Official Tourism Website of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture "Home of Mt.Fuji, Yamanashi" > Recommended Routes by Area > Kofu Area
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Kofu Area
Kofu is associated with Takeda Shingen, a famous general from the Warring States Period, and Kofu City is the seat of the Yamanashi Prefectural Government. The area has many sightseeing spots connected to Takeda Shingen, such as Takeda-jinja Shrine which is dedicated to the general and Kai-zenko-ji Temple, and passes on the history and traditions of that era to the present day.
You can also take in the beautiful scenery and nature of the area, especially the famous Shosen Gorge which is a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
Kofu disseminates art and culture with its many art museums such as the Crystal Museum and the Yamanashi Prefectural Art of Museum. The region is also home to quartz crystal jewelry production, which involves gemstone and precious metal processing. Approximately 30% of Japan’s carved jewelry is produced here in the nation's number one 'jewelry town'.
Kofu is also well-known as a city of hot springs, and has many spas including Kofu Spa and Yumura Spa.
Access
It takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo by train (JR Chuo Line), approximately 2 hours by car on the Chuo Expressway or around 2 hours 10 minutes by Chuo Highway Bus from Shinjuku Station West Exit.
It takes approximately 50 minutes by car or around 1 hour by train from the Kofu area to Mt. Yatsugatake area.
From Kofu area to the Isawa area, it takes 20 minutes by car or 15 minutes by train.
To the Fujikawaguchiko area it takes 1 hour by car or 1 hour 20 minutes by train (JR Chuo Line) from Otsuki Station on the The Fuji Kyuko Line.
Recommended Route
A nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty.
Throughout the seasons, the granite cliffs and oddly shaped rocks, combined with the clusters of pines growing on the rock-faces invoke sentiments of a journey into a deep, hidden valley.
The gorge was chosen as one of the Hundred Sights of the Heisei Era and the hiking course which starts at the entrance is enjoyed by its visitors.
25 min. by car
The shrine was established in 1919 on the site of Tsutsujigasaki-yakata, the residence of the Takeda clan which Takeda Shingen’s father, Nobutora, built in 1519. It was the residence of three generations of the family, Nobutora, Shingen and Katsuyori, for 63 years. The shrine is a nationally designated Historic Site.
15 min. by car
Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
The museum is known as a ‘museum of Millet’ due to its collection of works by the painter Jean Francois Millet, including The Sower and Summer, The Gleaners. It is also famous throughout the world for its works by artists from the Barbizon School such as Rousseau, works by Corot, Courbet and Chagall and sculptures by Rodin and Bourdelle.
15 min. by car
Hot Springs
You can enjoy a variety of hot springs each with their own history and characteristics. Just a 5 minute walk from Kofu Station is Kofu Spa, where hot spring water wells up in the city. Yumura Spa is famous for being the place where Takeda Shingen used to bathe secretly. Sekisuiji Spa is surrounded by historical sites associated with Takeda Shingen including Yogai Castle Ruins and Sekisuiji Temple.