Things to do in Kofu

Kanazakura Shrine

No. 10 of Best Things to Do in Yamanashi Prefecture

Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum

Music Box Forest is located on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi, across the lake from the majestic Mount Fuji. The park has buildings and streets like the mansions of European medieval royal families. It not only serves as a music museum and collects various classical music boxes, the world's largest doll automatic organ, and the automatic musical instrument that was originally installed on the Titanic. There is also a rose garden where you can take a leisurely stroll, and you can make your own music box in the experience workshop. The world's largest "Doll Automatic Playing Pipe Organ" is located in the pipe organ hall. It was built by the Belgian company Motie. One machine can play the orchestra alone. At the same time, there will be 43 dolls playing with the music, like It's like a ball in medieval Europe. In the center of the 25,000-square-meter spacious garden is the "Jongnak Plaza" with an organ clock. There are two art galleries, two gardens, ponds, and restaurants around it. It is full of European medieval style and is perfect for a leisurely stroll. Rose Garden The Rose Garden has 3,500 roses of 720 species. The whole garden is filled with the fragrance of roses during the flowering season. The colorful roses are in full bloom, and they compete with Mount Fuji and are beautiful. Of course, in addition to roses, other seasons also have their own seasonal flowers, it can be said that the four seasons are picturesque. Twilight Landscape Light Music Box Forest will hold a landscape light event every year, when the whole garden is like a dream, as if entering the world of fairy tales. The exact time of the event varies from year to year, but is generally in winter.

Kose Sports Park

Maizuru Castle Park

Maizuru Castle Park is the historical site of Kofu Castle. Although unfortunately destroyed, it has been replaced by a beautiful park that retains some fortifications and architectural elements (gates, outbuildings). The main tower has become an interesting viewing point overlooking Mount Fuji and the mountains surrounding the city. The park is very pleasant, especially in spring when the cherry trees are in bloom. The park features stone walls from the time the castle was built, restored gates, and the Inari Turret, and it is just the right size for a walk.

Kōfu Castle Ruins

This beautiful castle once covered approximately 20 hectares. Part of the site is now open to the public as Maizuru Castle Park and Kofu City Historical Park.

2026 Asia 50 - Ski Resorts

Fujiten Snow Resort

Fujiten Snow Resort is located on Mt. Tenjin in Narusawa, Yamanashi Prefecture, and with Mount Fuji as its backdrop, it is a comprehensive resort suitable for skiers of all levels. The resort sits at an elevation of approx. 1,300 to 1,500 m and offers trails ranging from gentle slopes to steep runs with a maximum gradient of 32 degrees, covering beginner, intermediate, and advanced difficulty levels. The slalom course offers views of the Misaka mountain range along the way, and looking back at Mount Fuji from the bottom reveals an expansive, magnificent vista; the Downhill East course is known for its 32-degree steep slope and mogul terrain and is an advanced route, which connects with the Dynamic course to form a long run of approx. 1,500 m. The resort is equipped with a high-speed quad lift that effectively reduces queue times. One of the highlights of the ski resort is the Mount Fuji observation cable car — even if you don't ski, you can ride the cable car up to the observation deck at the summit of Tenjindaira and take in the majestic winter view of Mount Fuji head-on. On clear days, you can also look down at Lake Kawaguchi and the Aokigahara Sea of Trees at the foot of the mountain, making it a popular viewing and photo spot within the resort. For families with children, the resort has a dedicated children's play area, including a snow play zone, dedicated sledding lanes, and a children-only ski practice area, equipped with a moving walkway for easy access for little ones, as well as a nursing room and childcare services. The snow park area regularly changes the layout of features such as jumps, rails, and boxes, with graded setups from a beginner practice area to an advanced main park, attracting many snowboarders and freestyle skiers to come and hone their skills. The central lodge houses a restaurant and shops for convenient dining and supplies.

Saiseki no Kura

Sakaigawa Parking Area Eastbound

Ichigo Zanmai

Yamanashi Prefectural Science Museum

It has operated under the theme of "watching, touching, experiencing, and learning about the wonders of science." The permanent exhibition hall allows you to learn scientific principles while experiencing approx. 100 interactive exhibits. Additionally, you can participate in various activities and programs in the space theater, which features a Japanese spherical display system, as well as in the astronomical observatory and laboratory/workshops, such as science shows, experimental workshops, and programming courses. The observation deck is also very popular, offering panoramic views of the Kofu Basin, Mount Fuji, and the Southern Alps.