Kofu Castle (b•{é, Kōfu-jō) is a ruined and partially reconstructed castle in central Kofu that has been made into a public park, named Maizurujo Park. It features reconstructions of a castle turret and multiple gates, as well as a Japanese garden. The surviving stone walls make it easy for visitors to appreciate the original layout of the castle, and the park affords nice views of the city and nearby mountains.
Interestingly, the original castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th century and not by the Takeda clan who ruled the area in preceding centuries when the construction of castles inside cities was not a common practice yet. Following the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the castle fell into the hands of the Tokugawa clan, in which it remained for the rest of the Edo Period. After the Meiji Restoration the castle was abandoned and dismantled before being opened as a public park in 1904.
Of the castle park's various features, highlights include the Inari Yagura, a reconstructed turret which can be entered for free and contains a small exhibition room with a diorama of the castle's former appearance. Good views can be enjoyed from the turret's upper floor and the castle's elevated former honmaru (main citadel) in the center of the park. Finally, a Japanese garden compliments the park's tranquil atmosphere.
Getting there and around
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Maizurujo Park
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Closed
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Typical Visit Duration
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