2025 Kofu Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

[Koshu Houtou Kosaku] "Houtou" is a local dish from Yamanashi Prefecture, and has been selected as one of the 100 best local dishes from rural areas. Wheat flour is kneaded, cut into flat noodles, and simmered with vegetables and meat in miso. The miso flavor has a slight sweetness to it, and it's very hot🔥 This time I tried the porridge, and I got all the nutrition out of the houtou😊 The local dish "chicken offal stew" is sweet and spicy, and the "Koshu chicken wings" are large and shaped like chicken wings. The Kofu Ekimae store is close to JR Kofu Station, and it's nice that they're open all day❤️ I ordered takeaway, but the inside of the store is spacious with tatami seating. 💰Price per person: Hoto 1,400 yen (pumpkin) - 3,900 yen (bear meat) Koshu Hoto Kosaku Kofu Ekimae Branch 📍Location: 1-7-2 Marunouchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture 🕰️Opening hours: 11:00 - 22:00 #Yamanashi #Kofu #Yamanashi Trip #Kofu Gourmet #0 Yen Trip November

#citydaytours Kofu Castle, located in the Kofu City, Yamanashi prefecture, turned out coincidentally to be one of my favorite day trip during my trip in Japan. It was unplanned trip caused by coincidence as I went to a wrong train stop. Instead of getting back to the planned station, I decided myself to explore this unpopular city. Kofu is a worth visiting since it has something to offer, which is Maizuru Park and Kofu Castle. This mesmerizing park will serve you with its peacefully vibes and the fresh air. This is perfect visiting around Spring season as there will be hundreds of cherry blossom trees blooming on the premises. It is also superb comfy for you to have a relaxing time or stroll around the Castle. 📍Kofu Castle (Maizuru Castle Park, Kofu City, Japan 🇯🇵 #100waysoftravel #japan #maizurupark #kofu

Maizuru Castle Park is located near Kofu Station in Yamanashi. Currently, part of the castle ruins has been opened to the public as Maizuru Castle Park. This is the ruins of Kofu Castle, one of Japan's 100 famous castles! There are information boards on the side explaining the stone walls, Inari turret, Yamate Gomon, water reservoir ruins, Shojo Inari ruins, and the well of the Inari Kuruwa, so we recommend taking your time and strolling while reading the explanations. You can see Mt. Fuji from the view, and in spring you can enjoy cherry blossoms. It is a place of relaxation loved by the people of Kofu. As it is a castle ruin, there is a slight difference in elevation for a park! If you head towards Yodobashi Camera, you should be able to see the entrance. 350m from JR Kofu Station Maizuru Castle Park 1-5-7 Marunouchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, 400-0031 #Kofu #Kofu stroll #Yamanashi #Yamanashi trip #Yamanashi sightseeing #Kofu stroll #castle ruins #park #domestic travel

Takeda Shrine 2611 Furufuchucho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture 400-0014 Takeda Shrine, dedicated to Takeda Shingen. It's a straight road from Kofu Station, but it's a bit uphill, so it's about a 30-40 minute walk. There is a free parking lot for worshippers, but please note that you can't leave the parking lot unless you get your parking ticket processed at the talisman counter next to the main hall. The shrine is charming, and there are spaces surrounded by trees so you can relax. There are also toilets on the premises. The Takeda Clan Mansion History Museum, Shingen Museum, located next to the shrine, explains the items excavated from the Takeda clan mansion and the Takeda clan. There are two types of goshuin: one that can be written into your goshuin book, and one that can be printed on a special paper and features a choice of standing or sitting Shingen. #Prayer #TakedaShrine #YamanashiTourism #YamanashiTrip #DomesticTrip

Kusatsu Onsen is well known for its 'Yubatake', which means 'hot water field'. This is a huge area right in the center of the town, where the water is divided and cooled. It is all in the open air, so makes for some great, iconic photos. In fact, this large-scale wooden device is used to allow the material in the spring precipitation and cooling. Next to the Yubatake. there is also free use of foot hot spring, while soaking your foot in the hot spring, while enjoying the Yubatake, come here is to pursue this sense of leisure! Located inside the Netsu-no-Yu Bathhouse, this a special performance -- dancers singing Japanese folk songs while dancing around the hot spring baths. During this performance the water is cooled down using large wooden planks. Some people from the audience are selected to participate, so be ready to dance! Performance times are shown outside Netsu-no-Yu Bathhouse. 草津溫泉，最著名的景觀正是湯畑！這是鎮中心一大片區域，水被分割和冷卻。因為草津溫泉的湧泉溫度非常高，所以一整年都可以看到湯畑白霧蒸騰的景象。湯畑周圍也有很多餐館和酒吧，所以大多數人晚上來這裡。 因為當地溫泉特別高溫的關係，早期會透過攪拌溫泉達到讓溫泉降溫的效果，現在這種被稱為「湯揉」的動作已經在當地發展成特別的演出，由原先的大浴場改建而成的熱乃湯每天都有公演，想在溫泉鄉感受載歌載舞的熱鬧氛圍，或者親自體驗湯揉是怎麼進行的，那你千萬不能錯過這個特別的景點. #tripblazers #mytripvlog #

[Access] About a 5-minute walk from Kofu Station on the JR Chuo Main Line ~ At Kuromitsuan Kinakotei, you can eat sweets made with Kikyo Shingen mochi. We took out the most popular Kikyo Shingen soft serve and Kikyo Shingen fresh pudding. These sweets are the perfect size to eat when you're feeling a bit hungry. If you're sightseeing in Kofu, be sure to stop by. *Information current as of December 2022. #tripmemory2022

[Access] About a 10-minute walk from Kai Zenkoji Station on the JR Minobu Line [Attractions] ~You can go on a tour of the Okaidan~ Kai Zenkoji is a famous temple along with Zenkoji in Nagano. It's great that you can have memorable experiences such as the Crying Dragon Experience, where you can hear the sound of a dragon roaring when you clap your hands towards the ceiling of the main hall, and the Okaidan Tour, where you walk down a dark street. A must-visit spot when you come to Yamanashi. *Information as of December 2022. #tripmemory2022

Located to the west of Kusatsu Open-Air Hot Spring is Nishi-no-Kawahara Park, where white smoke from hot springs can be seen everywhere. There is a spacious open-air hot spring here, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the four seasons while soaking in the hot spring. In addition, you can also admire the monuments of celebrities who have deep connections with Kusatsu Onsen. There is a shrine where Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is worshipped, which is a great place to enjoy the scenery while taking a walk. #ChristmasDestinations2022 #Overseas Travel #JapanTravel #Kusatsu #spa

I went to the coffee shop "Rokuyokan" in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It's a retro coffee shop located about a 5-minute walk from Kofu Station. I went there for lunch, but there was only one daily set menu. In the evening, they are famous for their gyoza♪ It was a nostalgic coffee shop surrounded by greenery. #Yamanashi #Kofu #RetroSpot #gw2022jp

I went to the cafe "AKITO COFFEE" in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture ☕️ It's a renovated cafe located about a 5-minute walk from Kofu Station! The interior has been renovated and is stylish, making it perfect for a date. If you're taking a break while sightseeing in Kofu, be sure to stop by! #recommendedfordates #gw2022jp

Access: "Limited Express Kusatsu" Ueno Station to Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station, about 2.5 hours "Express Bus" about 3.5 to 4 hours from Tokyo Tourist attractions: There are several free foot baths, and you can enjoy a beautiful view while bathing♨️ Hotel: "Hotel Ichii" The Yubatake is right in front of you, making it very accessible✨ "Hotel Sakurai" A Yumomi show is held every day inside the hotel✨ Shopping: The souvenir shop attached to Hotel Ichii has a wide selection of products, is spacious, and is recommended for souvenir hunting😌 It's right in front of the Yubatake, so it's also very accessible🚗 #t2203 #Kusatsu #KusatsuOnsen #BeautifulView #GourmetTrip #GourmetTrip #Onsen #OnsenTrip #OnsenTown

#Yamanashi #Kofu Visited on February 9th. Kofu is the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture, and the area around the station offers both history and food. There are many historical sites connected to Takeda Shingen, so it's a must-see for history buffs! There are also many restaurants near the station that serve Yamanashi's specialty hoto. This time I had something called spicy kalbi hoto, and when it's cold, the spicy hoto really warmed me up. It was also very filling!

I participated in a bus tour of autumn leaves in Yamanashi in November 🚌 When it comes to autumn leaves in Yamanashi, it's definitely Shosenkyo! This was my first time visiting, and it was as beautiful as rumored ✨ The best of all was Kakuenbo! It was just the right amount of color, and I was able to take pictures that looked like paintings (first photo) The official website has a map of autumn leaves, so please refer to it when you go ♪ 📍Takanari-cho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture #breathtakingview #autumnleaves #Yamanashitourism #autumntrip #trip2022

Zenkoji Station, JR Minobu Line A station on the JR Central Minobu Line located in Zenkoji 1-chome, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is an unmanned station with one track and one platform where only local trains usually stop. The station building was destroyed by fire, and the only remaining structure is a covered staircase leading to the platform on the bank, and a small waiting room on top of the platform. To get out of the platform, you can go down the embankment via the stairs in the first photo or the slope at the edge of the platform. #triplucky2022

Zenkoji Temple A Jodo sect temple founded in 1558 at 3-36-1 Zenkoji, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is also known as Koshu Zenkoji, Kai Zenkoji, and Kofu Zenkoji. The main hall, mountain gate, and bronze Amida Triad are designated as important cultural properties, and the silk colored Jodo Mandala paintings are designated as prefectural cultural properties. 11 minutes walk from Zenkoji Station on the JR Minobu Line.

Kaiterasu The Yamanashi Prefectural Local Industry Center is located at 3-13-25 Tokoji, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. There is a large white crystal at the entrance, and I was surprised at its size, which I had never seen before. The first floor sells a variety of souvenirs, including wine, Shingen mochi, and hoto. The jewelry and wine sales areas are particularly large. The second floor is a restaurant. 13 minutes walk from Zenkoji Station. #Triplucky2022 #Souvenirs

Yamanashi Prefectural Gokoku Shrine A shrine located at 608 Iwakubo-cho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, that enshrines the spirits of war dead and military personnel with ties to the prefecture. It is a 35-minute walk from JR Kofu Station, or a 15-minute bus ride from Kofu Station and a 5-minute walk from the Gokoku Shrine Entrance bus stop. There are about 200 cherry trees on the grounds, making it a famous cherry blossom spot. Even though it was winter, the winter-blooming cherry trees were in bloom. #triplucky2022

From the observation deck of Ryugaike Pond in Furufuchu-cho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, you can see the remains of the Takeda clan mansion, the castle town, and the distant mountains. Ryugaike Pond is located at the bottom of a flight of stairs, and I thought it was a dam. There were many people fishing, so when I walked around the pond, it seemed to be a fishing pond. #triplucky2022

Takeda Clan Mansion Ruins History Museum (Shingen Museum) A facility that introduces the history and historical sites related to the Takeda Clan Mansion Ruins, a national historic site located at 1-14 Ote 3-chome, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. There are permanent exhibitions (free) and special exhibitions (paid). 30 minutes walk from JR Kofu Station. I received a manhole card. #LocalCard #triplucky2022

Kofu Castle Ruins This castle was built by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi after the downfall of the Takeda Shingen clan, located at 1-5-4 Marunouchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Currently, part of the castle ruins is open to the public as "Maizuru Castle Park/Kofu City Historical Park." The castle tower has not been restored. Photos 1, 2, and 4 are the observation deck. #triplucky2022

Fujimura Memorial Museum A facility located at the Kofu Station North Exit Square, 2-2-1 Kitaguchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, as an exhibition hall for local folklore, history, education, and archaeological materials. The building was built in 1875 as the Mutsuzawa School building in Mutsuzawa Village, Koma District (now Kamezawa, Kai City), and was registered as an Important Cultural Property by the national government in 1967. It was relocated to the north exit of Kofu Station in October 2010 and reopened as a new exchange guidance facility. You can view the interior for free. There are rose flowerbeds around the building, and even though it is winter, the roses in bloom were beautiful. #Triplucky2022

Shosenkyo is a valley located upstream of the Arakawa River in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and is a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is said to be the most beautiful valley in Japan, there are many strangely shaped rocks and stones along the stream, and we strolled along the promenade. Address: Takanari-cho, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture #Autumn leaves #Maple

Just outside the north exit of Kofu Station, there is a square called "Yochabare Square", which has many things to see, such as the history museum, a historical park, and a magnificent gate called "Yamate Gomon". I also saw some souvenir shops and places that looked like restaurants♪ Also, on the south side of Kofu Station, there is "Kofu Castle" and its park🤩 Around the station, there are tourist attractions and restaurants, and especially on the south side, there are various other buildings lined up, so it was a lively place where you would not have any trouble shopping. Access: About 2 minutes walk from the north exit of Kofu Station #Free spot #Retro streetscape

I went to the guesthouse "BACCHUS KOFU GUEST HOUSE" in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is the only guesthouse in Kofu City that opened in 2015😊 On the first floor there is a bar & dining area and a lounge where you can relax! If you come to Kofu, please try staying at Bacchus ^_^ #stayingathome #guesthouse #Yamanashi #Kofu

I went to Shosenkyo Gorge in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture to see the autumn leaves 🍁 I used the Shingen Pass, a pass that allows unlimited use of public transportation in Yamanashi Prefecture, and also rode the Shosenkyo Ropeway 🚡! The view from the top was very beautiful, with red, yellow, orange, and green, just like autumn (^^) Please come and visit! #breathtakingview #autumnleaves #maple

I went to Sengataki Falls in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The maples that were just starting to change color, the large Sengataki Falls, and the rainbow reflected in the waterfall were all very beautiful✨ I was able to get there at a good price using the Shingen Pass, a pass that allows unlimited use of Kofu's public transportation (^^) Please be sure to visit! #autumn leaves #maples #Yamanashi #Kofu #breathtaking view

Kusatsu Onsen is located in Kusatsu City, Gunma Prefecture. I'm sure everyone who likes hot springs knows about it! As soon as you arrive at the hot spring town, the smell of sulfur in the air lifts your spirits. Even if you stay overnight, you can enjoy Kusatsu Onsen all day long, with activities such as hot spring massage, comedy shows, and illuminations. By the way, the source of Kusatsu Onsen is very hot. Even with water added, some hot springs are still 45 degrees, so don't worry, there are also lukewarm waters available for those who get hot easily!! #retrotownscape #greatview #onsen #illumination

Shosenkyo is a valley located in the northern part of Kofu City. It has been designated as a special national scenic spot and is said to be the most beautiful valley in Japan. You can see granite cliffs, strange rocks and stones carved out over a long period of time, and clear, abundant water. On the promenade along the valley, you can enjoy the beauty of the valley, which changes with the seasons, up close. It's like a view like this in Japan. You will definitely feel a scale that you can't experience anywhere else. Please come and visit us! ! #breathtakingview #summertrip #freespot #autumnfoliage #JapanGenkiProject2021 #amazingnature #breathtakingview #tripwithchildren