亮点

  • 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, reachable by limited express (Azusa/Kaiji) on the JR Chuo Line in about 90 minutes from Tokyo/Shinjuku. IMPORTANT: as of mid-2026 the 53rd festival's exact 2027 dates had not yet been officially announced; based on the fixed pattern of the last two editions (the Friday-Sunday containing the first Friday of April), the festival is expected around April 2-4, 2027, with the main Koshu Gundan armour procession on Saturday, April 3 - confirm on the official site before booking travel.　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

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Japan-Event Editorial
  • Japan-based editorial team
  • Primary sources, cited
  • Variable facts dated

The Japan-Event editorial desk. We work from primary sources and date every claim that can change.