Autumn in Japan's Ashikaga & Tatebayashi Areas, North of Tokyo

[Marian Goldberg]

Japan's Ashikaga & Tatebayashi Areas, an Hour North of Tokyo's Asakusa Station along the Tobu Railway Limited Express Ryomo Line, are Gorgeous Autumn Destinations Full of Natural Beauty, Colorful Momiji Valley Splendor, and Exceptional Wine from 100-Percent Japanese Grapes.

Autumn is a spectacular time to visit the Ashikaga and Tatebayashi areas of Japan, just one hour north of Tokyo's downtown Asakusa Station along the Tobu Railway Limited Express Ryomo Line.  During autumn, brilliant crimson maple leaves fill the Momiji Valley, where they are even reflected in Hotoku-ji temple's polished floor. Additionally, fall roses and cosmos flowers are on view at the Tobu Treasure Garden, and Coco Farm & Winery celebrates its harvest.

Orihime Park in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture

Visitors can enjoy a walk through the blazing crimson Momiji ("Red Autumn Leaf") Valley at Orihime Park in Ashikaga City. It's home to some 1,000 maple and tulip trees, producing incredible fall colors, with peak viewing season early November through early December.

Hotoku-ji Temple in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture

Hotoku-ji Temple, whose large glass windows reveal the auburn and gold seasonal view of more than 100 trees, is renowned for this brilliant imagery, reflected in its specially polished, 28 tatami mat-sized (45-square-meter) main hall temple floor. This unique annual event is called Yuka Momiji ("floor full of fall colors"). The temple also offers views of Mt. Narukami, one of the 100 most famous peaks in the Kanto Region. Combined, the two views create a true fall color paradise. The 2019 leaf-viewing festival takes place from November 9 to 23.

Tobu Treasure Garden, Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture

Tobu Treasure Garden blooms with the dazzling colors of autumn roses and cosmos flowers. In the rose garden, there are seven different zones, depicting seven unique "stories," with seven "scenes," told through roses of varying types and colors. To showcase the roses, the park holds an Autumn Flower Festa. Dates in 2019 are September 27 to October 27 from10 am to 4 pm.  In addition to the roses, the 5,000-square-meter park also boasts hundreds of thousands of popular cosmos flowers, outstanding in pink, orange, red and yellow.

The COCO Farm & Winery, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture 

Am oasis of great wine, food, and scenery, COCO uses its own facilities to produce made-in-Japan wine from 100-percent Japanese grapes grown in the winery's own vineyard and contract farmers' vineyards. COCO uses no chemical fertilizers or weed killers. Its fermentation process principally harnesses natural yeast to make top-quality wines that have been featured at international competitions and in the first-class cabins on Japanese airlines. Tasting sessions and tours are available. Food and wine are available at the winery cafe. A harvest festival is held every November (this year on the 16th and 17th).

The Furatto Ryomo Tobu Free Pass 

A convenient ticket for visitors to the Tatebayashi and Ashikaga areas, this ticket allows unlimited journeys for three days on trains and major bus routes in Kiryu, Ota, Tatebayashi, Isezaki, and Midori in Gunma Prefecture and in Ashikaga and Sano in Tochigi Prefecture. It also provides discounts and special offers at more than 200 participating stores and attractions, making it the ideal pass for visitors wanting to experience all aspects of autumn in Japanese on a short day-trip from Tokyo.



About Tobu Railway Company Ltd.

A major Japanese corporation consisting of approximately 90 companies, the Tobu Railways cover the longest operating distance in Metropolitan Tokyo and lead to numerous tourist attractions including: Asakusa and Tokyo SKYTREE TOWN in Tokyo; Nikko and Kinugawa Onsen, famous its world heritage sites and hot springs; the Tatebayashi and Ashikaga areas, known for beautiful blooming flower fields; and Kawagoe, where the atmosphere of the old Edo era lives on. Tobu is also invested in numerous hotels, including the highly anticipated luxury properties: Nikko Fufu Resort and The Ritz Carlton Nikko, both of which will open in 2020, in time for the Tokyo Olympics.

Explore destinations around Tobu Railway Group at TOBU JAPAN TRIP.