Earlier this month I found myself doing something very unusual in re-visiting somewhere within the space of a year. The reason for this was very simple. Last year after witnessing the autumn foliage at Saitama’s Ranzan Valley, I was so impressed that I couldn’t resist coming again.
Located in-between the spacious Ohirayama Park and Ogawamachi Forest, Ranzan Valley is becoming an ever more popular retreat for many Tokyoites. With its vast array of great hiking courses and natural wonders, this area provides the perfect escape away from the ever bustling metropolis.
Despite becoming more popular each year, it is still possible to find some solitude and colorful sights during the autumn if you arrive early enough to beat the crowds.
One of the best walking courses I discovered starts from Ogawamachi Station and ends at Musashi-Ranzan Station. Both of these stations are situated on the Tobu-Tojo Line that runs from Tokyo’s Ikebukuro Station. Walking maps can usually be found at either station or by looking on the links listed later in this article.
