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Shingen Museum Overview
Welcome to the Shingen Museum!
Takeda Shrine is dedicated to Takeda Shingen, a renowned feudal lord of the Warring States period. Here once stood the residence where the Takeda clan lived and governed over the region. The area surrounding the residence was developed as a castle town and served as a base for the Takeda clan’s territorial rule. In 1938, the site of the Takeda clan’s former residence was designated as a national historic site as it conveys the appearance of the residence of a feudal lord of the Warring States period.
The Shingen Museum was opened to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kōfu and presents the results of 40 years of excavations at the ruins of the residence and castle town, along with the history of the Takeda clan.
The Shingen Museum consists of two exhibition rooms related to the ruins of the Takeda clan’s residence and the area of the former Hotta Kojyoen, a restaurant/inn built in the early Showa period (1926-1989).
The Permanent Exhibition room introduces the three most prominent generations of the Takeda clan, the warring feudal lords, the people involved in the residence, and what has been learned from excavations of the Takeda residence and castle town.
The Special Exhibition room is the only facility in the museum that charges a fee. Since the exhibits consist of excavated artifacts, few of them are without flaws. However, all items give us an idea of the affairs of the residence at that time.
Highlights include “kawarake,” unglazed “pure” vessels that were essential for ceremonial feasts, ceramics and porcelain that decorated the alcove of the main hall, tea ceremony utensils, arquebus bullets, Chinese copper coins that circulated widely in Kai Province (modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture), and the only full-body skeleton of a horse from the Warring States period that has been excavated in Japan.
The Treasure Exhibit Corner displays artifacts relating to the theme of Shingen and the residence.
Tickets for the Special Exhibition room are 300 yen per person, 240 yen per person for groups of 20 or more, and free for high school students and younger and those who present a disability certificate.
Hotta Kojyoen, a former high-end restaurant/inn, established in 1933, is another must-see. This modern Japanese-style building is sympathetic to the traditions of Edo-period architecture (1603-1868). The buildings are decorated with motifs of the Takeda clan’s crests, Takedabishi, because of their proximity to the old castle. While enjoying your search for these crests, please also visit the detached building, which is rhombic in shape and has now been converted into a tea ceremony room. In 2021, the main building, detached house, tea ceremony room, and wooden gate were registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties. Today, in addition to being open for tours, it is also used as a venue for cultural exchanges, lectures, and other events open to the community. Part of the Hotta Kojyoen is also used as a café and souvenir shop.
The museum’s opening hours start at 9:00 am and last admission is at 4:30 pm. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, but if Tuesday is a national holiday, it is closed on the following Wednesday. Please also note that the museum is closed from the 29th to 31st December.
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By Shingen MuseumWelcome to the Shingen Museum!
Takeda Shrine is dedicated to Takeda Shingen, a renowned feudal lord of the Warring States period. Here once stood the residence where the Takeda clan lived and governed over the region. The area surrounding the residence was developed as a castle town and served as a base for the Takeda clan’s territorial rule. In 1938, the site of the Takeda clan’s former residence was designated as a national historic site as it conveys the appearance of the residence of a feudal lord of the Warring States period.
The Shingen Museum was opened to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kōfu and presents the results of 40 years of excavations at the ruins of the residence and castle town, along with the history of the Takeda clan.
The Shingen Museum consists of two exhibition rooms related to the ruins of the Takeda clan’s residence and the area of the former Hotta Kojyoen, a restaurant/inn built in the early Showa period (1926-1989).
The Permanent Exhibition room introduces the three most prominent generations of the Takeda clan, the warring feudal lords, the people involved in the residence, and what has been learned from excavations of the Takeda residence and castle town.
The Special Exhibition room is the only facility in the museum that charges a fee. Since the exhibits consist of excavated artifacts, few of them are without flaws. However, all items give us an idea of the affairs of the residence at that time.
Highlights include “kawarake,” unglazed “pure” vessels that were essential for ceremonial feasts, ceramics and porcelain that decorated the alcove of the main hall, tea ceremony utensils, arquebus bullets, Chinese copper coins that circulated widely in Kai Province (modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture), and the only full-body skeleton of a horse from the Warring States period that has been excavated in Japan.
The Treasure Exhibit Corner displays artifacts relating to the theme of Shingen and the residence.
Tickets for the Special Exhibition room are 300 yen per person, 240 yen per person for groups of 20 or more, and free for high school students and younger and those who present a disability certificate.
Hotta Kojyoen, a former high-end restaurant/inn, established in 1933, is another must-see. This modern Japanese-style building is sympathetic to the traditions of Edo-period architecture (1603-1868). The buildings are decorated with motifs of the Takeda clan’s crests, Takedabishi, because of their proximity to the old castle. While enjoying your search for these crests, please also visit the detached building, which is rhombic in shape and has now been converted into a tea ceremony room. In 2021, the main building, detached house, tea ceremony room, and wooden gate were registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties. Today, in addition to being open for tours, it is also used as a venue for cultural exchanges, lectures, and other events open to the community. Part of the Hotta Kojyoen is also used as a café and souvenir shop.
The museum’s opening hours start at 9:00 am and last admission is at 4:30 pm. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, but if Tuesday is a national holiday, it is closed on the following Wednesday. Please also note that the museum is closed from the 29th to 31st December.