Saturday, December 5, 2015

2015 Nov: Japan: Toyota: Asuke: 4 things to expect in Korankei

A visit on mid-November in Nagoya City is still too early for autumn.  Where most of the leaves are still in shinning green.  So heading to an off-track destination of Korankei in Toyota City is a good decision.  It's almost an hour train and another hour bus away from Nagoya, but arriving there will give you magical autumn experience.

Most of the review will say that getting there is difficult since you have to change trains and buses.  Traffic is terrible and the place is crowded.  Well, they are all true, so you have to wake up early to catch the earliest transportation and to avoid traffic.

There are 3 options to go to Korankaei, Asuke, Toyota City, Japan:
  • HigashiOkazaki Station to Kourankei via bus Meitetu Okazaki.Asuke Line (Earliest: 6:36, 8:30 Arrival 7:41, 9:36) - 55mins
  • Toyota City Station to Kourankei via bus Meitetu Yanami Line (Earliest: 7:18, 9:35 Arrival: 8:00, 10:17) - 42mins
  • Jyousui Station to Kourankei via Toyota Oiden Bus Sanage.Asuke Line (Earliest 7:26, 8:26 Arrival: 8:23, 9:23) - 57mins
Visit this page to help you regarding provincial buses (or Nishitetsu service) in Japan.  


4 things to expect in Korankei, Asuke:



1. Taigetsukyo Bridge (red bridge) with autumn backdrop - has been a promising scenic spot and loved by photographers especially for those chasing the koyo leaves. 





I walked across an empty land, I knew the pathway like the back of my hand.
I felt the earth beneath my feet, Sat by the river and it made me complete. - Keane









2. Street Food - for a long walk you'll never get tired or hungry as there are a lot of street food being sold in wide variety that you can imagine.





3. Local Market - you'll be enticed to glance once in a while on the intricate local items, flowers, fruits and omiyage.  A bit of a tourist trap, but nice to look at.



4. Sanshu Asuke Yashiki (Yashiki Cultural Village) - an immersion on what the locals do for a living.



In text above:
Sanshu Asuke Yashiki

Ever since we began to depend on the benefits of industrial development, we forgot the many blessings of nature and the ability to make what we need from it for our daily lives.


Sanshu Asuke Yashiki, which is modeled after a rich farmer's house from the Meiji period, presents the local, traditional hand works as hand-looming, charcoal making and paper making which has once disappeared from our modern life. 


Daily hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (admission until 16:30) *closed on Thursdays

Entrance Fee: 300 yen for adults, 100 yen for children














Guide and References:

The following section will cater the route from Higashi Okazaki Station to Korankei.
















Summary of 3 days itinerary in 2015 Autumn Nagoya-Toyota Trip:

Day
Places to see
Food and Restaurants
Where to Sleep
Day 1
Korankei at Toyota
Sanshu Asuke Yashiki
Tokugawa Garden
Nunoike Catholic Church
Mall Hopping at Otsu Dori
Lotteria
Day 2
Obara Fureai Park
Semmi Shikizakura no Sato
Osu Shopping Center
Mall Hopping at Otsu Dori
Lotteria
Subhakamana
Hotel Trusty in Sakae
Day 3
Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Toyota Museum (if time permits)
Noritake Museum

Hotel Trusty in Sakae