Top Things to do in Koshu
The 10 Best Things to Do in Koshu, Japan
Discover the best top things to do in Koshu, Japan including Erin-ji Temple, Yamanashi Fuehukigawa Fruit Park, Budonooka Wine Strage, Daiszenji Temple, Budo no Oka, Herb Garden Tabinikki, Nakajima Farm Strawberry Land, Marufuji Winery, Katsunuma Winery, Ohikage Tunnel Walkway.
Restaurants in Koshu
1. Erin-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 133 reviews
Reviewed By Hiro H - Sydney
This place is famous in association with Shingen Takeda who was a great war time general. He invited his mentor; a great Monk Kaisen to this Temple. So you can see and enjoy association of Shingen and Kaisen here. Temple and its garden is beautiful and very authentic. You can also enjoy some Shingen related items in a small museum nearby. This place is interesting from several aspects and it is worth to visit. However, it is not easy for international tourists to get to and there are only 1 bus every hour from the nearest train station (little English support). The train is also not so convenient from Tokyo. You really need to prepare if you are going there.
2. Yamanashi Fuehukigawa Fruit Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By chats458 - Kofu, Japan
This park is located on the mountain in Yamanashi,so the view is very good and you can feel refreshing air.
There are many playground equipments for children.In summer,they can enjoy playing in the water.
Of course,adults can have a good time.Tasty foods,wine,hot spring,and so on.
You don't need any fee! Relax time waits for you.
3. Budonooka Wine Strage
Overall Ratings
4 based on 127 reviews
Reviewed By tthd874 - Tokyo, Japan
You can try various local wines here by purchacing a flat metal cup for 1100yen a person. You can try so many Japanese wines made of Japanese grapes or European grapes here. But, those wines available for tasting and purchacing are not very expensive ones. So, you should not think this place offers full range of Japanes- wine- tasting, thhough they offer products of various wineries.
Japanese local grapes seem to be good for white wines. If you like white wines with clear scent and flavor, you will finds your favorite of Japanese local grape. As for red wines, things here are no comparison to wines of European products of European grapes for me, mind you the price of a bottle is relatively cheaper than what you like from Europe .
If you are especially interested in Japanes wines, come here and find your favorite wine of Japan. Then visit that wine's winery, some of which are around this place.
I f you are just wine loving tourists and a bit interested in Japanese wines, then go to Mercian, which is very close here. They show what they are up to and what they produce with their own enthusiasm. Their finer produts are not avilable at a public-place like Budonooka Wine Strage for free tasting.
Mercian's place, I visited was intersting and you will find wines of local grape with good quality which is comparable to European ones. Ofcourse the price range of a bottle is quite wider than the Budonooka Wine Strage.
4. Daiszenji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By お遍路さん京都市 - 京都市
単なる観光客とか寺社仏閣に興味ない人なら４とか３の評価も有りでしょうが、普通に評価すれば５以外には有り得ない寺院です。ここは行基菩薩が開基の真言宗智山派寺院。創建は７１８年と云うから実に１３００年の縁起を誇る古寺。山梨では最古です。それだけでなく、堂宇そのものも築後７３０年が経過しており(本堂＝薬師堂)木造建築では県内最古です。当然、国宝指定されています。鎌倉時代に建てた建物がそのまま現在に存在していると云うことは信じられない・・・余程、上手に作ったか、維持管理に優れていたか、戦火もここを避けて争われたのか、それとも安置されている国宝の仏像のご利益か・・・驚くべきことです。ここのご本尊、薬師如来はぶどうを手にしておられる珍しいデザインの仏像で「ぶどう薬師」と呼ばれていました。ここから甲府で甲州ぶどうが作られるようになったらしい。発祥の地です。境内にもぶどう園があるし、ワインもお寺さんが製造しているとのこと。見た目の素晴らしさ以上に重厚な歴史を積み重ねた名刹でした。ここの諸費用(駐車場代、入堂料、ワインの試飲等)は十分に価値がある(安い)費用でした。何故だか知らないが私は駐車場代(レンタカー)と入堂料の合計で５００円にして頂きましたが・・。どこかの外人さん達が気に入る朱色とか金ピカの建物じゃなくシックで日本の木材の良さがにじみ出ている建物でした。
5. Budo no Oka
Overall Ratings
4 based on 56 reviews
Reviewed By Marc C - Adelaide, Australia
We came here with friends in March 2014. They had been here before as she comes from Kofu originally otherwise we would nevber have known about it. Great experience if you want the opportuinty to try literally hundreds of wines in a different style of production than you may be used to.
The restaurant has wonderful views of the valley too.
You can even stay here - which we did - and enjoy the onsen as well. Wine food and onsen. Everyone is happy.
6. Herb Garden Tabinikki
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 91 reviews
Reviewed By Aoi K
There are about 200 kinds of herbs. You can enter there for free and look around. Whenever You visit,you will be satisfied. But I recommend Christmas season. Then,we can enjoy seeing Christmas illuminations there. How about visiting friends,family and/or boyfriend or girlfriend?
7. Nakajima Farm Strawberry Land
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By anben2015 - Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
到着時間がはっきりしないので、娘が予約なしで入園できる牧丘町のいちご狩り園に行こうと言うので行ったのですが、今年は時期が遅くて、開園していないと言われ、急きょ昼頃ここに電話したら、何とかしますと言われ、入園できました。とても親切な方々で、良かったです。2列を4人で使えた上、いちごは大きいものもたくさんあり、甘くて取りやすく（あまり腰をかがめなくてもよい）て食べ過ぎてしまいました。
8. Marufuji Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Sydney-TD - Sydney, Australia
I have a keen interest in wine, and it provides my livelihood. This visit was not business related, and i am no ways affiliated with the winery - but would love to be!
The Marufuji winery is one of the older ones in Japan, and in hindsight, a great representation of the Katsunuma region, as well as its key white grape, the koshu. While they produce a reasonably large selection of wines, including fruit flavoured etc. ones that don't appeal to me, the core of this small family business is the wines produced from their own grapes. Additional grapes are bought from other growers, but these tend to not go into their premium wines.
The staff and owners speak very limited English, and a little bit of standard Japanese would go a long way. However, they are super friendly, and keen to show you the produce they are rightfully proud of.
At the core is the koshu grape, offered in three different versions. My favourite one is the one aged on lees, and apparently this is sort of their business card, and one that they produce most of. Lovely fresh dry white with texture and weight. The biggest surprises for me were 1) their excellent barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc (one barrel...), and their super elegant and complex aged red wines, the better ones being Merlot based. Not big, not bold, just lovely.
The winery site is old-school and a touch romantic, whether it is the outside, the cellar door room, or the actual building. You are invited to take a tour, and I was amazed, without supervision (I think I handed my business card first though, and this was also after a long "chat" about all things vinous). Beautiful separate tasting room at the back if you're a group - I would say this would fit ten or so at least comfortably, and would be a nice experience, especially if one of you could translate, to get the most out of it!
9. Katsunuma Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By EMBE762
Katsunuma winery is ok and you can taste many wines and grape juices (important if one of the party does not appreciate wine, you can taste here at least 5 grape juices/ non alcoholic wines)
there is a French style restaurant with very good value for a nice lunch. highly recommendable !
the tour is disappointing here too, but that was by now not a surprise anymore...
10. Ohikage Tunnel Walkway
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By みやき - Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
勝沼ぶどう郷駅の駐車場を利用し、片道約1.4kmを歩いてワインカーヴまで行きました。トンネルを出ると川に架かる橋を渡った所に案内所、そしてワインカーヴ。中に入って見ると、貯蔵する棚は見えても、ワインは見えません。
周囲に比べてトンネル内は結構涼しく、暗いのですが、自分にとってはなかなか珍しい体験でした。時間が無ければ、ちょっと見るだけでもいいかなという感じです。また桜の頃、駅周辺はため息が出るほど美しく、カメラを手にトンネルより電車と桜を撮る人が大勢いて、駐車場も満車になるのでご注意ください。
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