Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 信玄公祭り（しんげんこうまつり）
• Shingen-kō Matsuri, the festival in honor of Takeda Shingen

History

The Shingen-kō Matsuri（信玄公祭り, Shingen-kō Matsuri）is the major historical event of Kōfu（甲府, Kōfu）, in Yamanashi Prefecture（山梨県, Yamanashi-ken）, organized to celebrate and revive the figure of the daimyo Takeda Shingen（武田信玄, Takeda Shingen）and the warrior imagery of the Sengoku period（戦国時代, Sengoku jidai）. Its core is the spectacular reenactment of the march to the Battle of Kawanakajima（川中島合戦, Kawanakajima kassen）through the grand parade Kōshū gundan shutsujin（甲州軍団出陣, Kōshū gundan shutsujin）, featuring units inspired by the Takeda nijūyonshō（武田二十四将, Takeda nijūyonshō）, the "24 generals" of Shingen.

Regarding its origins, the event is rooted in a local history that has evolved over decades: a former post-war Sakura matsuri（桜祭り, sakura matsuri）, then a gradual emphasis on Takeda Shingen, leading to the modern form (a large-scale urban festival) centered on the parade. The most visible symbolism remains the motto Fūrinkazan（風林火山, Fūrinkazan）, displayed on banners and "armies" (風 kaze, 林 hayashi, 火 hi, 山 yama). The festival has also gained international recognition with the title of "largest samurai parade" in a Guinness World Record (armor gathering). Finally, its schedule has seen recent adjustments (postponements and a one-year pause), before returning to a spring format.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: downtown Kōfu（甲府, Kōfu）, around Maizuru-jō Kōen（舞鶴城公園, Maizuru-jō kōen / 甲府城跡 Kōfu-jō ato）and nearby routes close to the station.
• Address: 〒400-0031 山梨県甲府市丸の内1-5-4（1-5-4 Marunouchi, Kōfu-shi, Yamanashi）.
• Date: generally 3 days (Friday to Sunday) around early April, linked to April 12 (date associated with Takeda Shingen).

Schedule

The festival takes place over three days and transforms the Kōfu-eki（甲府駅, Kōfu-eki）area into a "Sengoku" setting: armor, banners, drums, stalls, activities, and dense crowds. Visitors come for the atmosphere but also for the "good luck" and identity aspect (local pride around Takeda Shingen).

The central moment is the Kōshū gundan shutsujin（甲州軍団出陣, Kōshū gundan shutsujin）: a grand military reenactment where troops gather, motivate themselves, and "march out" towards Kawanakajima（川中島, Kawanakajima）. Common features include: the opening of jin’ya（陣屋, jin’ya, "camps/gathering points"), shutsujin-shiki（出陣式, shutsujin-shiki, "departure ceremony"), then the progression of units along main routes (with Fūrinkazan（風林火山, Fūrinkazan）banners and sometimes horagai（法螺貝, horagai）conch shells). Depending on the year, prayer sequences and official salutations may take place beforehand (notably near Takeda-jinja（武田神社, Takeda-jinja）).

What makes the event truly unique is its scale: over a thousand participants in warrior attire, thematic units, horses depending on the year, and a staging designed as a "living movie" throughout the city. For many, it is THE most impressive "samurai" festival to see in Japan in an urban context.

Practical Tips (Summary)

Photos

For striking images, aim for the long straight sections (e.g., avenues near the station): you will get the banners and depth of the procession. Around Maizuru-jō Kōen（舞鶴城公園, Maizuru-jō kōen）, look for shots with castle stones + armor for a very "period" feel. Arrive early (the crowd builds quickly), and bring a small telephoto lens if you want to isolate faces under helmets.

Weather

Early April in Kōfu: often mild weather during the day but cool in the morning and evening. Plan for a "layering" approach (light jacket + warm layer) and comfortable shoes: you will be standing for a long time, often on asphalt.

Transport

The easiest way is to arrive by train to Kōfu-eki（甲府駅, Kōfu-eki）, then do everything on foot. On the day of the grand parade, some streets may be closed or one-way: if you come by car, expect to park far away and finish your trip on foot or by local transport.

Visitor Tips

If you mainly want to visually enjoy the Kōshū gundan shutsujin（甲州軍団出陣, Kōshū gundan shutsujin）, aim for areas where the procession slows down (turns, intersections, ceremony zones): poses and shouts are more frequent there. To avoid peak crowd density, a good plan is to favor off-peak times (before the official departure or after the head of the procession passes). A useful phrase: "kakkoii（かっこいい）!" ("So cool!"), it always brings a smile.

What to Bring

Cash (for stalls), external battery, water, windbreaker, layered clothing, poncho in case of rain, and if you take many photos: microfiber cloth for lens + screen.

Sources & References

• 〖Official〗 Shingen-kō Matsuri ~ The World's Largest Warrior Parade ~ (Official Shingen-kō Matsuri Website)

  Official site: presentation, sections “出陣スケジュール” and “イベントスケジュール”, practical information.

• More Fun Facts about Shingen-kō Matsuri (When did it start? etc.)

  Historical context (name evolutions, heritage of the “桜祭り”, rise of the modern festival).

• Shingen-kō Matsuri Feature (Kōfu Tourism Navi)

  Detailed tourist sheet: locations, atmosphere, focus on the parade and visitor experience.

• Guinness World Records: Largest gathering of armoured samurai (bushi)

  Record reference (gathering of armored samurai) associated with the festival in Kōfu.

• 【Notice】The next Shingen-kō Matsuri will be held in spring of Reiwa 7 (Announcement for Spring 2025 event)

  Official announcement indicating the return to spring (calendar context).