Kouyou

Asuke Photogallery

It has been a warm year, and even winter seems to have been postponed slightly. This year the kouyou also seems to be later than other years, so if you're reading this hot-off-the-desktop you might still have a chance to enjoy some quiet time under red autumn leaves.

Kouyou is the autumn equivalent to spring's hanami (watching the cherry blossoms, usually while having a few drinks). Japanese people from close and (sometimes very) far gather at spots where the color changing leaves are especially beautiful and enjoy some beer and some sake while watching the leaves dance with the wind.

Traditionally, goheimochi (roasted ricepaste on a stick) with miso sauce or shouyu (soy) sauce and amazake (a sweet, non-alcoholic but warming drink made from rice) are enjoyed while strolling under the kouyou but recently the same stalls that line up during hanami, hanabitaikai, natsu matsuri etc and all plying there wares, so the usual suspects are available. Furankufurotu (sausages), takiyako (fried tako balls), corn-on-the-cob, chokobanana etc.

While leaves change throughout the country, not all scenery is created equal, and some areas have become quite famous as places to go to at this time of year. Kourankei, just north of Okazaki in the village of Asuke (now part of Toyota City), is especially well known for its beautiful autumn leaves and attracts very large numbers of people.

It is good not only for the beautiful walk along the river during the day with the thatched roof houses and flowing stream, but such is the value of the tourist trade the leaves bring each year that Asuke now illuminates the red leaves at night. It is considered a good place to take a date, so as soon as the sun sets in, there are more couples than spotlights. Grab your beloved and lead him/her to Kourankei if you can spar a couple of hours!

Which is half the problem. You will probably not be the only one there. On weekends, tourist buses from as far away as Tokyo bring thousands of tourists into Kourankei - 99.8% percent of them Japanese. Although Kourankei is considered pretty remote and is connected by a single road to the rest of the world, you don't have to own a car to get there. the Meitetsu buses from Okazaki and Toyota arrive there on an hourly basis. If you drive there yourself, bring something to read. The road is guaranteed not only to be crowded but gridlocked on Saturdays and Sundays. Motorbikes and mountain bikes are the other options, though you need to be fairly fit if using the later.

Have a browse of the Asuke Photogallery for more information.

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