亮点
- For the 53rd edition (2027), actor Maki Miya will play Takeda Shingen and opera singer Kohei Yamamoto will play Yamamoto Kansuke (announced 4 August 2026; Miya is only the third woman cast as Shingen)
- The 53rd edition is expected in April 2027, but the exact dates are unannounced as of September 2026 — the organisers will release them once fixed
- The Koshu Gundan Shutsujin: roughly 1,500 armour-clad participants and about 30 horses, organized into the Takeda 24 Generals' units, muster at Maizuru Castle Park and march out to re-enact departing for the Battle of Kawanakajima against Uesugi Kenshin
- Certified by Guinness World Records since 2012 as the largest gathering of people dressed as samurai (1,061 verified participants) - now promoted as 'the world's largest samurai procession'
- A torchlit war-council scene (gunhyo hyojo) is re-enacted on a special stage at Maizuru Castle Park before the march, with actors playing Shingen and his generals beneath a forest of clan banners
由来与背景
The festival grew out of a Kofu cherry-blossom event first held in 1947 and was relaunched under its current 'Shingen-ko' name and format in 1970, amid a wave of popular interest in the Sengoku era. It re-enacts Takeda Shingen's Koshu army departing Kofu for the Battle of Kawanakajima against his rival Uesugi Kenshin. The festival has occasionally shifted dates - including a move to autumn in 2022 and 2023 - before returning to its traditional early-April slot from 2025.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Maizuru Castle Park is a 3-5 minute walk from JR Kofu Station; about 90 minutes from Shinjuku on the JR Chuo Line limited express (Azusa / Kaiji). IMPORTANT: as of September 2026 the official dates for the 53rd edition (2027) have NOT been announced — the organisers say details will follow once fixed. Recent editions ran Friday to Sunday around the first weekend of April, so early April 2027 is likely, but that is an inference, not an announcement. Confirm the dates on the official site before booking flights or accommodation. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers
温馨提示
Free viewing space along Heiwa-dori fills up fast, so stake out a spot well before the Koshu Gundan Shutsujin march begins in the afternoon. If the 2027 dates shift from the estimate above, Kofu's tourism division (055-231-2722) and the official festival site are the fastest ways to confirm before you travel.
交通
Maizuru Castle Park (Kofu Castle Ruins), Kofu — 1 Marunouchi 1-chome, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-0031