Kōshū brings together a history of winemaking, cultural landscapes, historic sites, and trails through mountains and gorges. When planning your trip, you can choose from several different focuses: wine and culture, literary sites, or walks and hikes. The city offers specific points of interest for each of these areas.

Winemaking and Cultural Landscapes

In the Katsunuma region, grape cultivation, which began in the Edo period, developed alongside the wine industry that emerged in the Meiji period. Together, they gave rise to a unique cultural landscape. Katsunuma is considered the birthplace of Japanese wine: in 1877, the Dainihon Yamanashi Budōshu Kaisha was founded there as Japan’s first private winery.

Today, there are several ways to explore the region’s wine. At the Budounooka wine cellar, you can sample more than 100 wines recommended by Kōshū using a special tasting vessel. Offerings and tasting options may change; check the latest information before your visit.

Miyakōen combines a winery founded by Miyazaki Kōtarō with a tourist vineyard. The site is now set up as a museum. On display are historical film footage, photographs, and wine labels from the time, offering a glimpse into the roots of Japanese winemaking.

Cultural Heritage and Seasonal Events

The former residence of the Takano family, Kyū Takano-ke Jūtaku (Kanzōyashiki), is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan and is open to the public as a historic park. The layout of the residential complex from the late Edo period has been preserved. Visitor arrangements may change, so check the latest visiting conditions before your trip.

Kanzōyashiki is also the main venue for the Enzan Tōgenkyō Festival, featuring Hina dolls and peach blossoms. The festival is held every year from February 11 to April 18. Check the festival dates if you would like to plan your visit around it.

The Shioyama area is also connected to literary history. Its name comes from Mount Shio-no-yama, southwest of the city, which is mentioned in a poem in the Kokin Wakashū. For court poets of the time, the mountain was a kind of “paradise.” The Shioyama area is also the home region of the parents of writer Ichiyō Higuchi; in her work “Yuku Kumo,” the area appears as the protagonist’s hometown.

The Ichiyō-no-Sato walking course leads to Jiuunji, known for its Itosakura cherry tree, and to a literary monument to Ichiyō Higuchi. Hinata Yakushi and Takimoto-in also offer seasonal views. From the course, the peach blossoms spread out like a pink carpet; flowering times vary from year to year. Temples and shrines associated with the Takeda family have also been preserved in the Shioyama area, including Erinji and Kōgakuji.

Walks, Mountains, and Views

Mountains, gorges, and forests account for 80 percent of the Shioyama area. Set on higher ground, Shioyama Fureai-no-Mori Sōgō Kōen offers wide views over Kōshū, including Mount Fuji. Its nature-walking area includes seasonal flowers and trees, a walking path, a playground, a pond, and an observation tower. The facilities are open to everyone; as they may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.

Another walking option is Ryūmonkyō Gorge in the Hikawa Valley. It has an easy-to-walk trail suitable for families and a parking lot. Trail conditions and facilities may change; check the latest local information before setting out.

For a hike, Daibosatsu-rei is a destination suitable for a range of experience levels, from families to experienced hikers. The mountain is one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains. The Sanukubo Highlands also attract many hikers, particularly from the Greater Tokyo Area. Check the latest trail and access information before hiking.

Plan Your Accommodation and Transport

When choosing a hotel, you can first decide what you would like to shape your stay: wine and cultural history, literary sites, or hikes through the landscape. In Kōshū, municipal buses operate alongside privately run bus services; the city outsources operations to transport companies. If you plan to use buses, check the latest routes and service information for your chosen destinations.

Discover more destinations: Hokuto, Hayakawa, Kai, Yamanakako, Minobu, Yamanaka, Yamanashi, Funatsu

Return to the main travel overview: Yamanashi Prefecture.