Japan has many amazing places to visit and Korankei is one of the few that doesn’t get as much coverage. Check out our article on Korankei.
Japan has so many places to see and experience it is hard to find some of the best places to visit. You can get all of the modern wonders in the big cities like Tokyo or Osaka. The countrysides of Yamanashi or the waters of Okinawa will allow you enjoy the natural beauty of the sea and forests. The obvious choices are visited the most by travelers and they have already built up their reputations. Some places aren’t advertised as wel even though they have just as much, or more, beauty as the big-name places. Korankei happens to be one of those places.
Fall Colors
You can find it in Chubu near Nagoya. It is a large valley that is near Mt. Iimori, which has some of the best natural settings that you can find in all of Japan. The main attraction for the area is the maple leaf trees that surround the gorge and the river area. The Fall colors are said to be the best in Japan. This is all thanks to a priest who planted the trees in the 17th century. It leads directly to the nearby temple and adds a special view to the entire area. During the fall it becomes an ocean of yellow, brown, and red colors. The best time to visit the area and get the best view is around mid-November. The colors will be at their peak and allow for some truly breathtaking photos. More people are beginning to hear about the area and it has caused an increase in visitors over time. Make sure to plan accordingly to beat the rush.
Taigetsukyo Bridge
You can walk on most of the banks of the river with no worries about the water taking you downstream. It is an easy river that serves more as a wonderful backdrop, until the rainy season anyway. The best place to see the colors of the trees along with the river is the Taigetsukyo Bridge. It is recognized as the symbol of the area and is the best place to get pictures of the foliage. The bridge has become a centerpiece of the area and is used in many celebrations and festivities.
The fall season sees the bridge get extra use during festivals where locals set up shops and use the bridge for staging and other types of events. There are other bridges in the area as well so you can travel around to find the one that you like the best. This is the best time of year to truly appreciate what the area has to offer.
Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village
There is a small village in the area that is set-up to mimic the old villages of Japan. Many of the houses retain the old style of construction and even have thatch roofs. The village is set to be as close to the old ways as possible. The village is often used for festivals and old traditional events. They hold workshops for visitors to try and create their brooms and other small items. It is a great way to experience the culture and history of Japan while enjoying the clean mountain air.
Travel
Getting to the area isn’t easy and it requires some planning. There is no direct train to the area and you will be required to transfer using a bus. This doesn’t include any travel that is required to get to Nagoya station. It can take over an hour to get to the area and can cost up to 1500 yen just to reach your destination. There are some different ways you can approach the stations, but the bus doesn’t run often and it will be on a long trip going to and from the valley.
The area is very busy during the Fall since many people want to see the beautiful scenery so travel there will be even more troublesome. There are frequent traffic jams and the buses will become crowded throughout the day. Try to plan your day early and beat the bigger crowds. It will be more difficult the closer you get to fall so try to get your hotel accommodations set-up in advance.
There are many other places to visit in Japan and this is one of the stand-out spots. It is a good reminder that Japan has a plethora of places to enjoy. You can make great memories and get a good look at the real Japan.