Kumamoto

Nov 10, 2014 - 1 min read

Autumn at Heike no Sato

Magnificent maples in the mountains of Gokanosho

By Mandy Bartok

Community writer

Fall color in Heike no Sato folk village

The entrance gate to Heike no Sato

The maples here are at their best in the first half of November

The ground is littered with a colorful carpet of momiji

Maples frame a thatched roof building on the grounds of the folk village

A performance stage at the folk park is framed by maple trees

The village is small and takes no longer than a half hour to explore

But the changing fall colors will leave you captivated and keep you there for hours

The folk village of Heike no Sato, hidden away in the mountains of Kumamoto's Gokanosho region, recounts the history of the Heike clan and their flight from the Genji after the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. But the village's biggest draw is its stunning display of fall foliage. In early November, the area's many maples turn crimson and gold, making this one of Kyushu's top leaf-peeping destinations. However, the area's relative inaccessability means that even on autumn weekends, the crowds are never overwhelming.

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Mandy Bartok

By Mandy Bartok

Community writer

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Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina 5 years ago

Beautiful shots! And historical site.

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