Mid - Late
Oct
Shingen Takeda riding past Starbucks
Shingen Takeda riding past Starbucks (Photo: Von Hannes Ulbricht )

Shingen-ko Festival in Kofu City 2024

The biggest samurai festival in Japan

Cathy Cawood   - 2 min read
Venue : Maizuru Castle Park When : Mid - Late Oct 2024

Takeda Shingen was a powerful and strategically brilliant 16th century warlord. Famous Japanese director Akira Kurasawa’s iconic film Kagemusha was based on the events that followed Takeda’s death. He ruled over Yamanashi, which was then known as Kai Province. He never built a castle, because he said that his fortress was the loyalty of his people. Instead he built flood banks to protect the people from flooding. You can find his statue outside Kofu Station, and he is still remembered as the hero of Yamanashi in the annual Shingen-ko Festival. 2019 will be the 48th festival.

Shingen-ko is the biggest samurai festival in Japan. The festival takes place in spring at the same time as the cherry blossoms are in bloom. The festival takes place over 3 days (the exact dates vary from year to year because it always a weekend.) The highlight is a samurai procession on Saturday evening. A different famous actor is chosen every year to play the part of Shingen Takeda. Some 1500 locals dressed in samurai armor gather in Maizuru Castle Park, then Takeda and his generals lead them through the streets of Kofu City and return to the starting point. According to the Guinness Book Of Records, it is the biggest samurai festival in Japan.

Besides the deployment of Takeda’s army, there is a Princess Koihime contest on Friday evening in Yocchabare Plaza outside JR Kofu Station’s North Exit. On Sunday there is a Kendo competition, a karate demonstration, a children's samurai parade, music and taiko drum performances in Maizuru Castle Park. Naturally there are also food and drink stalls selling a range of delicious things.

Getting there

All the events take place just outside Kofu Station, or in Maizuru Castle Park which is only 3 minutes walk from the south exit of Kofu Station.

Cathy Cawood

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

 I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...