Kofu Castle (Maizuru Castle Park)
Kofu Castle is a castle located in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The castle was built by Azai Nagamasa on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the early Edo period, and was built for the purpose of controlling Tokugawa Ieyasu in Edo. It is currently designated as a nationally designated historic site.
- Year of construction
- 1583
- Alias
- Maizuru Castle
- Cultural property designation
- National historic sites
- Tenshū
- None
- Fees
- Free
- Business hours/regular holidays
- Always open
- Nearest station/access
- 10 minutes walk from JR Kofu Station (500m)
- Parking lot
- Paid parking available around Kofu Station
- There is a parking lot within the castle that can only be used by buses and people with disabilities (reservation required)
- Location
- 1-5-4 Marunouchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture 400-0031
Kofu Castle - Kofu City Official Website
Kofu Castle is built on Ichijo Oyama in the northern part of the Kofu Basin. One of Yamanashi Prefecture’s most representative castles, it played an important role as the guardian deity of Kai during the Edo period.
Kofu Castle was built after the fall of the Takeda clan to fight against Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Kanto region. Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered Mitsuyasu Kato, who ruled Kai, to begin construction of the castle, which was then completed by father and son Nagamasa Asano and Yukinaga.
Kofu Castle is a vast castle surrounded by Uchibori, Ninobori, and Sannobori. There is a castle tower in the main enclosure, and various kuruwa are arranged around it. Although the castle tower no longer exists, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Kofu Basin from the castle tower.
Kofu Castle functioned as the central castle of Kai Province throughout the Edo period. The shogun family and Fudai daimyo served as the castle lords, and it developed greatly along with the castle town.
Kofu Castle is currently maintained as Maizuru Castle Park. You can freely walk around the ruins such as the castle tower and the main castle ruins. There is also the Kofu Castle Museum, which exhibits materials related to Kofu Castle.
We recommend entering from Kaji Kuruwa Gate
There are several entrances to enter Kofu Castle. The north side is closest to Kofu Station, but the north side is at the back, so if you enter from the south side, you can enjoy the atmosphere and the road to the main enclosure.
We especially recommend entering from the “Kaji Kuruwa Gate” on the southwest side, where you can see many historical buildings.
Kaji Kuruwa Gate
Kaji Kuruwa Gate is a gate that connects Kofu Castle’s Datsui kuruwa and Kaji Kuruwa, and is located on the southwest side of the main keep. Currently, it is located on the way to Kofu Castle from the east gate of Yamanashi Prefectural Office.
The Kaji Kuruwa Gate was restored in 1997 based on the results of excavations. The gate is in the form of a medicine gate, with two main pillars in the front and two supporting pillars in the back, with a gabled roof covered with real tiles.
The roof is slightly shifted to the front, so the pillars in front are somewhat thick, and there is a sliding door next to the gate.
Japanese garden
Once you pass through the Kaji Kuruwa Gate, you will see a Japanese garden extending all the way to the main enclosure. It takes about 5 minutes to reach the main enclosure even if you walk slowly.
The atmosphere of the garden is lovely. It’s graceful and makes you feel like time is passing slowly.
Many cherry blossoms are planted here. In spring, this road is beautiful with cherry blossoms in full bloom.
The garden along the walkway is calm and you can take a leisurely stroll.
When you go up the stone steps, you will see an Kurogane Gate.
Kurogane Gate
Kurogane Gate is his two-story turret gate with stone walls on both sides, located on the southern boundary between the main keep and the castle tower. It was built in the early Edo period and demolished in the first year of the Meiji era, but was restored from 2010 to 2011.
The name Kurogane Gate comes from the fact that the gate’s door was made of iron. The gate is made of welded iron plates and is about 1 centimeter thick. There is also iron decoration around the door.
The inside of the kurogane gate was a two-story building, with the first floor containing weapons such as bows and arrows and guns, and the second floor containing a guard tower and living quarters.
The kurogane gate was one of the important defense facilities of Kofu Castle. Since the gate was made of iron, it was able to withstand attacks from matchlock guns, and is thought to have played a major role in the defense of the castle.
Castle keep
After passing through the kurogane gate, you will enter the castle keep area. The castle tower no longer exists, so it is now a plaza.
There is a castle tower that you can climb up.
The castle tower is an observation deck, and you can look out over Kofu city.
View from the castle tower (south side)
View from the castle tower (northeast side)
View from the castle tower (north side, towards Kofu Station)
Looking down on castle keep Square from the castle tower
Inari Kuruwa
If you get off the castle tower and head north, you will come to Inari Kuruwa, so let’s go there.
The stone wall of the castle tower is simply magnificent.
The slope leading to Inari Kuruwa
This side is on a slope, so if you think you can get to the main square without stairs, it might be a good idea for families pushing strollers to enter from the north side.
We have arrived at Inari Kuruwa.
Inari Kuruwa is a kuruwa located on the north side of the main enclosure. Built in the early Edo period, it was an important kuruwa that was directly connected to the castle tower and the main keep.
Inari Kuruwa is surrounded by a moat 10m wide and 6m deep. A stone wall about 10m high was built outside the moat, which served to strengthen the castle’s defenses.
Today, it is a plaza filled with cherry blossoms, but there are still many remains within the Inari Kuruwa that still remind us of what it was like in the past, such as a well, the remains of a smoke and glass storehouse, and an old stone wall display.
Inari Yagura
On the east side of Inari Kuruwa, there is an armory called Inari Yagura, and you can enter it. Exhibitions are being held at Inari Yagura.
Inari Yagura is a two-story tower, each with historical excavated items on display.
Gold leaf killer whale tile
killer whale tiles
On the second floor, there is a diorama model of the entire Kofu Castle and a demonstration of how the stones of the castle walls were carved.
Kofu Castle, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.
Kofu Castle functioned as the central castle of Kai Province throughout the Edo period. The shogun family and Fudai daimyo served as the castle lords, and it developed greatly along with the castle town.
Kofu Castle was also abandoned under the Meiji Castle Abolition Order, and is now maintained as Maizuru Castle Park. While retaining its historical remains, it now quietly serves as a place of relaxation for citizens.
On the other hand, Kofu Castle is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot where approximately 160 cherry trees bloom in spring. The cherry blossoms are planted surrounding the ruins of the castle tower and the ruins of the main castle keep, and the beautiful contrast with Mt. Fuji in the distance attracts many tourists.
The best time to see cherry blossoms at Kofu Castle is usually from mid-March to early April. The cherry blossoms are also illuminated, and you can enjoy a stroll through the cherry blossoms at night.
Kofu Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to keep Tokugawa Ieyasu in check.
Today, it stands quietly, carrying its history. However, its presence is highlighted by the cherry blossoms.
When you travel to Yamanashi Prefecture, please go to Kofu City and visit Kofu Castle, which is close to Kofu Station.
