Kofu Castle

山梨県

Central Kai castle built by the Toyotomi regime after the Takeda's fall, offering Mt. Fuji views from the keep mound

Founded

1583

Type

Castle

Visited

Want to go

Access

About 3 min walk from JR Kofu Station south exit

1-5-4 Marunouchi, Kofu, Yamanashi

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Info

Castle

Founded 1583

443 years

Overview

A national historic site and the central castle of Kai Province built after the fall of the Takeda clan, also known as Maizuru Castle. Developed in earnest under the Toyotomi regime by Kato Mitsuyasu and Asano Nagamasa, it was governed by members of the Tokugawa family during the Edo period. The gleaming white granite stone walls are in excellent condition, and the Inari turret and Kurogane Gate h…

Origins

Construction began around 1583 under Tokugawa Ieyasu. Kato Mitsuyasu and Asano Nagamasa developed it under the Toyotomi regime. It flourished most under Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu. The Inari turret was restored in 2004 and the Kurogane Gate in 2013.

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Related Figures
— 2

Takeda Shingen

Tiger of Kai — Furinkazan

Age 62 at founding (posthumous)

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Kofu Castle was built on the ruins of Takeda power after Shingen's clan was destroyed in 1582. Constructed as a stone castle by the Toyotomi regime at a new site distinct from Shingen's Tsutsujigasaki residence, it inherited Kofu's role as the capital of Kai Province. The urban layout and flood-control works Shingen developed formed the foundation on which this castle town was built.

Kofu Castle was substantially developed under Toyotomi Hideyoshi's national reorganization after unifying Japan. After Hideyoshi defeated the Hojo clan in 1590 and moved Tokugawa Ieyasu to Kanto, he sent retainers Kato Mitsuyasu and later Asano Nagamasa to Kai Province, who rebuilt the castle into an early-modern fortress reflecting Toyotomi-era techniques.

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Visiting Information

Hours

Maizuru Castle Park (Kofu Castle ruins) is open at all times for free strolling. The Inari Turret within the park is open 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (last entry 4:00 PM), closed Mondays (open if a holiday), the day after a holiday, and the New Year period.

Admission

Admission to Maizuru Castle Park is free. The Inari Turret is also free.

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

Also Worth Visiting

Kai Zenkoji Temple

Jodo temple where Shingen transferred Zenkoji's sacred image from Shinano before the Kawanakajima battles

2.1km

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Takeda Jinja

Grand guardian shrine of Kai on Shingen's residential site, revered for victory and martial fortune

2.5km

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