Kofu’s Shingen-ko Festival recreates an armoured muster and street procession associated with Takeda Shingen. The central-city event is distinct from a visit to historic battlefield sites.
Shingen-ko Festival dates
April 3–5, 2026; next edition not confirmed here
Past recorded edition
Dates and times use JST. The recorded dates apply only to the stated edition. Read the organiser’s programme for start times, tickets, postponements and cancellations.
Where to watch
Kofu · 甲府
Maizuru Castle Park and central Kofu, including Heiwa-dori
舞鶴城公園・甲府市街
The army departs from Maizuru Castle Park and marches along downtown streets including Heiwa-dori. Takeda Shrine is not the main parade's departure point.
The directions below use one representative location, not every venue entrance or the complete procession route. Use the official venue map for your ticket or programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Take a JR Chuo Main Line limited express from Shinjuku to Kofu. Maizuru Castle Park is south of the station; use the event map to select a procession street.
Planning your visit
Choose the assembled warriors in the park or the moving procession as your main viewing scene. Takeda Shrine requires a separate journey from this festival area.
This is an editorial travel suggestion, not a claim of a personal visit or a guarantee of the programme. When travelling from Canada, use your Japan arrival date to select the festival day.
What to look for
- Armored army procession
- Departure ceremony
- Downtown reenactment
History and traditions
The modern festival commemorates Takeda Shingen's achievements through a civic historical reenactment.
Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0. Original or supplied reduced image; no additional edits. See the original file for its date and context.
Nearby places to consider
Maizuru Castle Park · 舞鶴城公園
Kofu Castle's surviving stone walls and elevated park viewpoints.
Explore outside the army departure period; paths within the castle park include climbs.
The description and suggested visit refer to the first attraction listed. Other links are separate nearby options; festival traffic and opening hours may affect your plans.
Shingen-ko Festival questions
When is Shingen-ko Festival?
April 3–5, 2026; next edition not confirmed here. These dates belong only to the stated edition; they do not confirm a later year.
How do I reach Shingen-ko Festival by public transport?
Take a JR Chuo Main Line limited express from Shinjuku to Kofu. Maizuru Castle Park is south of the station; use the event map to select a procession street.
Is the main procession at Takeda Shrine?
No. Main events use central Kofu and Maizuru Castle Park. Allow a separate journey if you also want to visit Takeda Shrine.
Official programme and sources
- Official reference · www.yamanashi-kankou.jp ↗
- Official reference · kofu-tourism.com ↗
- Official reference · kofu-tourism.com ↗
Shared source records reviewed October 3, 2026. Some official pages are in Japanese. JapanLiveNow’s English guide is independently edited; the organiser’s latest announcement takes precedence.