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Nizazaki is a large market town of 10-13,000 souls, situated at the entrance of the rich plain of Kōfu. On leaving this point, yon quit the mountainous region properly so called, and survey the vast plain of Kōfu, rich in agricultural products and silks.
The road as fur as Kōfu, 3 ri, 18 cho, is very good, and has been repaired anew in 1874 April. This distance is traversable by jinriksha. Kōfu was in olden times a Tycoonal town; its castle still exists. It is situated in the basin of an affluent of the Fujikawa, at the foot of the huge buttresses of Fuji-yama and of the central mountains of Shinawa, in the midst of a country rich by nature. The population is about 19 or 20,000 souls.
There is a considerable silk-trade, and a silk-manufactory on the European plan has been started by the care of the Government. There is also a small trade in rock-crystals which come from the mountains of Shinawa, and in the autumn a large trade in grapes and fruits; in fact nearly all the grapes eaten in Tokio and Yokohama come from this place.
The wretched state of the roads and the absence of vehicles make themselves greatly felt here. Thus, for instance, a basket of grapes which is sold for 25 sen in Kōfu costs more than a riyo delivered in Yedo. There is, however, a direct road from Kōfu to Yedo, called the Kōfukaido, but it is especially bad at the passes (of the mountains.) The Fuji-kawa, on one of whose affluents the town of Kōfu is situated, is a small though rather important stream, whose fertile basin lies to the eastward of Fujiyama. It empties itself into the Pacific, Eastward of * *
The navigation is very dangerous, being in the midst of steep and jagged rocks which form numerous rapids. It is impossible to descend the river except in very narrow canoes, and without great danger of capsizing. On the right band of the river is to be found the celebrated pilgrim-resort of Minobu.
From Kōfu to Kawoguchi.—If however you wish to go straight towards Fusi-Yama, it is necessary to leave the basin of the Fuji-Kawa, and to take the road from Kōfu
