A must-see for beginners! How to enjoy Kofu Gem Market 2026 to the fullest

“I want to go to Kofu Gem Market, but I’m a little nervous about going for the first time…” For those of you who feel this way, we’ve compiled information to help you enjoy every detail of the event. We’ll explain what kind of gems are on sale, introduce the hands-on workshops, what to bring to avoid disappointment, budget, and recommended ways to get around. We’ll also provide an overview of the event and access, so please use this as a reference to find your favorite gemstone.

Overview of Kofu Gem Market 2026

Here we will introduce basic information about the Kofu Gem Market 2026. Before heading out to this sparkling event unique to Kofu, the city of gems, let’s first take a look at the overview.

Event dates, times and admission fees

The Kofu Gem Market is held over two days on the weekend in early April every year. Admission is free, so it’s great that you can drop in anytime.

project	content
Event Schedule	April 11 (Sat) – 12 (Sun), 2026
Event time	10:00～17:00
Entry materials	free

Main and sub-venue information

The venues will be several plazas and facilities around Kofu Station.

project	detailed
Main Venue	Kofu Station North Exit Assist Engineering Yochabare Square/Historical Park [Address] 2-2 Kitaguchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Sub-venue	Yamanashi Prefectural Disaster Prevention Center Yamanashi Plaza [Address] 1-6-1 Marunouchi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture

Access and Parking Information

project	detailed
Access by train	Main venue: Right next to the north exit of JR Chuo Main Line Kofu Station Sub-venue: Approximately 6 minutes on foot from the south exit of JR Chuo Main Line Kofu Station
Access by car	Approximately 15 minutes from Kofu Showa IC on the Chuo Expressway
parking	There is no dedicated parking lot . We recommend using the nearby paid parking lots.

Reference/Source: Kofu Gem Market official website

What kind of event is Kofu Gem Market?

The Kofu Gem Market is a gemstone festival held every spring in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, known as the “City of Gemstones.” This event is unique to Kofu, where the jewelry industry is thriving, and anyone can easily experience the world of gemstones and minerals, from professional buyers to jewelry lovers and families. It is a rare mineral show held mainly outdoors in Japan, and its appeal lies in the open atmosphere that can be enjoyed all day long. Here we will introduce specific ways to enjoy the event.

What kind of things are on sale?

Many exhibitors from within and outside the prefecture will gather at the venue, displaying a wide variety of gemstones and related goods. The event is notable for its wide lineup, ranging from affordable items to rare pieces that are hard to find in everyday life. The table below summarizes some of the products you can expect to find.

kinds	content
Raw stones and mineral specimens	Find beautiful, unspoiled minerals and gemstones from around the world, including rare and collectible specimens.
Loose stones	Cut and polished gemstones are available for you to touch and choose before they are made into jewelry.
Jewelry Products	Finished accessories such as rings, necklaces, and earrings are made by artisans. There are also many unique designs by artists.
Fossils and meteorites	In addition to jewels, the store also sells fossils that evoke the romance of ancient times and meteorites, gifts from space.
Limited edition goods	Original goods that can only be purchased here, such as a small accessory case made in collaboration with Inden, a traditional Kofu craft, and sweets with a jewel motif, are also popular.

Workshop Experience

One of the great pleasures of Kofu Gem Market is the workshops where you can experience making things related to gemstones. Expert craftsmen will carefully teach you, so even beginners and children can participate with confidence. There are programs available that are unique to this gem town, such as a gemstone polishing experience and the experience of choosing your favorite stone and making original accessories. The jewelry you make yourself will become a special memory of your trip.

Observing craftsmanship

At the venue, you can watch demonstrations of jewelry processing by skilled craftsmen. This is a rare opportunity to experience up close the professional skills that you don’t normally get to see, such as the delicate work of setting stones and the advanced techniques of processing precious metals. You will surely be amazed by the technical capabilities of Kofu’s world-renowned jewelry industry.

Enjoy the stamp rally!

To fully enjoy the large venue, we recommend participating in the stamp rally. By collecting stamps placed in various places around the venue, you will naturally be able to visit many booths. If you collect all the stamps, you may be entered into a lottery to win original goods and other prizes. Why not explore the venue with your family and friends as if you were on a treasure hunt?

Advance preparation to prevent beginners from making mistakes

If it’s your first time at a gem market, you may be wondering where to start. Here, we’ll explain what you should know and prepare in advance so you can enjoy the day to the fullest. Be sure to prepare well and prepare for your encounter with beautiful gemstones.

A useful list of things to bring

We have created a list of useful items to bring with you so that you won’t end up saying “I wish I had this!” at the venue. Items for carefully observing stones will be especially useful when considering purchasing them.

What to bring	Uses and points
cash	Payment is generally by cash. In particular, many private or small booths do not accept cards, so it’s a good idea to bring a little extra cash. Some booths also accept QR code payments.
Smartphone	It’s useful in a variety of situations, such as taking photos with your camera, doing calculations with a calculator, and taking notes on stores that interest you. It’s also a good idea to have a mobile battery with you.
Magnifying Glass	Those who want to select stones seriously can use it to check the inclusions inside the stone and the details of the cut. It is useful to have one with a magnification of about 10x.
Penlight	It is useful for shining light on stones to check color changes and transparency. It is also useful at outdoor events in places where light cannot reach, such as inside a tent. In some cases, booth staff will be able to shine a light on the stones for you.
eco bag	It’s handy to have a few bags to store the stones and pamphlets you’ve purchased. Small stones tend to get lost in the bag, so it’s a good idea to have bags to separate them into smaller portions.
Wet wipes	This is useful when you are handling a lot of rocks or eating snacks outdoors.
Sunburn and cold weather protection goods	Since most events are held outdoors, it is important to prepare according to the season and weather. Even in early spring, the sun can be strong, so a hat and sunscreen will be a good idea.

How much budget do you need? Check payment methods

Kofu Gem Market has a wide range of products in price ranges, from affordable minerals that can be purchased for a few hundred yen to rare gemstones that cost over hundreds of thousands of yen. Therefore, it is difficult to say how much you need to spend, but the appeal is that everyone can enjoy it within their budget, from children with pocket money to serious collectors. First, imagine the kind of stone you want and decide on a rough budget, which will help you avoid impulse buying on the day.

Payment is mostly by cash. Large corporate booths may accept credit cards or QR code payments, but many individual exhibitors and small booths do not. We recommend preparing cash in advance so you won’t be in a bind when you find the stone you’re looking for.

How to check the exhibitor list

With so many stores exhibiting in a large venue, it’s essential to gather information in advance to efficiently visit the booths you want to see. As the event approaches, the exhibitor list and venue map will be published on the Kofu Gem Market official website . Check in advance what stores will be exhibiting and what types of stones they sell, and make a list of several stores that interest you, so you can browse smoothly on the day.

Another good way to find out is to search for the hashtag “#KofuGemMarket” on social media such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Exhibitors often post information themselves, so you may be able to find out about upcoming sales and special product arrivals before anyone else.

On the day of the event, you will also receive a venue map at the reception, so take the map with you as you explore the venue!

How to enjoy the Kofu Gem Market to the fullest

Here we will explain how to get around on the day. By planning your trip carefully, you can make the most of your limited time.

Recommended entry times and crowd forecasts

Kofu Gem Market is an event that is always crowded with people. If you have a specific item in mind or want to take your time looking around, we recommend being mindful of the time. We’ve put together a summary of general crowd trends and recommended ways to spend your time at each time of day.

Time Zone	Congestion forecast	Recommended ways to spend your time
Immediately after opening (morning)	Very crowded	This is the perfect place for those looking to get their hands on limited edition items or the booths of popular artists. There may be a line forming before the doors even open.
Around noon (12:00-14:00)	congestion	Although more people will be leaving the venue temporarily to eat or take a break, it is still a busy time of day.
Afternoon (after 2:00 PM)	Slightly alleviated	This is a recommended time for those who want to take their time to explore the booths while enjoying the atmosphere of the entire venue.
Near the end	Available	Depending on the store, it may be easier to negotiate the price, so keep looking for a bargain until the very end.

Recommended way to visit the booths for beginners

With so many booths lined up at the venue, you might be wondering where to start looking. Here are some recommended ways to tour the venue so that even first-time visitors can enjoy themselves.

1. First, get an overview of the venue using the venue map

Once you enter, the first thing you should do is get a venue map. Venue maps are distributed at the general information desk at the entrance. Understanding the overall layout, such as where the different types of shops are located, and where the rest areas and experience corners are located, is the first step to getting around efficiently.

2. Take a walk around the venue

Next, we recommend taking your time and walking around the entire venue. If you come across a shop that strikes you as “nice” or a booth with a stone that catches your eye, write the number of the booth on your map or mark the booth name, so you can easily return to it later if you want to take a closer look.

3. Start browsing by genre that interests you

There are exhibits in a wide variety of genres, including raw stones, loose stones, accessories, fossils, etc. If you have a goal such as “I want to see beautiful accessories” or “I want to find sparkling loose stones,” it is a good idea to use the map as a reference and focus your visit on the area where there are many shops in the genre you are interested in.

Rest areas and meals

Time will fly by as you become absorbed in looking at the stones, so be sure to take breaks at appropriate intervals to enjoy yourself.

Rest and dining space within the venue

There are often benches available for resting within the venue. Food trucks are also often set up, and snacks and drinks are available for purchase. However, it can get crowded at lunchtime and it can be difficult to find a seat, so it’s best to come at a slightly different time.

Re-entry and breaks outside the venue

The Kofu Gem Market is held in the square in front of the station, so there are restaurants and cafes in the surrounding area. Re-entry is permitted, so it’s recommended to leave the venue for a while to have a leisurely lunch or a break. After refreshing yourself, why not resume your afternoon treasure hunt?

Enjoy sightseeing in Kofu along with the Gem Market

After discovering some beautiful gemstones at the Gem Market, why not enjoy a little more of Kofu? Here we will introduce lunch spots around the venue where you can try Yamanashi specialties, as well as tourist spots unique to Kofu, the city of gemstones.

Koshu Yumekoji

Koshu Yumekoji is located close to the main Gem Market venue. The stone-paved alleys are lined with rows of storehouses, allowing you to enjoy a meal and souvenir shopping in a retro atmosphere. We will introduce recommended lunch spots and jewelry shops to satisfy your tired stomach after a long walk.

Shop name	Genre	Features
Japanese Dining Kuu	Lunch/Yamanashi specialties and local cuisine	You can enjoy Yamanashi specialties such as Koshu beef, Fujizakura pork, and Fujinosuke. We also recommend the lunch set that comes with hoto, horse sashimi, and stewed chicken offal!
Yamanashi Restaurant Merimelo	Lunch/Italian	You can enjoy Italian cuisine made with ingredients from Yamanashi, such as Koshu wine beef, crystal pork, and highland vegetables.
Japanese Cafe Kuromitsuan Kinakotei	Cafe/Japanese style	You can enjoy sweets such as Shingen soft serve ice cream, which is an adaptation of Yamanashi’s famous confectionery “Kikyō Shingen Mochi.” Kikyō Shingen Mochi can also be purchased as a souvenir.
Blooming Coffee	Cafe/Coffee and Baked Goods	This small coffee roastery offers specialty coffee, baked goods from Caramel Banana, which has a workshop on the Kiyosato Plateau, and Koshu wine.
Tamaya	accessories	The store is filled with a variety of accessories made with natural stones, and you’ll have even more fun if you visit it together with Kofu Gem Market!
Small Storehouse Museum [Museum admission fee] Cash only (for both 1st and 2nd floors) 500 yen *Free for elementary school students and younger / Discounts available for people with disabilities	Art Museum	The Small Storehouse Museum, attached to Tamaya, and the Antique Jewelry Collection Room display masterpieces of antique jewelry.

Recommended gem-related spots

Kofu, known as the “City of Jewelry,” is dotted with places where you can experience the charm of jewelry. While you’re immersed in the Gem Market, why not explore the sparkling world of gems further?

Yamanashi Jewelry Museum

The museum displays the history of Yamanashi’s jewelry industry and a variety of beautiful jewelry created by the outstanding skills of artisans. The best part is that admission is free, so you can drop in anytime. On weekends, there are workshops (fee required, reservations required) where you can experience production demonstrations by artisans and gem polishing. Please check the official website for more details. The Yamanashi Jewelry Museum is located in Yamanashi Prefectural Disaster Prevention Center Yamanashi Plaza, a sub-venue of the Kofu Gem Market, making it easy to drop in.

Website: Yamanashi Jewelry Museum

GSTV Kofu Hanakoji Showroom

Located close to the south exit of Kofu Station and just a short distance from the Kofu Gem Market sub-venue is “Koedo Kofu Hanakoji.” This area recreates the castle town of the time known as “Little Edo,” with its stone-paved streets lined with buildings evocative of the past, giving the feeling of having traveled back in time. In one corner of the area is the showroom for “Jewelry☆GSTV,” a channel specializing in jewelry. The store is filled with jewelry made with a variety of gemstones, and the “Natural Gem Gacha” game, where you can win natural gemstones, is also popular. It’s a great place to stop by between visits to the Gem Market! In addition to consultations on jewelry repairs, they also handle remodeling and custom orders. Another attractive feature is their complimentary, thorough jewelry cleaning service.

Website: GSTV Kofu Hanakoji Showroom

Crystal Museum

Photo credit: Crystal Museum

The Crystal Museum has a charming retro-modern atmosphere. The interior of the store, lined with natural stone accessories, glass tableware, and miscellaneous goods, is enveloped in a sparkling jewel box. With items for men, women, and children, the whole family can have fun. We recommend finding the perfect power stone for you with a free fortune telling. You can also enjoy the experience of making your own handmade accessories by selecting your favorite parts.

Additionally, a crystal geode-breaking experience (1,980 yen, tax included), unique to Kofu, the city of gems, is also available, no advance reservations necessary. Enjoy the thrilling experience of not knowing what’s inside until you break it.

The adjacent Stone and Glass Museum displays sparkling gemstones and art pieces made from stones. After passing through a mysterious agate tunnel reminiscent of space, you’ll find sparkling gemstones on the first floor, and works by Yamanashi sculptors, as well as crystal glass from Swarovski and Lalique, on the second floor. This is a spot where you can experience the beauty of stones that transforms from raw stones into art.

[Museum Admission Fee]
Adults: 500 yen (high school students and above),
Children: 300 yen (elementary and junior high school students)
, Group discounts available (for groups of 20 or more).
*Admission to the accessory shop is free.

Website: Crystal Museum

Shengxian Gorge

Although it’s a little further from the venue, we also recommend Shosenkyo Gorge, a scenic spot famous for its crystal production. Along with the beauty of the valley, you can enjoy gem hunting and browsing power stone shops. At Crystal Sound, a crystal and gem museum with free admission, you can see beautiful gems and giant crystal objects collected from all over the world.

Website: Shosenkyo

Kinzakura Shrine

Kinzakura Shrine, located at the top of Shosenkyo Gorge, has a deep connection with quartz as its sacred object is Mount Kinpu, which is said to be the birthplace of quartz in Kofu.It is a popular shrine that attracts many worshippers, as it is said that if you visit the sacred tree, the Ukinzakura, which blooms around mid-April with golden flowers, and receive a quartz amulet, you will be blessed with good fortune.

Website: Mt. Mitake Golden Sakura Crystal

summary

This time, we’ve provided information on how to prepare in advance and how to get around on the day so that first-time visitors to Kofu Gem Market can fully enjoy themselves. If you check your belongings and the exhibitors in advance, you can concentrate on searching for gems without worry on the day. The time you spend finding your own favorite among the sparkling gems is sure to be a special memory. We hope you will spend a wonderful day exploring the city of Kofu along with the Kofu Gem Market.