Autumn is my favourite season in Japan. In this beautiful season, the color of the leaves turned vibrant and the weather turned cool; and it is also the best time to take a walk into the nature and marvel at the fall foliage.
We know that there are many beautiful autumn scenery in Japan, but in this post, I would like to focus on just one place, Taishaku Valley. Where is Taishaku Valley? This picturesque valley with a series of scenic spots is located in Hiroshima Prefecture, which stretch over a distance of 15 km. Although the Taishaku Valley is beautiful all year round, most of the people come here in autumn to admire the colorful foliage; it is also one of the top autumn-leaf viewing destinations in Japan.
Autumn last year, we explored into this gorgeous valley in the early November, and we were rewarded with tons of beautiful autumn images. The valley was divided into 2 sections, upper Taishaku was where the gigantic stone arched bridge located and lower Taishaku was where the beautiful Shinryuu Lake located.
Let's begin with the upper Taishaku!
1. Eimyoji Temple (永明寺)
The Eimyoji Temple was an ancient Buddhist temple that was beautifully set at the foot of the mountain, and it was accompanied by a striking vermilion arched bridge on the side. Location: Click here for Map
2. Hakuundo Cave (白雲洞)
Hakuundo Cave was one of the main attractions in the Taishaku Valley. This 200-meter long limestone cave has a very cooling temperature inside throughout the whole year. Location: Click here for Map
3. On-Bashi (雄橋)
This massive stone arched bridge was the main highlight of Taishaku Valley. The On-Bashi is around 40-meter tall and 90-meter long, and it was formed naturally over time by the powerful abrasion of the running river water. Furthermore the bridge was designated as a national natural monument. Location: Click here for Map
Bonus Eat: Showa Cafeteria (昭和食堂)
There was a Soba noodle shop located near the entrance of the upper Taishaku. They served delicious Soba with very fresh vegetables topping. At that time, it was raining and cold out there, so it was really comforting to order a bowl of piping hot Soba to warm our stomach before we continued to explore the valley. Location: Click here for map
Next, we moved on to the lower Taishaku!
4. Sakura Bridge (桜橋)
Although this bridge was named as Sakura Bridge, it was bright red in color with a mountain backdrop that were covered with fiery red and yellow leaves. This was also the bridge that we used to get to go to the Shinryuu Bridge. Location: Click here for Map
5. Shinryuu Bridge (神龍橋)
Same as the Sakura Bridge, the Shinryuu Bridge was bright red in color. This was a great autumn-leaf viewing spot because it was surrounded by magnificent scenery, and the view of the Shinryuu Lake from here was glorious. Location: Click here for Map
6. Shinryuu Lake (神龍湖)
This scenic lake was another highlight of the Taishaku Valley. The lake was surrounded by the steep-sided valley, and it was extremely beautiful in autumn when the hills were blanketed with colorful foliage. In addition, there were also sightseeing boat services to ferry you around the placid lake. Location: Click here for Map
Bonus Eat: Imagawayaki (今川焼き)
Before we called it a day, we treated ourselves with this popular Japanese snack, Imagawayaki, a dragon-shaped pancake with sweet red bean paste filings. Location: Click here for Map
Autumn season is one of the
most beautiful seasons that you can discover the natural beauty in Japan. If you are interested in nature and hiking, then the Taishaku Valley is highly recommended. The ideal timing to experience the Taishaku Valley is from mid October to mid November.
Related Post:
- Komyozenji Temple: The Beauty of Japanese Autumn
Written by: Q.J.
Photography by: Q.J. & K.K.
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