Koyo or Momiji is Japanese for fall foliage
Myoko Kogen is in fact in Niigata Prefecture, on the border with Nagano Prefecture. 2nd visit since 2001. So glad to be back with a tint of fall foliage, probably 10% 🙂
Imori-ike (いもり池) with Mt Myoko in the background
Visited 3 waterfalls, with probably 50% of fall colours.
From late September onwards, fall foliage would commence its descend from 2700m. Took the only shuttle bus to Tatami-daira (terminal) 乗鞍畳平 and started descending along the main road, alongside with many others doing the same, while from time to time, there were cyclists ascending ! Though the fall foliage has passed its peak @2500-2600m, it has descended to 2000-2300m with vivid colours on the way. Took about 5 hrs to descend to Resenkoya @2100m, before jumping on shuttle bus to return to base @1400m. On next morning, prior to hiking up to the summit of Mt Norikura, the pension owner was so nice to drive me to nearby Ichinose area with beautiful pond and foliage reflections.
Picked up a rental car near Nagano station and visited Kagami-ike (mirror pond) 鏡池 with reflections of Mt Togakushi. Fall foliage was probably about 30%. Walked part of the Togakushi-sando leading to Togakushi Jinja with a long boulevard of tall Japanese cedar trees (Sugi).
2nd visit since 2005. Took the new Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa from Tokyo. Visited Kenroku-en (兼六園), one of the 3 most famous gardens in Japan.
World Heritage. 2nd visit since 2005, when the village was covered in snow in early December. This time we arrived after peak fall foliage.
visited the western part known as Noto Kongo coastline as day trip before returning to Wakura onsen town for overnight stay.
2nd visit since 2010. This time we reached the innermost Keyakidaira by Torroko train where fall foliage has clearly passed its peak, though there were still some in the Unazuki onsen town.
