Cool Kofu（En）, Kofu, Kofu-shi (2026)

17/09/2026

Japan gets a rare five-day holiday this September, with “Silver Week” running from Saturday, September 19, through Wednesday, September 23!

For everyone planning to be here in the Kofu basin, we’ve rounded up the best events, outings and activities to give you some ideas of things to do over this special week✨

◾Shosenkyo Gorge
Recognized as a Japan Heritage site and known as Japan's most beautiful gorge, Shosenkyo is particularly famous for its gorgeous fall colors, but presents as many stunning facets as there are seasons, making it an ideal repeat destination.
As warm temperatures linger in the basin, escape to the valley for a refreshing stroll along the babbling water and towering cliff faces.
*The summit of Mt. Rakanji—the highest peak in Shosenkyo—is part of the 2026 Central Yamanashi Hiking Campaign! See previous post for more details.

◾Mt. Yumura – Mt. Hachioji – Mt. Tengu hiking trail
This route takes you from Mt. Yumura—home to a reproduction of a beacon tower from the Warring States period—to Mt. Hachioji and its panoramic views of the Kofu Basin, and finally to Mt. Tengu, home to the largest stone-piled burial mound in Yamanashi Prefecture.
*The summit of Mt. Yumura is part of the 2026 Central Yamanashi Hiking Campaign! See previous post for more details.

⏰Time: About 3 hours and 30 min.
*The trailhead is located behind the Midorigaoka Sports Park Gymnasium.

◾Grape picking
Known as the "Fruit Kingdom of Japan", Yamanashi is the country’s biggest producer of grapes, making grape-picking an especially popular pastime in summer going into the fall 🍇
Visit one of the many orchards opened for grape picking, and enjoy peering up at the beautiful clusters hanging from the trellised vines as you compare and savour all their unique characteristics!

*Note that Hayakawa-en in Kofu is now closed for grape picking for 2026 ⚠️
But other places are still accepting visitors until mid to late November; visit Jalan to find and make a reservation for other grape-picking orchards in Yamanashi: https://www.jalan.net/kankou/150000/g2_I8/

◾Ryuge Festival
First held in 2018 with the aim of reviving and preserving traditional culture, this festival features food stalls, Bon-odori dancing, limited-edition temple stamps, taiko drum performances and traditional rituals.

📅When: Sunday, September 20, 2026, 11:00 to 17:00
📍Where: Gokoku Shrine

◾Yamanashi Strawberry King Museum
The facility is split into the Sanrio History Museum, which traces the roots of Sanrio Co. and features a variety of rare vintage items and nostalgic favourites, and the Shintaro Tsuji Memorial Museum, which focuses on its founder's personal history and philosophy shaped by wartime tragedy.
Collectors and Sanrio fans won’t want to skip the museum shop, stocked with exclusive, strawberry-themed merchandise only available here!

⏰Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (last admission at 16:00)
🎟️Admission: General: ¥1,800 / High school students, college students, and 65 and older: ¥1,500 / Age 4 to junior high school age: ¥1,000 / Ages 3 and under: free
*Tickets are reservation-based and only available for purchase on the museum’s official website https://strawberryk-museum.com/ticket ⚠️

◾Yamanashi Jewelry Museum
Learn about the history Kofu as a hub of jewelry production in fascinating details. You can try your hand at crafting your very own piece of jewelry by signing up for one of their beginner-friendly workshops, and even witness master craftsmen at work on the weekends and holidays.

⏰ Hours: 10:00–17:30 (last admission at 17:00)
🎟️ Admission: Free *Jewelry workshops require a fee (reservations recommended) ⚠️

◾ Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
Known for its collection of paintings by Jean-François Millet, including “The Sower” and “The Gleaners, Summer,” and affectionately known as “Millet’s Museum,” the museum is located on the grounds of the Geijutsu-no-mori ("Art Forest") Park, dotted with sculptures by renowned artists.
From Saturday, September 12, through Tuesday, November 3, visitors can view a temporary exhibition titled “Eugène Boudin: Pioneer of Impressionism.”

◾Orion Letterpress
An atelier located in downtown Kofu where visitors can try their hand at letterpress printing—a method of assembling movable types and locking them into the "chase" of a printing press to make a raised surface, which is then coated with ink and pressed into a sheet of paper to leave an impression—to create customized business cards, postcards, and envelopes.

⏰Opening hours: 13:00–17:30 on weekdays; 10:30–18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays
Book your workshop here: https://orion-letterpress.com/reserve/..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

10/09/2026

A once-in-seven-years experience — Kai Zenko-ji Temple's "gokaicho" festival is coming up in 2027!✨

The Amida Triad—Kai Zenko-ji’s principal object of worship, displaced by Takeda Shingen from Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano to save them from being destroyed in the crossfire of the battles of Kawanakajima—, will be revealed to the public from April through June 2027 during a special event known as "gokaicho" ("the unveiling"), after which it will be hidden from view again for seven more years.

During the festival, a large timber pillar known as "eko-bashira" will be erected in front of the main hall—among the largest in eastern Japan—, connected to the statues by a rope, which visitors can place their palm against and pray to earn the same blessings as if they were touching the principal image itself.

➡️Ahead of the special unveiling, the nearby Yamanashi Prefecture Local Industry Center (also known as "Kai Terasu"), where visitors can find the best of what Yamanashi Prefecture as to offer all under one roof, will feature a special corner dedicated to Kai Zenko-ji original merchandise, as part of their special "Fall Produce Event" on September 12 and 13!
The collaborative items, which include paper cutouts, goshuin stamp books, tote bags, pouches, T-shirts, amulets, and keychains, will be exclusively sold at this event, so be sure to stop by and stock up!

➡️Don’t forget that no visit to Kai Zenko-ji Temple is complete without experiencing the "weeping dragon" reverberation and feeling your way through the "kaidan-meguri"—a pitch-dark passage beneath the main hall hiding a sacred padlock known as the "key to salvation"...
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🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

03/09/2026

Founded in 1911, Sawataya is a Japanese confectionery maker who has helped shape Kofu’s traditional sweets culture through decades of dedication to using premium ingredients and traditional methods to consistently deliver delicate, high-quality confectioneries.
Among them, the "Kurodama"⚫ ("black sphere"), Sawataya’s signature product and long-standing best-selling souvenir from Yamanashi; a ball of light green "uguisu-an" (green pea paste) wrapped in a rich brown sugar yōkan (Japanese jelly), whose simple appearance quietly speaks to artisanal mastery and tradition.
Seasonal variants are released periodically in limited quantities, with spring often bringing strawberry tama, while early summer features matcha tama, autumn has chestnut or caramel tama, and winter offers chocolate tama.

The store displays traditional confectionery-making tools that have been used over the years and regularly hosts hands-on sweets-making workshops for children, all in an effort to share the appeal of traditional confectionery culture with people of all ages.

➡️Sawataya has designated September 6 as "Kurodama Day"—a pun on the numbers 9 and 6, which can be read as "ku" and "ro" respectively—, and will be holding its 15th annual "Kurodama Day" event will over the coming weekend.
Come enjoy exclusive "Kurodama Bread" made in collaboration with Bakery Louvre, as well as freshly made Kurodama prepared on the spot by artisans—and try your hand at making some yourself!

For more information about the event (🇯🇵): https://sawataya.mom/news/1460/..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
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28/08/2026

Hiking lovers assemble!

Yamanashi is partnering once again with YAMAP, Japan’s number one hiking app, to encourage residents and visitors alike to go explore the beautiful mountains and cities of its central region✨

YAMAP is a must-have for anyone wanting to explore Japan’s great outdoors, providing users with detailed offline maps to help accurately track their position even in areas without cellphone reception.

Let the app track you as you pass through one of the check points in the campaign to unlock the digital badge for that block, and redeem a total of 4 possible exclusive items* depending on your actions and the number of badges you collect, such as an exclusive tenugui towel designed by Kofu-born artist Kamiyama Naoko!
(*while supplies last)

Central Yamanashi Hiking Campaign
📅Saturday, August 28 to Sunday, November 29, 2026

🌬️Wind badge (Kōfu/Kai/Fuefuki area):
- Mt. Yumura
- Mt. Daizōkyōji
- Mt. Rakanji (top of the Shōsenkyō ropeway)

🌳Forest badge (Hokutō/Nirasaki area):
- Mt. Hinata
- Mt. Amari
- Mt. Mizugaki
- Mt. Kayagatake

🔥Fire badge (Minami-Alps/Chūō/Ichikawa-misato/Fujikawa area):
- Mt. Kushigata
- Mt. Taira
- Mt. Sanpōbun
- Oyanagawa Gorge

⛰️Mountain badge (Yamanashishi/Kōshū area):
- Mt. Daibosatsu
- Mt. Kasatori
- Mt. Kinpu
- Nishizawa Gorge

🟢Clean Hiker badge:
- You Know Shikishima ゆうのう敷島 (Kai City)
- Nirasaki Regional Information Center 韮崎市地域情報発信センター (Nirasaki City)
- Enzan Station Tourist Information Center 塩山駅前観光案内所 (Kōshū City)
- Chūō City Silk Craft Museum « Silk Friendly » シルクふれんどりぃ (Chūō City)

🏙️City Stroll badge:
- Fudoki-no-oka Farmers’ Market 風土記の丘農産物直売所 (Kōfu City)
- Inatōbu Ryūō いーなとうぶ竜王 (Kai City)
- Michi-no-eki Hakushu 道の駅はくしゅう (Hokuto City)
- Michi-no-eki Fujikawa 道の駅富士川 (Fujikawa Town)
- Michi-no-eki Hanakage no Sato Makioka 道の駅花かげの郷まきおか (Yamanashishi City)
- Michi-no-eki Kai-Yamato 道の駅甲斐大和 (Kōshū City)
- Inatōbu Shōwa いーなとうぶ昭和 (Shōwa Town)

🎁Redeem your presents at one of the following locations:
- Kōfu Kameyaza Theater (Kōfu City)
- Mukawa-no-yu (Nirasaki City)
- Michi-no-eki Shirane (Minami-Alps City)
- Budō-no-oka (Kōshū City)..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

18/08/2026

One sure-fire way to beat the summer heat in Japan is to take to the mountains; and what better place to do that than in Yamanashi Prefecture, home to some of the country’s most iconic peaks⛰️

This hiking season, set your sights on Mt. Kinpu; Kofu’s tallest mountain, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan.

Despite its altitude of 2,599 meters, Kinpu makes for a surprisingly moderately easy journey suitable even for inexperienced (but physically fit) hikers, as the hiking trail starts already high up on the mountain.
Those who make it to the summit are rewarded with a 360° breathtaking panorama with Mount Fuji in the distance, and the impressive sight of the Gojō-iwa; a sacred rock tower believed to contain the mountain's spirit and the object of worship of Kanazakura Shrine in Shosenkyo Valley.

—Mount Kinpu—
100 Mountains of Japan / 100 Mountains of Yamanashi / 25 Mountains of Kofu
⏰Time: Approx. 3h up, 2h30 down
🚌How to get there: book a mini-bus to the Odarumi-toge trailhead from Enzan Station. Details & bookings here https://eiwa-kotsu.jp/oodarumi.html (JP only; use automated translation)

➡️ Kofu’s yearly "Mt. Kinpu Hiking Tour" is coming back this fall!
Participants will meet at 6:00 a.m. on Sat., October 3, in front of the west entrance of the Kofu City Hall, travel to the mountain by bus, hike with a guide, and get back to the city hall around 4:00 p.m.
If you are interested, please apply by Friday, August 21, by emailing [email protected] with the address, name, age, gender, date of birth, and phone number of all participants.
*This event is open to residents of Yamanashi Prefecture with moderate hiking experience, of middle school age or older up to under 75 years of age⚠️
*Capacity is limited to 20 participants. If there are more applicants than available spots, participants will be selected via a lottery⚠️
*Participants are responsible for their own lunch⚠️
*The tour will be conducted in Japanese⚠️..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

13/08/2026

Hidden treasures with fascinating history are often just one aimless stroll away in Japan, but in today’s car reliant society, a lot of them tend to be completely overlooked.

Enter "Tera-ruku"—a play on the words "tera" (temple) and "aruku" (to walk)—, a project that aims to reconnect people with their surroundings and help them rediscover the quiet charms that they had forgotten, or had never even noticed, their neighborhood even possessed.

Tera-ruku offers 1-day tours through temples and other places of historical interest in Kofu that stimulate all five senses. Walking from one temple to the next, participants get to explore places they won’t find in guidebooks, places that are usually off-limits to the public, hear about valuable stories and anecdotes from local priests, and enjoy zazen meditation and yoga, ending the day with both body and mind sated🧘‍♀️

Tera-ruku’s website features itineraries from past tours, such as the Takeda Historical Sites, Kai Zenko-ji Temple and Fukakusa Kannon routes, with new tours created every year.
This year’s tour, named ‘Joto Crank Castle Town Route～Temples ＆ Craftsmanship～’, is scheduled on Saturday, October 31.

🔸Date
Sat., Oct. 31, 2026, 9:00–16:00
(Meeting point: Sontai-ji Temple / Reception: 8:45–8:55)

🔸Itinerary
Start at Sontai-ji Temple → Kyōan-ji Temple → Kofu Castle → Lawn yoga → Free time / Lunch break → Zuisen-ji Temple → "Cycle Kofu" shop → End at "Gomi Shoyu" miso brewery

🔸Participation Fee
¥8,000 (includes admission fees, guide fees, yoga session, insurance and temple offering) *Lunch is at your own expense and to be arranged independently⚠️

🔸What to Bring
Comfortable walking clothes, water, rainwear, a large bath towel (for yoga), shopping bag

🔸Application Period
1 September – 24 October (limited to the first 20 applicants)
Please apply via the form on Tera-ruku’s website: https://teraruku.sakutto.biz/

(The tour will be in Japanese 🇯🇵 and English 🇬🇧)

We recommend this tour to anyone interested in:
・Gaining a deeper understanding of Kofu’s history and culture
・Experiencing the unique charm of temples and Kofu’s castle town on foot
・Exploring traditional crafts and learning about fermentation
・Spending a relaxing time harmonizing both body and mind through yoga

Join us on this journey to discover some of Kofu's hidden gems!✨

➡️Upcoming tours are announced on the Tera-ruku website and Instagram (@ teraruku) about 1–2 months in advance. If you are interested in a tour, either individually or as a group, feel free to contact them through their inquiry form!..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

08/08/2026

Don your best yukata and dance the heat away at the “Koedo Kofu Summer Festival”, coming up next week ✨

Every year on August 11th, Kofu’s Maizuru Castle Park comes alive to the sounds of dance performances, the smell of delicious street food, and the vibrant colors of paper lanterns and stunning fireworks for its yearly summer festival.
The event recreates the atmosphere of Kofu’s bustling castle town—once a hub for scholars, artists and actors traveling from Edo (present-day Tokyo), which earned it the nickname "Little Edo" ("koedo")—, and features a wide array of stage events and activities for all age groups!

📅When: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (public holiday)
📍Locations:
- Main venues: Koedo Kofu Hana-koji Alley (11:00 to 21:00) & Maizuru Castle Park (15:00 to 21:00)
- Secondary venues: Lawn square south of Maizuru Castle Park & Yamanashi Prefectural Office Fountain Plaza (11:00 to 17:00)
⏰Event schedule:
15:10～　Opening Ceremony
15:10～　Yosakoi dance performances
16:00～　MYCOOL-RIO
16:50～　BANBANBAN Anime Song Disco
17:40～　KAYA Special Stage
18:30～　Greetings from Sponsors & Lantern Light-up
18:50～　Bon-odori dance (anyone can join in!)
19:50～　Bon Dance Night – DJ KOO
20:30～　Japanese drum performance – ARAHAN
20:45～　Closing Ceremony
20:50～　Fireworks..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

01/08/2026

Did you know?
The first day of August—known to be the month when water usage peaks—is National Water Day in Japan, with August 1 through 7 designated as "Water Week"💧

Here in Kofu, you will find "Kofu Water" refill stations at the Kofu City Hall, the Kofu City Tourist Information Center by Kofu Station, and inside the Kofu Kameyama Theater, where visitors can fill their bottles for free with tap water sourced from the pristine springs of Shosenkyo Gorge.

Kofu’s summers are notoriously hot, so be sure to drink water frequently to keep your body from overheating!..
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

25/07/2026

In Japan, the fourth Sunday of July is known as "Parent and Child Day"!
Meaning this is the perfect timing to introduce the "Koshu Oyako (parent & child) Daruma," a traditional folk craft from Yamanashi Prefecture that symbolizes the bond between parents and children✨

While there are as many variatons of Daruma as there are regions in Japan, what sets this particular one apart is the presence of a child protruding from its belly.

In the past, Yamanashi’s economy mainly depended on the success of silkworm and cotton farming. As a result, a custom was born among farmers to enshrine a white Daruma to pray for bountiful harvests. And because the safety of one’s household and the prosperity of its future generations were dependent on those harvests
And because good harvests meant a safe household and prosperity for its future generations, this tradition in turn created the Parent-and-Child Daruma.

If you look closely, you will notice that the parent and child are looking in slightly different directions; the child is looking straight ahead, into the future, while the parent Daruma’s gaze is directed slightly downward, as if to watch over the child Daruma or to make eye contact with the members of the household from up on the kamidana (Shinto household altar mounted high up on the wall).

➡️You can find Oyako Daruma year-round at "Kaiterasu" (Yamanashi Prefecture Local Industry Center) and at "Licavou" on the 4th floor of Celeo Kofu, connected to Kofu Station...
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

20/07/2026

W**e production is already underway here in Japan’s w**e kingdom of Yamanashi🍷

W**emakers at "Domaine Q", Japan’s smallest w**ery located in Kofu, have begun working on this year’s batch of the w**ery’s iconic "Nou-Nouveau" w**e, released ahead of all the other "nouveau" w**es—a type of w**e released the same year its grapes are harvested—on July 31 every year.

The w**e is made using Delaware grapes harvested before they reach full ripeness, so as to take full advantage of the sourness that comes from malic acid—the same compound responsible for the tart flavor of apples—, and pairs well with sushi!
Expect a fresh and fruity flavor that’s perfect for the sweltering hot summer ☀️

🚌How to get there: from the Kofu Station south bus rotary, take a bus bound for Fujisan Station and get off at Ko-un Elementary School, or take bus 98 to Isawa-Onsen Station and alight at Wado, and walk 12 min. to the w**ery...
🇯🇵日本語専用ぺージはこちら https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.jp
🇫🇷Page en français : https://www.facebook.com/coolkofu.fr

Cool Kofu（En）

17/09/2026

10/09/2026

03/09/2026

28/08/2026

18/08/2026

13/08/2026

08/08/2026

01/08/2026

25/07/2026

20/07/2026

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