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- Enjoy the nature and food culture of Kofu.
Kofu (Yamanashi Prefecture) is completely surrounded by mountains and full of beautiful nature. It particularly produces some of the best wines and fruits in Japan. The Keikyu Limousine Bus can take you there directly on a non-stop trip from Haneda Airport!
A spacious land blessed with beautiful nature and a view of Mount Fuji.
Kofu, which commands a view of Mount Fuji in the south and the beautiful Shosenkyo Gorge spreading out in the north, is a tourist spot that is filled with nature and its wonders. Various fruits grow throughout the year and the grapes and wines are local specialties that are representative of Japan. The traditional meals such as hoto noodles and boiled chicken giblets are unique and are some of the major appeals of travelling here. The hot springs, temples, and shrines are also magnificent - making just about every aspect of your trip through the Kofu area a pleasant one.
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Go to Maizuru Castle Park and see Mount Fuji!
Koku City has various locations where you can see Mount Fuji, and there are two main spots. The first is the mountain path headed towards Shosenkyo Gorge. Because it is a mountain path, you cannot savor the view unless you travel by car. The other is Maizuru Castle Park in front of Kofu Railway Station. The castle was built in the sixteenth century but the main keep no longer exists and the facilities are now used as a park. Enjoy the view of Mount Fuji seen through the restored castle walls and turrets, which will surely make you savor the joy of making a trip in Japan.
Maizuru Castle Park
1, Marunouch, Kofu-shi, Yamanshi Prefecture
Travel through Shosenkyo Gorge, which is one of the most scenic places in Japan.
Shosenkyo Gorge is a scenic place that was selected as one of the top twenty-five representative locations of beauty in Japan by organizations such as newspaper companies and railway companies in 1927. The overwhelming view woven by the hills, rocks, and rivers is truly a work of natural art. The fresh green and red leaves are particularly beautiful and let you enjoy magnificent scenery. The main course on the walking path is about two kilometers-long. The curvy path along the river is full of impressive views of steep cliffs, mystifying waterfalls, and more.
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The recommended time of the year to view the autumnal leaves is from late October to mid-November!
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Slowly taking in a view of a gorge while riding a Tote horse carriage.
A horse carriage that takes its time travelling makes scenic views all the more pleasant. The fare is 1,500 yen for a one-way trip. The seating capacity is fifteen and departure is when there are six or more passengers onboard.
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Please note that this service is unavailable from December to February due to the snow and cold.
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Nagatoro Bridge provides a beautiful view over a gorge.
There are many photo spots at Shosenkyo Gorge, but one that is particularly recommended is Nagatoro Bridge, which is at the entrance of the gorge. It is an arch bridge that was constructed during the Meiji period and is the symbol of Shosenkyo Gorge. The various locations at different elevations along with the colorful trees create an overwhelming panorama particularly during the season of autumnal leaves.
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Shosenkyo Gorge
About 30 mins. by bus bound for Shosenkyo Gorge from Platform No. 3 at the South Exit bus terminal at Kofu Railway Station About 20 mins. by taxi
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Trying various wines in the Kofu area.
Katsunuma Budonooka has a wine cave where you can taste and compare different Koshu wines (wines produced in Yamanashi Prefecture).
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Those who purchase a tastevin (1,100 yen each) for wine tasting can try over two hundred different kinds of wines. Please be careful not to drink too much.
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Budounooka of Katsunuma in the City of Koshu
5093, Hishiyama, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanshi Prefecture -
The shop that gave birth to the local specialty, boiled chicken giblets.
Boiled chicken giblets are becoming more and more popular as a local dish of Kofu. It is a dish where innards such as fresh chicken liver are boiled in a pot with a salty and sweet mixture of soy sauce and sugar. It goes well with rice and soba noodles as well as sake. The dish was first served at Okutou's main shop in around 1950.
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Okutou’s main shop in front of Kofu Railway Station
1-7-4, Marunouch, Kofu-shi, Yamanshi Prefecture -
The traditional Kofu dish filled with the delicious flavors of vegetables!
Hoto noodles are a representative local specialty of Kofu. It is flat and thick noodles boiled in miso with plenty of locally-produced vegetables. The flavor of the vegetables spreads throughout your mouth and the firm noodles give you a filling meal. Hoto noodles are a dish that you definitely want to try if you come to Kofu.
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Koshu hoo noodles by Kosaku (ten shops)
1-7-2, Marunouch, Kofu-shi, Yamanshi Prefecture -
Enjoying fresh fruits in Yamanashi - the kingdom of fruits.
Have a try at fruit picking, where you can enjoy fruits that you pick yourself at a farm. Pick and eat seasonal local products such as peaches (late June to August), grapes, (July to late October), and strawberries (January to May).
*The times of the year vary according to variety, farm, and year.
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Fruit picking in Yamanashi Prefecture.
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Be amazed at an unusual scenic bath of wine!
A recommended place to stay when visiting the Kofu area is the Isawa Hot Springs area located ten kilometers east of Kofu. It is dotted with many hot spring inns but Hotel Hatta is known for its wide variety of hot spring baths.
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One noteworthy attraction is their scenic wine bath. Just as its name implies, it is a hot spring bath on the seventh floor, which is top floor of the building, and contains plenty of the ingredients found in wine. Here, you can enjoy a moment of rest and relaxation after a day of sightseeing while taking in a huge panoramic view that includes Mount Fuji. The first thing you will notice is the sweet aroma and color of the water that contains wine extract. Enjoy an extraordinary experience while being able to relax at the same time.
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A hotel filled with the appeal of Kofu.
On the first floor of Hotel Hatta is a popular outdoor bath that is particularly large compared with the others in the surrounding area. Here, you can fully enjoy the appeal of outdoor baths under a spacious sky. Dinner is a course meal filled with locally-produced ingredients to let you enjoy the gifts of the nature of Kofu.
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Hotel Hatta
1607, Nakajima, Isawa-cho, Fuefuki-shi, Yamagata-ken
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Koshu Yume Kouji is the place to buy your souvenirs!
Koshu Yume Kouji is new hot spot of Kofu that opened in 2013. It is lined with traditional craft shops and restaurants that particularly emphasize on offering items produced in Yamagata Prefecture.
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The facilities are reminiscent of Kofu of the old days with its interesting structures such as relocated old folk houses, reconstructed storehouses and warehouses, and so on.
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Koshu Yume Kouji
1-7-25, Marunouch, Kofu-shi, Yamanshi Prefecture -
Returning by Limousine Bus.
There are Limousine Bus services to Haneda Airport from major railway stations such as Kofu, Isawa Onsen, and Katsunuma. You can bring along such as suitcases as the trips are one-way with no transfers.
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Look here for information on airport bus routes.
Access to locations on the way to Lake Kawaguchi is also easy.
One-day trips and excursions can also be made to the popular Kawaguchi Lake area as twenty busses depart to and from Kofu Railway Station each day. And of course, there are Keikyu Bus Limousines bound directly for Haneda Airport from Lake Kawaguchi.
Mt. Fuji guideA luxurious model course from Lake Kawaguchi to Hakone
4 round-trip services a day between Kofu Railway Station and Ryuo
Departing from Haneda Airport / Kofu Railway Station / Departing from Ryuo Railway Station Timetable
Katsunuma, Ichinomiya and Isawa - 2,900 yen for adults
Yamanashi Gakuin University, Kofu Railway Station and Ryuo - 3,100 yen for adults
Reservations can be made for rides from the Kofu area to Haneda Airport. Please make your reservation by the day before your ride and pay the fare when boarding. Busses can be boarded without reservations if there are empty seats on the day of your trip.
For reservations please contact the Keikyu Highway Bus Reservation Center. Phone: 03-3743-0022 (9:00 am - 6:30 pm). English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Korean operators available.
Natsumi Shiiyama
Natsumi Shiiyama, who is an actress and entertainer working in theater and events, gives us a report on the appeal of Kofu.
