Kofu

By train

Coming from Tokyo on the Chuo Line, there are few express trains from Shinjuku to Kofu that continue on to Matsumoto. It is possible to take the journey by local trains at half the price and an extra hour of traveling. To do so, transfer at JR Takao. The Chuo Line takes Suica cards.
The Minobu Line runs from Kofu, through Minobu, to Fuji in Shizuoka. This is a quaint railway line, and it is single tracked in most places. Take a ticket from the machine when you board the train, and pay the driver when you get off. The Minobu Line acts as a local line in Kofu and has many stations within the city.

By bus

There are highway buses between Kofu and Shinjuku which on paper take two hours; this is shorter than the local train and challenges the express. In practice, however, traffic delays can lengthen this journey to over three hours. The advantage of the bus is that it is very cheap, costing only ¥2000 one-way which is around half of the price of the express train.

Kofu is very much a car driven city. The entire city is designed around the idea that everyone has a car with most shops being out of the city centre, by the side of dual carriageways.
It is possible to rent electric bikes at various hotels near Kofu station if you are only travelling short distances. It is only ¥500 for a full-day rental.

The mountains in the north side of the city contain some beautiful scenery and some wonderful views of the Kofu basin and Mt Fuji. In town, there are several tourist sites.

• Takeda Shingen Shrine

  phone: +81 55-252-2609
  address: 2611 Kofuchumachi
  A pretty shrine.

• Maizurujo Park

  phone: +81 55-226-6550
  address: 1 Marunouchi
  Kofu Castle was largely demolished in the 19th century. Now it is more of a pretty park than a castle. The walls however remain impressive. Though it doesn't compare well to the great castles of Japan, it is certainly in better shape than Fukui Castle. Reconstruction works are ongoing, with parts of it being rebuilt according to traditional methods. There now exists a castle tower and a very impressive gatehouse (this being separate from the rest of the castle, north of Kofu Station). There are frequent talks of rebuilding the donjon.

• Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art

  phone: +81 55-228-3322
  address: 1-4-27 Kugawa
  This museum has some interesting paintings including several by well known artists.

• Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium

  phone: +81 55-243-3111
  address: 840 Kosemachi
  Home of the local football team, Ventforet Kofu.

• Shosenkyo Gorge

  address: Takanaricho
  A famous scenic spot, especially in autumn. Walking between Nagatorobashi (長潭橋, bus stop and free parking) and Shosenkyokageenomori Museum (昇仙峡影絵の森美術館, bus stop and free parking 500 m further) makes for a pleasant and easy two-hours walk with nice waterfalls and huge rocks. Once you are there, you might as well take the ropeway (¥1200) to see more beautiful landscapes around.

• Bike the Arakawa or Fuefukigawa riverside cycling road.
• Pick fruit. Grapes or peaches depending on the season. Fields are scattered in the whole surburban area; ask a local tourist office for the nearest available ones.
• Make houtou noodles.

• Takeda Shingen FestivalA big festival to celebrate the 16th century warlord. Usually a famous Japanese TV actor plays the part of Takeda Shingen himself.

Kofu is famous for grapes and wine.

Houtou soup (made with thick udon) and raw horse meat are the famous foods of Kofu. Soba and Torimotsuni (chicken livers/hearts/gizzards in thick sauce) are also famous.

• KosakuAuthentic Houtou. They also serve raw horse meat and many other local dishes.

• OkutoTorimotsuni or tempura, with all-you-can-eat soba. First they ask you how many soba plates you want, then just ordering more plates until you are full.

Kofu has some pubs, many izakayas, and no clubs.

• The Rink

  phone: +81 55-235-8894
  address: 1-9-9 Marunouchi
  A small, quiet pub.

• Hops and Herbs

  phone: +81 55-225-2012
  address: Miyazawa Bldg 2F, 1-1-5 Chuo
  A microbrewery.

• The Vault

  phone: +81 55-237-0944
  address: Muto Bldg B1F, 1-21-7 Marunouchi
  A foreigner pub. It is quite expensive and empty during weekdays but full on weekends.

• JuJu

  address: MK Bldg 7F, Chuo 1-1-17
  A bar.

• Music Box

  phone: +81 55-235-5526
  address: Marunouchi 1-15-8
  A bar.

• Club Goa

  address: Ueda Bldg, 1-1-9 Marunouchi

• Yamanashi
• Otsuki
• Koshu
• Kai
• Nirasaki
• Hokuto
• Fuefuki
• Chuo
• Nirasaki