Highlights
- Nov 1 (Sun) – Nov 30 (Mon), 2026 — the 71st festival (Tourism Toyota / Aichi Now)
- Mount Iimori light-up daily, sunset to 9:00 p.m. (no extension)
- Bamboo lanterns at Kojakuji (weekends Nov 1–29) and wish candles (weekends Nov 7–29), 6:00–8:30 p.m.
- Free to walk; parking and Sanshu Asuke Yashiki are paid
- Oiden Bus skips the Korankei stop at some times on Nov 14, 15, 28 and 29, and does not reach Korankei at some times on Nov 21–23 (Toyota City notice, checked 2026-10-13)
Background & story
The maples were first planted by a Kojakuji Temple priest in the 1600s; the valley is now one of central Japan's top koyo spots.
The 71st Korankei Momiji Festival in Asuke, Toyota City (Aichi) runs from Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 30, 2026. Mount Iimori is lit up every evening from sunset to 9:00 p.m. (no extension of dates or hours). Walking the gorge is free; only parking and entry to Sanshu Asuke Yashiki are charged. Both Toyota City's official tourism site (Tourism Toyota) and Aichi Prefecture's official site (Aichi Now) list these dates and light-up hours (checked 2026-10-13). The organiser, the Toyota City Asuke Tourism Association, lists 2026 parking at ¥1,000 per car with no reservable parking, and says there is no Yakusa–Korankei direct bus in 2026 (checked 2026-10-13). Its 2026 detour guide is still "in preparation" (checked 2026-10-13).
Quick facts (2026)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 71st Korankei Momiji (Maple) Festival |
| Dates | November 1 (Sun) – November 30 (Mon), 2026 |
| Light-up | Every day, sunset to 9:00 p.m. (Mount Iimori; no extension) |
| Venue | Korankei Plaza, Asuke (31 Iimori, Asuke-cho, Toyota). Grounds open at all hours |
| Cost | Free to walk (parking and Sanshu Asuke Yashiki admission are paid) |
| Parking | Paid. 2026 fees: ¥1,000 per car, ¥3,000 per tour bus (incl. microbuses). No reservable parking (organiser, checked 2026-10-13) |
| Contact | Toyota City Asuke Tourism Association, +81-565-62-1272 (Japanese) |
| Official info | Asuke Tourism Association (organiser) / Tourism Toyota (Japanese) / Aichi Now (Japanese) |
Main events during the festival (2026)
From the 2026 programme on Tourism Toyota (checked 2026-10-13). Some are cancelled in rain.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 1–30, sunset–9:00 p.m. | Mount Iimori light-up (no extension) |
| Nov 1 (Sun), 4:00–5:00 p.m. | Opening ceremony (Korankei Plaza) |
| Most days from 9:00 a.m. | Monkey show (Korankei Plaza; cancelled in rain) |
| Nov 8 (Sun), from 1:00 p.m. | Road-safety parade through the old Asuke streets (cancelled in rain) |
| Weekends Nov 1–29, 6:00–8:30 p.m. | Bamboo lanterns on the Kojakuji Temple approach (not on Nov 3 or Nov 23; cancelled in rain) |
| Weekends Nov 7–29, 6:00–8:30 p.m. | Wish candles on the Tomoe River bank, ¥500 each (not on Nov 3 or Nov 23; cancelled in rain) |
After the light-up ends, the three trails to the summit of Mount Iimori are closed at night (you can still go up as far as Kojakuji Temple).
Getting there — take public transport on peak weekends
- By car: about 20 minutes from Toyota-Kanpachi IC on the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway, or about 15 minutes from Chikaraishi IC on the Sanage Green Road. Since April 2025 the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway is ETC-only; cars without ETC should use Toyota IC on the Tomei Expressway. Route 153 jams on peak weekends.
- From Meitetsu Toyotashi Station: Meitetsu Bus Yanami Line bound for Asuke to the "Korankei" stop (about 40 minutes, per the organiser).
- From Josui Station: Toyota Oiden Bus (Sanage–Asuke Line).
- No direct bus from Yakusa Station in 2026: the organiser states "No operations for nonstop bus from Yakusa to Korankei" this year and asks visitors to use the Oiden Bus or Meitetsu Bus (checked 2026-10-13).
- From Higashi-Okazaki Station: Meitetsu Bus (Okazaki–Asuke Line).
Oiden Bus in November 2026: Toyota City has announced partial and section suspensions on the Sanage–Asuke, Asahi–Asuke and Inabu–Asuke lines throughout November because of festival traffic (notice updated October 13, 2026). No stops are suspended on Nov 1, 7 and 8. On Nov 14, 15, 28 and 29 the Korankei stop is skipped at some times, and on the Nov 21–23 three-day weekend some services will not run as far as Korankei and some trips are cancelled (checked 2026-10-13). Timetable PDFs are on Toyota City's notice (Japanese).
Peak colour and beating the crowds
- Leaves usually peak from mid to late November. The busiest days are peak weekends and the Nov 21–23, 2026 holiday weekend.
- Driving? Arrive early or come on a weekday. Staying for the light-up? Expect evening traffic and consider the bus or staying nearby.
- Evenings get cold — bring a warm layer, plus cash for parking and wish candles.
- Comparing autumn spots? See our autumn leaves illuminations guide.
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-13. Confirm the 2026 detour guide, the Meitetsu Bus November timetable and rain arrangements with the Asuke Tourism Association (Japanese) before you go.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Meitetsu Bus (bound for Asuke) from Toyotashi Station to the Korankei stop / Toyota Oiden Bus (Sanage–Asuke Line) from Josui Station / Meitetsu Bus (Okazaki–Asuke Line) from Higashi-Okazaki Station. No direct bus from Yakusa Station in 2026 (organiser, checked 2026-10-13). By car: ~20 min from Toyota-Kanpachi IC, ~15 min from Chikaraishi IC (Tokai-Kanjo Expressway is ETC-only) Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- date night, families
Good to know
The festival runs Nov 1–30, 2026, with the Mount Iimori light-up every day from sunset to 9:00 p.m. (no extension). Walking is free; parking and Sanshu Asuke Yashiki are paid (2026: ¥1,000 per car, no reservable parking; checked 2026-10-13). There is no Yakusa–Korankei direct bus in 2026 (organiser, checked 2026-10-13). Leaves usually peak mid-to-late November, when weekends and the Nov 21–23 holiday jam Route 153. Toyota City has announced Oiden Bus changes in November: the Korankei stop is skipped at some times on Nov 14, 15, 28 and 29, and some services do not reach Korankei on Nov 21–23 (checked 2026-10-13). The Tokai-Kanjo Expressway is ETC-only. Bamboo lanterns (weekends Nov 1–29) and wish candles (weekends Nov 7–29) run 6:00–8:30 p.m., not on Nov 3 or 23, cancelled in rain. The 2026 detour guide is still in preparation (checked 2026-10-13); check the Asuke Tourism Association page before you go.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Korankei Momiji Festival 2026?
- The 71st Korankei Momiji Festival runs from November 1 (Sun) to November 30 (Mon), 2026, according to both Tourism Toyota (Toyota City's official tourism site) and Aichi Now (Aichi Prefecture's official site), checked 2026-10-13. The leaves usually peak from mid to late November.
- What time is the Korankei light-up?
- Mount Iimori is lit up every evening during the festival (Nov 1–30) from sunset to 9:00 p.m. The organisers say the dates and hours will not be extended. After the light-up, the three trails to the summit are closed at night.
- Is there an entry fee? How much is parking?
- Walking the gorge is free; parking and entry to Sanshu Asuke Yashiki are paid. For 2026 the organiser lists ¥1,000 per car and ¥3,000 per tour bus (incl. microbuses), with no reservable parking (checked 2026-10-13).
- How do I get to Korankei by public transport?
- Take the Meitetsu Bus from Toyotashi Station, the Toyota Oiden Bus (Sanage–Asuke Line) from Josui Station, or the Meitetsu Bus (Okazaki–Asuke Line) from Higashi-Okazaki Station to the Korankei stop. There is no direct bus from Yakusa Station in 2026 (organiser). Toyota City has announced Oiden Bus changes for November 2026: the Korankei stop is skipped at some times on Nov 14, 15, 28 and 29, and on Nov 21–23 some services will not reach Korankei and some trips are cancelled (checked 2026-10-13).
- How can I avoid the traffic?
- Route 153 jams on peak weekends and the Nov 21–23 holiday weekend. Arrive early or visit on a weekday. The Tokai-Kanjo Expressway is ETC-only, so cars without ETC should use Toyota IC on the Tomei Expressway. The 2026 detour guide is still in preparation (checked 2026-10-13).
- When are the bamboo lanterns and wish candles?
- Bamboo lanterns line the Kojakuji Temple approach on weekends from Nov 1 to 29, and wish candles (¥500 each) are set out on weekends from Nov 7 to 29, both 6:00–8:30 p.m. Neither is held on Nov 3 or Nov 23, and both are cancelled in rain.
Getting there
Korankei Gorge, Asuke, Toyota City — 31 Iimori, Asuke-cho, Toyota, Aichi (Korankei Plaza)