Korankei Gorge vs. Obara Shikizakura: Toyota City's utterly popular spot for autumn leaves!
When the matter is "Koyo" - the reddish maple leaves of autumn - Toyota City's pair of pride spots, Korankei Gorge and Obara, certainly comes to mind. Both places hold Autumn Festivals simultaneously from November 1st to 30th, for a whole month of attractions and sightseeing: Korankei, where the beautiful scenery changes fantastically from day to night, and Obara, where the Shikizakura Four-Seasons Cherry Blossoms compete fiercely for its beauty against the equally gorgeous fall leaves.
Korankei - wonderful whether during the day or at night
The gorge area of Korankei is said to have about 3,000 trees of Japanese maple trees including "Iroha-Momiji" (Acer palmatum), "Omomiji" (Acer amoenum) and eleven subspecies and variations of "Kaede." During the day, enjoy the tinted hillsides and their upside-down counterparts reflected on the river waters, and in the evening, the fantastic sight of the forest lit-up by the yellowish artificial illumination that turns it into a fantastic sight.
Date and time: Fri, Nov 1–Sat, Nov 30, 2024
Mt. Iimori Illumination
Korankei Gorge shows its colors even at night. Nighttime illumination of the trees colors Mt. Iimori in shades of gold, creating a surreal view with Taigetsu Bridge's vibrant red color and the lights reflecting off the Tomoe River.
Date and time: Sundown–9:00 pm, Fri, Nov 1–Sat, Nov 30
Notes:
• No extensions to the period or time.
Korankei Gorge Maple Festival (Korankei Momiji Matsuri)
Shikizakura of Obara - the great collaboration between Koyo and Sakura
The Shikizakura - Four-Seasons Cherry Blossoms - trees of Obara Area give the graces of their flowers twice a year, in spring and in autumn. Currently numbered at about 10,000, those trees bloom when the Koyo (tinted maple leaves) of the countless maple trees planted in intermingled fashion among the Shikizakura reach the peak of their beauty, and both paint the entire Mt. Satoyama hill surface in vivid colors that leaves visitors stunned and speechless. At the nearby Senmi Shikizakura-no-Sato, another 1,200 Shikizakura help in augmenting the absolute gorgeousness of Obara.
Date and time:
Obara Shikizakura Festival (Obara Shikizakura Matsuri)
Used and beloved by the local townsfolk as a place of gathering and relaxing, the Obara Fureai Park is the central hub for this event which encompasses several attractions on the satellite venues of Washi-no-Furusato (Obara Paper Art Museum), Hokubu Seikatsu Kaizen Center (Obara North Area Live Improvement Center), Senmi Shikizakura-no-Sato (Senmi Shikizakura Village).
Date and time: Sat, Nov 16–Sun, Dec 1, 2024
Obara Shikizakura Four-Season Cherry Blossom Festival
Toyota's Korankei Autumn Leaves Light-up & Obara Shikizakura 1 Day Bus Tour
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