Takeda-jinja

Takeda Shrine in Kofu is dedicated to the spirit of Takeda Shingen, the 16th-century warlord who dominated the region and whose image still appears on everything from local sake labels to sweet wrappers. The shrine occupies the former site of Tsutsujigasaki Castle, with earthwork moats still intact around the perimeter. A display of armor, weapons, and battle standards from the Takeda clan fills the treasure hall. Autumn foliage frames the gate path in orange and red from mid-November, and the annual Shingen-ko Festival in April brings dramatic processions of samurai-dressed participants through the streets of Kofu.