties. The treasure hall built on the temple grounds exhibit some of the temple's countless treasures.

    It will be great to read some history of Takeda Shingen from the war period in Japan prior to visiting the temple. A totally historical place that continue to play import religious roles in the...

  • Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
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    4.5
    150 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Kugawa 1-4-27
    This art museum surrounded by the greenery in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture is located inside Prefectural Arts Park. The museum has become known as the the museum of Millet due to its collection centered on the representative works of French painter Jean-Francois Millet. In addition to a gallery focused on painting and sculptures by western artists, the museum also holds a range of events.

    I’ve only toured the museum exhibits once but I often came to visit the gorgeous gardens and walk the grounds. My girlfriend and I came here together and we have wonderful memories of this place. The...

  • Kanazakura-jinja Shrine
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    3.5
    39 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Mitakechou 2347
    This shrine that sits above Shosenkyo Gorge enshrines Mt. Kinpu. Its treasure house contains the Hi no Tama and Mizu no Tama, two polished balls of quartz crystal that were excavated in the region The shrine's sacred ukon no sakura cherry blossom tree has long been commemorated in the folk song kane no naru ki no kanazakura (the golden cherry blossom tree that makes you money). From late April to early May, it blooms with golden blossoms. The shrine is visited by many people seeking a blessing of luck with money.

    本殿の昇り龍、降り龍は、彼の左甚五郎の作と聞き訪問。ところが本物は昭和30年に焼失、現物は昭和58年に再建された物だとか。ちょっとがっかり。3月下旬では桜はまだ蕾。すぐ近くの夫婦木神社にお参りしてから訪問したが、直近。下の鳥居脇に数台の駐車場が見えたが、上の本殿そばの駐車場の方が広い。無料。下に駐車して杉木立の石段を歩いてお参りした方がご利益はあるかも。

  • Yamanashi Jewelry Museum
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    3.5
    41 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Kofu Marunouchi 1-6-1 Yamanashi
    "This exhibition facility is located inside the new Yamanashi Prefecture Disaster Prevention building along Prefectural Route 31 in Marunouchi 1-Chome, Kofu City. The exhibit's three themes, ""A timeline of people and jewelry,"" ""Those who give shape to jewelry,"" and ""the way of the craftsman,"" are always on display, and feature the history and techniques of Yamanashi's jewelry industry. In the special exhibition room, you can view the exhibit ""Modern Yamanashi Jewelry,"" featuring creations by young designers, and other exhibits regarding jewelry. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, you can view a live performance by a craftsman, and also try your hand at a jewel crafting experience."

    甲府市に来ても、いつも車で通り越してしまっていたジュエリーミュージアムにやっと行ってきました。茶色のビルのやまなしプラザの一階にあります(入場無料)。 山梨の宝飾業の歴史や技術、一大産地になった理由などが、とても分かりやすく展示されています。 職人の技などが映像でも紹介されているので、ご覧になる事もおすすめします。

  • Yamanashi Prefectural Archeological Museum
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    4.0
    13 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Shimozonechou 923
    This museum that opened in 1982 is a facility where people can learn the history of Yamanashi from archeological materials. The museum exhibits artifacts that paint a picture of the prefecture from the Paleolithic age to the Edo period, the time of Kofu Castle. Museum visitors can also participate in hands-on activities such as ancient fire-starting or making magatama beads.

    縄文時代から古墳時代に特化した博物館です。アプリをダウンロードして隣接した古墳を散策すると楽しいです。 展示品も充実しており、掲示されている解説も比較的丁寧です。 実物の出土品がたくさん見られるので、考古学が好きな方にはお勧めです。 最大の難点は、公共交通機関でのアクセスが悪いことかな。

  • Entaku-ji Temple
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    4.0
    11 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Kofu Yumura 3-17-2
    A Buddhist temple situated on Yumura Onsen-dori Street in 3-Chome Yumura, Kofu City. Records state the temple was founded in 808 by the great priest Kobo Daishi. The temple's stone statue depicting a seated Kshitigarbha, one of its principal objects of worship enshrined in the Important Cultural Property-designated Jizodo hall, is said to grant worshippers protection from harm and improved fortunes. During the temple's Yakuyoke Jizoson Festival, held each year from noon on February 13 to noon of the following day, a grand homa burning rite is held and a variety of street stalls open up on the grounds, attracting large numbers of visitors.

    湯村温泉郷を見下ろす湯村山の中腹に位置します。 大同3年(808)に、弘法大師(空海)が開山した由来を持つ真言宗の寺院です。 湯村温泉街を歩き、弘法湯(宿)の少し先にあります。

  • Kofu Fujimura Memorial Museum
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    3.0
    4 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Kofu Kitaguchi 2-2-1 Kofu Sta. Kitaguchi Hiroba
    This historic building in Yocchabare Plaza at JR Kofu Station's North Exit is located in Kitaguchi 2-Chome, Kofu City. It was constructed in 1875 as the Mutsuzawa school building in Kamezawa, Kai City. After being designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1967, the building was moved to its current location in 2010 and is currently used as a cultural exchange guidance facility.

    甲府駅北口前にあるこの建物は、国の重要文化財に指定されています。西洋風の建築を、当時の日本の建築技術で再現された建築様式で、偽西洋建築と呼ばれています。 明治時代の日本の建築技術を知る貴重な建物です。建物内は無料で自由に見学できます。ギャラリーとして使われている箇所やまた当時の学校の様子も再現されている箇所もあります。

  • Takeda Castle Ruins Museum (Shingen Museum)
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    3.0
    1 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Kofu-shi Ote 3-1-14

    武田神社の入口近くにある駐車場の傍にある通称「信玄ミュージアム」です。武田信玄や甲斐の国の歴史や地理について、解説書だけでなくビデオ等も使って分かり易く情報提供されていました。武田神社や恵林寺等を訪問する前に勉強していくと良いかもしれません。

  • Takeda-jinja Shrine Treasure House
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Kofuchumachi 2611
    This treasure hall that opened in 1972 contains the historically and culturally valuable collection of historical treasures donated to the shrine since its founding by people with connections to the Takeda clan from across the country. Its collection is full of must-see items such as a tachi sword by Yoshioka Ichimonji, a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property, as well as a seven-star war fan and the complete set of armor with a gilded western-style cuirass from the Warring States period.
  • Shosenkyo Gorge Kagee no Mori Museum
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Takanarichou 1035-2
    This art museum is located Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture focused on shadow pictures is notable for its underground gallery that shuts out all-natural light. The museum's first gallery exhibits with a fantastic background music, the works of Seiji Fujishiro, the world-class master of shadow pictures who supervised the museum's design. The museum's second gallery exhibits the works of Kiyoshi Yamashita, a painter who greatly loved Shosenkyo Gorge, as well as those of Yumeji Takehisa.
  • Shosenkyo Crystal Sound Museum
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    3.0
    2 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Kofu Ikaricho 312
    This museum is located in Ikari-cho, Kofu City. It holds a variety of exhibitions, including exhibitions of rare gems, including crystals, collections of art pieces, such as precious stone pictures made from manufactured gems and Houseki Rittaizou, a motif of Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, and whimsical illuminations of lit-up gems. You can experience the crystal refining techniques of Yamanashi's time-honored and prosperous jewelry industry and purchase accessories and other goods at the museum store.

    昇仙峡ロープーウェイのすぐそば。 近くで水晶が採れたことで、宝石類の加工が盛ん。きらきら輝く原石の水晶の展示は、確かに心を動かすものがあると思います。

  • Yamanashi Prefectural Science Center
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Atagomachi 358-1
    The science museum located in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture is also known as the science ship due to its unique ship-shaped building. The museum features a planetarium, a large telescope, various exhibit halls, and more, making it a fun and easy place to learn about science and space. The museum's lookout terrace offers a view of the entire Kofu Basin. You can even see Mt. Fuji on clear days.
  • Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Literature
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    5.0
    1 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Kofu-shi Kugawa 1-5-35

    10月位に山梨のFMを聞いていたら、山梨県立文学館にて「まるごと林真理子展(9/11〜11/23)を行うので、皆様来て下さいね。」と真理子様がゲストとして、言ってました。興味があったので、今回初めて文学館を訪れました。 文学館は山梨県立美術館の真向かいにあります。 「るんるん買っておうちに帰ろう」から「大河ドラマ西郷どん」など、エッセイから歴史小説、トレンディドラマになった小説などなど様々な内容を...

  • Gokoku Shrine
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Iwakubochou 608
    This shrine holds a cenotaph and ossuary, and was built to honor the prefecture's war dead from the Russo-Japanese War and World War II. Built on a small rise overlooking the city of Kofu, this place is also popular as a cherry blossom viewing spot in spring due to the roughly 200 cherry trees planted on the shrine grounds.
  • Statue of Shingen Takeda
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Kofu Marunouchi 1
    This statue located at Kofu Station's South Exit in Kofu City's Marunouchi area was completed in 1969, with the help of donations from people from all over Japan. The statue is modeled after Takeda Shingen resting on a stool while planning for the battle of Kawanakajima versus Uesugi Kenshin.
  • Grave of Shingen Takeda
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Kofu Iwakubocho 246
    "This grave located in Iwakubo-cho, Kofu City is where Takeda Shingen, based on his dying wish, was buried for three years while hiding the truth of his death from disease. This grave is also called ""cremation mound,"" as he was cremated here. There is another grave for Shingen in Erin-ji Temple in Enzanoyashiki, where his burial rites were performed."
  • Takeda Clan Castle Ruins Historical Site
    Travel / Tourism
    Yamanashi Pref. Koufushi Kofuchumachi 2611
    This historical site, one of Yamanashi's most famous, was the home of Takeda Nobutora, Takeda Shingen, and Takeda Katsuyori, three successive generations of the lords of the Takeda Clan. Also known as Tsutsujigasaki Castle, this square castle built by Takeda Nobutora was one of the largest Warring States period residences in eastern Japan. Excavations of the site continue to this day. Improvements of the site are being made ahead of 2019, the 500th anniversary of Nobutora relocating his government to Tsutsujigasaki.
  • Geijutsunomori Park
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Yamanashi Kofu-shi Kugawa 1-4-27

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Yamanashi prefecture is the proud home of one of Japan’s most celebrated icons: Mount Fuji. Although the mountain straddles both Yamanashi and Shizuoka, the most breathtaking views of Fuji-san can be seen from the Fuji Five Lakes north of the mountain in Yamanashi prefecture. The plethora of outdoor activities in and around the lakes all have the benefit of the country’s highest mountain as their backdrop, and we can assure you that it is an unforgettable sight.

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