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. Around 4,000 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 in November from sunset until 9 PM (2025 figures; the 2026 schedule has not been announced yet).
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, hits its peak late in the month, and lingers into early December. The exact timing shifts a little from year to year.
Every autumn the area holds the Korankei Momiji Matsuri (Maple Festival). The most recent edition, the 70th, ran from November 1 to 30 in 2025.
As of August 2026, the 2026 (71st) festival dates are still pending. Since it typically runs for about a month across November, plan your trip around November and check back later. The official dates are expected on the Asuke Tourism Association site around October.
Korankei has around 4,000 maples, though some sources put it closer to 3,000. 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 (2025 figures)
After sunset, Mt. Iimori is illuminated, and the vermilion Taigetsukyo Bridge (待月橋) and the maples are mirrored in the Tomoe River. In 2025 the lights were on every day from November 1 to 30, from sunset until 9 PM. There is no illumination once December begins.
Separately, on Saturdays and Sundays in November only (holidays excluded), Kojakuji Temple holds "Bamboo Lanterns at Kojakuji" from 6:00 to 8:30 PM (canceled in rain). The 2026 dates and hours aren't out yet, so if you are coming in the evening, check the official site for the latest schedule before you set out.
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. The municipal lot charges ¥500 for a regular car most of the year, rising to ¥1,000 during the peak in November. During the 2025 festival, the rate was ¥1,000 per regular car and ¥3,000 per tour bus.
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), and temporary lots open during the festival. 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 more than two extra hours. The Asuke Tourism Association itself suggests visiting on a weekday if you can.
Weekends can add more than two hours in traffic. If you are driving, the shuttle from Yakusa Station or a weekday visit is your best bet.
If you do drive on a weekend, park and ride is the smart option. In 2025, a temporary express bus (operated by Owa Kanko) ran nonstop between Yakusa Station (八草駅) on the Aichi Loop Line and Korankei.
It ran from November 15 to 30, with no service on Wednesdays or Thursdays. The fare was ¥1,000 one way for adults and ¥500 for children, and the ride took about 60 minutes. Asuke hasn't posted the 2026 operating days yet.
Snacks, monkey shows, and tips for the day
During the festival, food stalls line the riverside and the area around Asuke Yashiki (足助屋敷). In 2025 the stalls ran daily from November 1 to 30 (and some food shops through December 7), but opening hours vary by shop, weather, and crowds. If you have your heart set on something, check that shop's hours in advance.
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.
