Korankei & Oku-Mikawa: Aichi's Maple Gorge, an Edo Post-Town & the Highest Peak — 2 Days

Central Japan's signature autumn gorge: some 4,000 maples of eleven varieties crowd the steep banks of the Tomoe River, planted from the 1630s by a temple priest. The colour peaks mid-to-late November, when the whole valley glows and is lit until evening; the rest of the year it's a green, near-empty riverside walk under the same canopy. Start early either way.

Free, always open; Maple Festival all November with evening illumination to ~21:00. Severe weekend crowds/traffic at peak — go early. Allow ~1.5 hours to walk the gorge.

The vermilion arched footbridge over the Tomoe River is the symbol of Korankei — the shot on every poster, with maples (or fresh green) reflected in the water beneath it. Cross it for the path up to Kojakuji temple, the original maple-planting site. Brief but unmissable; in peak season it's the gorge's photogenic choke-point.

Free, always open. A few minutes' walk within the gorge. Best light mid-morning; expect a queue for photos at peak foliage.

A living folk-craft village recreating an early-1900s mountain homestead, where artisans actually work in front of you — turning pottery, weaving bamboo, dyeing indigo, making paper umbrellas and charcoal. You can try several crafts hands-on. It turns Korankei from a photo stop into a half-day of texture, and it's a hit with hands-on travellers and kids alike.

9:00–17:00, closed Thursdays; ¥300 (approx., 2026). At the south end of the gorge. Lunch nearby (next stop). Allow ~1.5 hours.

A rustic mountain restaurant near the gorge known for Oku-Mikawa game: boar (botan-nabe) and venison hotpots, river fish and mountain vegetables — the food the region actually eats in the cold months. A warming, distinctly local lunch before the long climb into the highlands. Hearty rather than refined, which is exactly right here.

Hours/prices vary seasonally (game hotpot mainly autumn–spring) — confirm before relying on it; several Asuke eateries make a fine backup. Hearty portions.

Before the drive up, walk the preserved streets of Asuke — a former salt-road post-town and a national Important Preservation District, its plastered merchant houses and narrow lanes far quieter than the gorge. Old shops sell Asuke-Nakamura sweets, miso and crafts. A calm, atmospheric counterpoint to Korankei's crowds.

Free to stroll; shops generally daytime. Then drive ~1.5–2 hours east into Oku-Mikawa to the highland resort — fuel up and check the mountain road before dark.

At 1,415 m, Mt. Chausu is the highest peak in Aichi, the centrepiece of a highland resort straddling the Aichi–Nagano border. A chairlift and short trails reach the summit ridge for big layered-mountain views; the air is cool even in summer. The slopes turn pink with shibazakura in May and gold in autumn. A genuine bit of altitude in a prefecture better known for cities.

Highland resort seasonal; chairlift fees apply (approx., 2026). Trails are short but the air is thin and weather changes fast — bring a layer. Allow ~1.5 hours.

The prefecture's highest-elevation lodging and the natural base up here: a mountain resort hotel with big bath, local Oku-Mikawa cuisine and walking trails from the door. Whether you slept here last night or just stop for the morning view and a coffee, it anchors the highland half of the trip before you start back down. Stone/mineral bath rather than a true hot spring.

Rooms ~¥11,500–17,700/adult/night with meals (approx., winter 2026). The recommended overnight for this route. Coffee and the terrace view make a good morning stop either way.

On the way back down, this Oku-Mikawa roadside station is the place to stop: local produce, mountain vegetables, game products and the small Okumikawa exhibits, plus a casual restaurant for a final regional lunch. A relaxed, practical close before the drive back toward Toyota and the expressway — and a good spot to load up on souvenirs you won't find in the city.

Generally open daytime; restaurant hours vary. On the route south from Chausuyama toward Toyota. Cash and a cooler bag help for local goods.