Yamanashi Prefecture is located right in the center of the Japanese archipelago. Just two hours by limited express train from Tokyo, Yamanashi is an easy area to visit. Yamanashi is surrounded by mountains 2,000 meters tall or higher – to the south, Mt. Fuji; to the west, the Southern Alps, including Japan’s second tallest peak, Mt. Kitadake; to the north, the Yatsugatake Mountains; and to the east, the Okuchichibu Mountains. Truly Yamanashi is a prefecture rich in natural beauty, refreshing plateaus, and is dotted beautiful lakes. When visiting Yamanashi, one famous personage one should take the time to learn about is Takeda Shingen. A military commander who fought with great success in the 1500s, Takeda Shingen flew a battle flag marked with the characters for wind, forest, fire, and mountain, likening his own abilities to these steadfast symbols, and was a hero who significantly expanded the borders of Kai Province, the predecessor to today’s Yamanashi.

A great statue of Shingen stands in front of Kofu Station, located in the heart of Yamanashi. There is also a street dedicated to Shingen and a Shingen festival; one can even find traditional Japanese confections with his name on them. Out of affection and respect, the people of Yamanashi call him “Shingen-san” or “Shingen-ko” (“Master Shingen”). The pride of being the home of a famous samurai is rooted in a great many of Yamanashi’s cultural traditions.