Japan Stadiums: JIT Recycle Ink Stadium Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture
JIT Recycle Ink Stadium (JIT リサイクルインク スタジアム) in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture is the home ground of J.League side Venforet Kofu.
It has been called JIT Recycle Ink Stadium since 2021 for sponsorship reasons. Previously the ground was Kose Sports Park Stadium and then Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium from 2011.
The stadium is part of the larger Kose Sports Park which includes an ice rink, baseball stadium and martial arts center (budokan).
History & Capacity
The stadium first opened as an athletics venue with a running track in 1985 and has a capacity of 15,853.
The surface is natural grass; there is one large display video screen and traditional pylon floodlights.
When Ventforet Kofu, a member of the Japan Football League, joined the J2 in 1999, the stadium underwent renovations to meet J.League regulations.
Renovations included removing the grass seating in the back stands and the addition of a new electronic scoreboard in the south stand. Further renovations took place in 2005 when Ventforet made J1.
Ventforet Kofu
The team in red and blue, Venforet Kofu, are nicknamed 'Venforet' from the French for 'wind' and 'forest' a reference to a phrase on the banners of the famous local warlord Takeda Shingen (1521-1573).
The club dates back to 1965 and a local high school's OB team becoming Kofu Club which joined JSL Division 2 in 1972 and the former JFL in 1992. The club was renamed Ventforet Kofu in 1995 and joined J2 as a founding member in 1999. The early years were hard and included a 25 match losing streak. The team has played three times in the top flight from 2006-2007, 2011 and 2013-2017. The relegation at the end of the 2011 season came despite 17 goals from top scorer Mike Havenaar. The Japan international was a one-man goal machine for the promoted side but the relentlessly conservative tactics of coach Toshiya Miura squeezed the life out of Kofu and with Miura's successor Satoru Sakuma equally clueless as to how to get the best out of his side, Ventforet dropped through the trapdoor after just one season back in the top flight.
The club's honours include a J2 title in 2012 and the 2022 Emperor's Cup which they won as a J2 team. They then competed in the AFC Champions League the following season losing to Ulsan Hyundai in the Round of 16.
Access - Getting There
The ground is 6.2 km south from Kofu Station on the JR East Chuo Main Line with trains to and from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
On match days only there are shuttle buses (700 yen round trip) to the stadium from Kofu Station.
On non-match days there are bus connections to the ground from both Kofu and Zenkoji stations. Take one of the numbers 70, 75 or 76. Journey time is about 30 minutes.
Address: 840 Kosemachi, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-0836
Nearby Hotels
Kofu has a reasonable range of hotel and guesthouse options.
Some options include the 4-star Kofu Washington Hotel Plaza.
Alternatively, the pleasant, three-star HOTEL FREE STYLE is close to Kofu Station.
Nearby Sights
The city of Kofu is in the southern Alps region of Japan close to Mount Fuji.
Takeda Shrine
The shrine is dedicated to the famed warlord Takeda Shingen, this peaceful place sits in a wooded area and offers a tranquil look into the region's samurai history.
Kofu Castle (Maizuru Castle Park)
The ruins of this Edo-period castle provide sweeping views of the city and surrounding mountains, especially beautiful during cherry blossom season.
Kai Zenkoji Temple
Known for its impressive main hall and serene atmosphere, this historic temple houses cultural treasures linked to Kofu's early Buddhist history.
Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art
Famous for its collection of Jean-François Millet works, the museum blends fine art with a quiet park environment perfect for a relaxed visit.
Shosenkyo Gorge
Just outside the city center, this dramatic gorge features towering cliffs, waterfalls, and scenic walking trails ideal for nature lovers.
More J.League Stadiums
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Kyoto
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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