Kofu


 * This page describes a city in Yamanashi. For the township in Tottori, see Kofu (Tottori) (江府).

Kōfu (甲府市 Kōfu-shi) is the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture.

Understand
Kofu lies at the center of the bowl-shaped prefecture, with some of Japan's most famous mountains rising along the horizon. On a clear day, a visitor can see Mt. Fuji to the south, Japan's second highest peak Kitadake and the majestic Minami Alps to the west, and the eight fractured peaks of Yatsugatake to the north.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

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.

Get around
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.

See


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.



Do

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

Buy
Kofu is famous for grapes and wine.

Eat
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.



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



Go next

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