Overview
Anagiri Daijinja is a Shinto shrine in Takara 2-chome, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Its origins are tied to a local legend that the Kofu Basin was once a great lake, and to the Kesaki legend in which that water was cut open and drained to create the fertile plain where the city now stands. As a result, the shrine is cherished as an ancient site that tells the story of Kofu's very founding. Formerly ranked as a gosha (district shrine), its main hall is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Although it sits at the western edge of central Kofu in the northern part of the basin, the precinct is quiet and carries the calm air of a guardian shrine woven into local daily life.
Highlights
- ●Main hall designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan
- ●Founding tradition rooted in the basin's lake and Kesaki legends
- ●Status as an ancient Shikinaisha shrine of Kai Province
- ●A quiet precinct kept at the western edge of the city
History
Anagiri Daijinja is counted among the shrines listed in the register of Shikinaisha of Kai Province, marking it as a place of considerable antiquity. Its founding tradition draws on the lake and Kesaki legends of the Kofu Basin, which tell how the waters that once filled the valley were cut open and drained to make the land habitable, a story that overlaps with the birth of the city itself. Long revered as a gosha and local guardian shrine, it is especially noted for its main hall, which is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in recognition of its architectural value. For details such as the exact date of construction or the enshrined deities, visitors are encouraged to check on-site guidance or official sources.
Access
The shrine stands in Takara 2-chome, Kofu City, at the western edge of the central district in the northern part of the Kofu Basin, on the left bank of the Aikawa River, which flows north to south through the western side of the city. It lies to the west of the area reached from Kofu Station, in a location convenient by public transport or on foot. As station walking times, bus routes and parking availability can change, please confirm the latest details through official information before your visit.
Best season
The precinct can be visited throughout the year, with each season offering its own mood. The mild days of spring and autumn are ideal for a stroll, while New Year visits and festival seasons draw larger crowds of worshippers. Because it is close to the city center, pairing a visit with a walk through Kofu lets you enjoy the changing seasons. Event dates vary by year, so please check official information.
Map
35.6626, 138.5610 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head west from the Kofu Station area toward Takara 2-chome on the left bank of the Aikawa
- 2Worship at the shrine and take time to view the Important Cultural Property main hall
- 3Stroll the grounds while reflecting on the Kesaki and lake legends behind the shrine
- 4Return to central Kofu to enjoy a town walk and nearby historical sites
Did you know?
💡 The name Anagiri, meaning roughly to cut through, is said to derive from the Kesaki legend of opening a channel to drain the basin's water, so the shrine itself carries the tale of the Kofu Basin's creation. Holding an Important Cultural Property main hall while sitting at the western edge of the city is another distinctive point of interest.
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