Geographic features

Kofu, capital of Yamanashi prefecture, is a city located almost exactly at the middle point of the Japanese archipelago. The area is a narrow strip of land stretching from north to south, surrounded by peaks over 2,000m high running from east to west starting in the mountainous lands to the north. The city’s urban center lies in the middle of the Kofu Basin, and the land is mostly flat, with a slight southward slant. From the city, one can see the Southern Japanese Alps to the west, the Yatsugatake Mountains to the north, and Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the south. Running through Kofu from north to south is the Arakawa river, whose headwaters begin in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The city is abound with nature, with numerous places of scenic beauty among which Shosenkyo Gorge, designated as a Japan Heritage site since 2020 and one of the most beautiful gorges in the country, and Ashigawa Valley.

Main industries

Manufacture and Wholesale (mainly jewelry), Service Industry (restaurant business, beauty salons), Retail

Symbols

City tree : Oak, City flower : Dianthus, City bird : Kingfisher

Number of visitors

3,871,000 (FY2021)

Official website

http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/


Sources: Statistical Handbook of Kofu city（2022） Statistical data bank of Yamanashi prefecture