Komoro Castle Kaikoen Autumn Leaves Festival Begins on October 20

17.October.2018 | SPOT

The city of Komoro in Nagano Prefecture is just an hour-and-a-half from Tokyo by train. The Komoro Castle Ruins, known today as Kaikoen, is a famous tourist location in Komoro, and it’s here that the Kaikoen Momiji Matsuri (Kaikoen Autumn Leaves Festival) will take place from October 20 to November 18.

The autumn leaves in Komoro arrive earlier than in Tokyo. They also cover a wide distance from an elevation of 600m up to 2,000m and are enjoyed for staying around for a long period of time.

The ruins of Komoro Castle are the representative and most famous tourist hot spot of the city. From the end of October to the end of November, the area gives rise to a whole range of colourful leaves including maple, maidenhair, Japanese zelkova and more. The castle itself was selected as one of Japan’s 100 most famous and its gardens as one of the 100 historical parks of the country. It’s also famous as Japan’s only ana-jō, a castle which is located in a place lower than the jōkamachi which is the urban area that surrounds a feudal lord’s castle.

 

If you’re arriving by car from Tokyo it will take two-and-a-half hours and if by train one-and-a-half. It’s also a 30-minute drive from Karuizawa. During the autumn season the city of Komoro bustles with tourists from both Nagano Prefecture and other prefectures.

But it’s not just at Kaikoen where autumn arrives in October and November. All places around Komoro gleam with autumnal reds and yellows. Amongst the trees are the Japanese larches is which colour the mountains golden and breathe beauty into the area. On August 30, 2018 restrictions on mountain climbing in the area were eased. People were allowed to climb Mount Asama (Maekake-yama) which is famous for the yellow larches. You can also obtain a certificate proving you climbed the mountain at the Komoro tourist information office.

The information office can provide in-depth information into Komoro during autumn-time. They also hand out two different tourist maps for free. One of them showcases 10 different hot springs and 8 water sources in Komoro while the other details the plantation in the area where you can enjoy the autumn colours and much on all-you-can-eat freshly picked apples.

Also, as a side note, at the soba noodle restaurants in Komoro, you can enjoy “New Soba” made with buckwheat harvested in autumn which is said to be the most delicious time of all the seasons.

 

Enjoy a wonderful time at the autumn leaves festival at Kaikoen where there will be lots of fun events happening.

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    15.September.2018 | SPOT

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    ■Information Maple Tree Night Stroll / The Night Museum Running: October 19, 2018 - November 11, 2018 (*Will be cancelled during storms) Time: Weekdays 5:00pm-6:30pm / Weekends & Holidays 5:00pm-7:30pm Guide: From 5:30pm (*Weekends & Holidays only. 30 minutes. Free to participate.) Location: Rokkō Alpine Botanical Garden (Kitarokkō-4512-150 Rokkōsanchō, Nada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture) Price: Free to participate but you must pay the garden entry fee (Adults ¥620 / Children ¥310 / Seniors ¥520)   Wreath Workshop Running: October 13, 2018 - November 25, 2018 Open: 10:00am-4:30pm (Reception closes at 4:00pm) Time: 30 minutes Location: Alpicola No. of People: 12 people max per session. No reservations necessary. Price: From ¥650 (Doesn't include garden entry fee)   Photo Seminar Date: September 23, 2018 (*Will be postponed to September 30th if it rains) 10:30am-11:00am ― Class on photography 11:00am-3:00pm ー Photography around the garden Price: Free (Doesn't include garden entry fee) No. of People: 30 *Now taking telephone reservations   Guide Dates: October 13 and November 10 Time: 11:00am / 2:00pm (1 hour each) Price: Free (Doesn't include garden entry fee)   Mount Rokkō Portal Webite: http://www.rokkosan.com
     
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    28.September.2018 | SPOT

    During the season of autumn colors in Mt. Takao, after 15:00 a season-limited special train service called “Mt. TAKAO” will be offered where trains will connect Mt. Takao Station and  Shinjuku Station. This service will be offered for a total of 9 days, centering on the Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in November, (2 normal working days and 7 Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). Every year, Mt. Takao receives the most visitor during the month of November and train service between 15:00 and 18:00 becomes very crowded with passengers returning from Mt. Takao to the city. To ease this congestion during the autumn color season, the Keio Line will offer a special train service which departs from Mt. Takao Station – 1 train per day during regular work days and 2 trains per day during Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. This is the first time that this service is being offered.
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  • Autumn Colour Illuminations to Take Place at Kurodani Temple―Home to the Afro Buddha

    28.September.2018 | SPOT

    Veltra, a website that offers hundreds of tours and activities for travellers across the world, is now taking bookings to go and see the autumn colour light-up of Konkaikōmyō-ji, also known as Kurodani Temple. The plan offers the chance to see the Afro Buddha―which has made headlines on TV in Japan and on the internet―as well as the temple gardens and elsewhere lit up in gorgeous hues of reds, yellows and oranges. The autumnal colours reflected on the water surface beside the temple will provide for a gorgeous setting.   There's also an additional plan that can get you in 30-minutes earlier than regular guests and offers a tour of the area by the official gardener or a garden concierge. Guests who book with Veltra will also receive a bill with the Afro Buddha printed on it. Kurodani Temple was founded in 1175. It incldues the site where Honen, the founder of Jodo Buddhism, stayed. It's also famous as the site where the Japanese official Kondō Isami and samurai Matsudaira Katamori held talks.   While gazing at the beautiful colours of autumn guests can also enjoy a koto performance.   Veltra also has an English page and takes bookings from inbound travellers. Book your plan to see the spectacle yourself.

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    Forgot about the time and enjoy the scenery with few people around

     

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    Evening illuminations for a late-night autumn experience

     

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