Korankei (香嵐渓), a gorge in the Asuke (足助) district of Toyota City, Aichi, is one of central Japan's most famous places to see fall color. Some 3,000 maple trees line the Tomoe River (巴川), and they usually peak from the middle to the end of November. Walking in is free, and after dark Mt. Iimori (飯盛山) is lit up.
This guide covers what a 2026 visitor needs: peak timing, the maple festival dates, costs, how to get there, and how to dodge the weekend traffic — all from Asuke Tourism Association and other official sources.
Walking through Korankei is free. Leaves peak in mid-to-late November, and Mt. Iimori is lit up every evening from November 1 to 30, 2026, from sunset until 9 PM.
Planning to chase color elsewhere too? We also cover Nikko Autumn Leaves 2026 and Kyoto Autumn Leaves 2026.
Peak timing and the maple festival dates
Korankei's maples usually reach their best from the middle to the end of November. Color starts to turn in early November and hits its peak late in the month. The Asuke Tourism Association puts the peak at mid-to-late November, and the exact timing shifts a little from year to year. By December the leaves are coming down, and the illumination ends on November 30.
Every autumn the area holds the Korankei Momiji Matsuri (Maple Festival). The 71st edition runs from Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 30, 2026. The gorge itself is always open; there is no gate and nothing to book.
One caveat on timing: the 2026 color forecast was not out as of September 18. The Japan Weather Association says it starts publishing in late September, so if your dates are flexible, check in October before you commit.
Korankei has around 3,000 maples by Toyota City's count, though the Asuke Tourism Association and Aichi Prefecture both put it nearer 4,000. The trees trace back to 1634, when Sanei Honshu (三栄本秀), the eleventh abbot of Kojakuji Temple (香積寺), is said to have planted maples and cedars one by one along the temple path while chanting the Heart Sutra.
The name "Korankei" was coined in 1930, combining the "ko" (香) of Kojakuji with the "ran" (嵐) of the misty gorge air.
Evenings at Mt. Iimori and the bamboo lanterns
After sunset, Mt. Iimori is illuminated, and the vermilion Taigetsukyo Bridge (待月橋) and the maples are mirrored in the Tomoe River. In 2026 the lights are on every day from November 1 to 30, from sunset until 9 PM. October 31 is dark, and so is December.
How far up you can go changes after dark. All three routes to the summit of Mt. Iimori are closed at night because of wild boar and deer. You can walk up as far as the Kojakuji Temple grounds, but no further. Plan an evening climb and you will be turned back.
Two lantern events run on Saturdays and Sundays. Bamboo Lanterns at Kojakuji lines the temple path with roughly 1,000 bamboo lanterns, and Negake Rosoku sets about 800 candles along the right bank of the Tomoe River. Both run 6:00 to 8:30 PM.
Neither runs on public holidays. In 2026 that rules out Tuesday November 3 and Monday November 23, so the bamboo lanterns run weekends from November 1 to 29 and the candles from November 7 to 29. Turn up on a holiday expecting lanterns and you will find the path dark. The mountain illumination itself still runs on those nights — only the two lantern events pause. Both lantern events are canceled in rain. The candles cost ¥500 each, and access to the riverbank can be restricted when it gets busy.
Free entry, ¥1,000 parking in November
Korankei is free to enter — no gate, no ticket to walk the gorge. About the only cost is parking: during the 2026 festival it is ¥1,000 per regular car and ¥3,000 per tour bus or minibus.
The other thing you can pay for is Sanshu Asuke Yashiki (三州足助屋敷), the living-crafts village inside the main grounds: ¥300 for adults and ¥100 for elementary through high school students. It opens 9:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:30, and stays open every day in November.
The parking lots are spread around the venue. The closest one to the entrance is Miyamachi (宮町) lot, with about 200 spaces, right by the Asuke Tourism Association.
There are others, including the Asuke branch office lot (120 spaces), Nishimachi, and Katami (100 spaces). The old Iwagami-no-yu site (400 spaces) and other temporary lots open as crowds require, though their rates and opening days had not been published as of September 18. Korankei Multipurpose Field is reserved as a tour-bus holding area, not a car park. Weekends fill up by mid-morning, so aim to arrive before then.
Getting there: train, bus, and car
By public transit, a local bus is the standard way in. The Asuke Tourism Association lists three routes:
- Higashi Okazaki Station (東岡崎駅, Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line) — about 70 minutes on the Meitetsu Bus Okazaki–Asuke line
- Toyotashi Station (豊田市駅) — about 50 minutes on the Meitetsu Bus Yanami line
- Josui Station (浄水駅) — about 60 minutes on the Toyota Oiden Bus Sanage–Asuke line
Fares are not listed on the official site, so confirm them on each operator's timetable before you board.
By car, it is about 15 minutes from the Chikaraishi IC on the Sanage Green Road. Note that since April 2025, cars without an ETC transponder cannot use the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway; in that case, the recommended route is from the Toyota IC on the Tomei Expressway via Route 153.
Weekend traffic and the Yakusa Station shuttle
The one thing to plan around is weekend congestion. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in November the roads clog up, and the trip can take over two hours. The Asuke Tourism Association itself suggests visiting on a weekday if you can.
Weekend traffic can stretch the trip past two hours. If you are driving on a weekend, take the shuttle from Yakusa Station; if your dates are flexible, come on a weekday.
If you do drive on a weekend, park and ride is the smart option. An express bus runs nonstop between Yakusa Station (八草駅) on the Aichi Loop Line and Korankei, a ride of about 60 minutes.
Asuke says it will run again on busy days from mid-November 2026 — meaning it may not run midweek — but the operating days, times and fare had not been published as of September 18. If your plan depends on it, check the official site once October starts.
One more thing for drivers: tour buses and minibuses are asked to follow deadheading and routing rules from November 14 to 30, 9:00 to 17:00. Nothing equivalent has been announced for private cars by the Aichi prefectural police or by Toyota City.
Snacks, monkey shows, and tips for the day
The open space in front of Asuke Yashiki (足助屋敷) hosts Teshigoto-an, a rotating market of craftspeople from around the country, roughly 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM and as late as 8:00 PM at the height of the season. The organizers note that the line-up of makers can change, so check the official listing close to your date if you have someone in mind. The knife-shaved noodles that have been a fixture in past years are listed as undecided for 2026.
The official Korankei Square food map was still being compiled as of September 18. Until it goes up there is no listing of which food stalls open on which days, so if eating is a main reason for the trip, check the official site before you set out.
On clear days during the festival, there are daytime monkey shows too. Other highlights include the maple tunnel along the Kojakuji Temple path and the roughly 30-minute loop trail around Mt. Iimori. There are slopes and stone steps, so wear comfortable shoes.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
