Territory capital · Japan
Kofu甲府市
Give Kofu one night as a Yamanashi base: Shosenkyo gorge, Takeda Shrine and wine, then move on. Two nights only if you add fruit picking or a Minobu run.
Kofu is the capital of Yamanashi, sitting in a bowl of mountains with Fuji to the south and the Minami Alps to the west. The centre is small and walkable, but the good parts — Shosenkyo Gorge, the wineries, the fruit farms — sit outside it and need a bus, a bike or a car. Most travellers use it as a base for the prefecture rather than a destination in itself.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, humid basin), Golden Week
- Airports
- NRT · HND · KIX
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kofu110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kofu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyKofu is a quiet, low-crime city; the real risks are summer heat in the basin, deer on mountain roads if you drive, and bars with no posted prices…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNRT Narita (Chuo Line via Shinjuku, about 3 h by limited express).
- Getting aroundKofu is built for cars: shops and sights sit along dual carriageways outside the centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Street or quick mealHoutou noodle soup¥1,300–1,800 (≈ US$9–13)
- Beerdraught in an izakaya / can at a konbini¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi¥1,800–2,400 (≈ US$13–17)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥13,000 (≈ US$90)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥28,000 (≈ US$190)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NRT Narita (Chuo Line via Shinjuku, about 3 h by limited express) · HND Haneda (Chuo Line via Shinjuku, about 2 h 30 min by limited express) · KIX Kansai (Shinkansen to Tokyo then Chuo Line, or fly to a closer field)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: Apr–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kofu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
4 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
5 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
8 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
12 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
5 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Kofu is built for cars: shops and sights sit along dual carriageways outside the centre. In town, walk or rent an electric bike (¥500 a day at hotels near the station). For Shosenkyo and the wineries, use the bus from Kofu Station or a taxi; the Minobu Line doubles as a local train with several stops in the city.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Shosenkyo Gorge
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bus from Kofu Station, about 1 h, then walk
Walk Nagatorobashi to the shadow-picture museum, about 2 h easy; ropeway ¥1,200. Best in autumn.
Koshu wine country
goDoor to door: About 1 h
JR Chuo Line to Katsunuma-budokyo, about 20 min, then walk or taxi between wineries
Tastings cluster along the valley; several estates close on weekdays.
Minobu
goDoor to door: About 2 h
JR Minobu Line from Kofu, about 1 h 15 min to Minobu, then bus up to Kuon-ji
Single-track line: buy a ticket on board and pay the driver on exit.
Fujiyoshida and Fuji Five Lakes
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
JR Chuo Line to Otsuki, then Fujikyuko Line
Too slow as a return day from Kofu: sleep there instead.
Hokuto and the Yatsugatake foothills
goDoor to door: About 1 h
JR Chuo Line west, about 30–50 min
Higher, cooler and greener than the basin; good for a half day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kofu Station north side
Hotels, izakayas and the castle park within a 10-minute walk; best for one night with bags.
Marunouchi and Chuo
The bar and restaurant grid around Orion Street; 5–10 minutes south of the station.
Isawa and the wine area
Onsen and winery country east of the city; needs a car or a train hop, not a walk.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥13,000 | ¥13,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥13,000 | ¥26,000 |
| Chuo Line limited express, Shinjuku to Kofu, one way2 × ¥4,000 | ¥8,000 |
| Highway bus, Shinjuku to Kofu, one way2 × ¥2,000 | ¥4,000 |
| Electric bike rental, one day2 × ¥500 | ¥1,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥5,700 |
| Trip total≈ ¥31,350 per person per day, bed included | ¥62,700≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Houtou noodle soup | ¥1,300–1,800 (≈ US$9–13) |
| Soba, all-you-can-eat set | ¥1,500–2,500 (≈ US$11–17) |
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Beer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbini | ¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Wine tasting at a Koshu estate | ¥500–1,500 (≈ US$4–11) |
| Shosenkyo ropeway round trip | about ¥1,200 (≈ US$9) |
| 5 km taxi | ¥1,800–2,400 (≈ US$13–17) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The basin is one of Japan's hottest summer spots: plan indoor or high-altitude afternoons in Jul–Aug.
- Buses to Shosenkyo are infrequent and stop early; check the last return before you set out.
- Many wineries and fruit farms close outside harvest season and on weekdays: call or check ahead.
- Outside the station area, English signage thins out; have addresses written in Japanese.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Kofu甲府市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Kofu; most countries keep embassies in Tokyo and consulates in Osaka. Check your own country's list before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Shinjuku → Kofu, Chuo Line limited express: about ¥4,000 (≈ US$30), 1 h 30 min–2 h
- Shinjuku → Kofu, highway bus: about ¥2,000 (≈ US$14), 2 h on paper, longer in traffic
- Kofu Station → Shosenkyo, bus: about 1 h; check the last return
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Kofu is a small city: keep cash for buses, wineries and rural shops.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kofu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, humid basin), Golden Week · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for Kofu: last Chuo Line limited express from Shinjuku field-checked, highway-bus fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kofu Station north, Marunouchi and Orion Street, Maizuru Castle Park.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Takeda Shrine, Maizuru Castle Park, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Shosenkyo ropeway) and eat pages with last orders.
- Harvest and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialKofu official tourism guide
- officialKofu City official site
- officialShosenkyo Gorge tourism association
- officialTakeda Shrine official site
- officialYamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
- secondaryWikivoyage: Kofu, revision 5236987 (CC BY-SA 4.0)