Chukyo University's 19th Hachimae Yosakoi Dance Performance (pre Maple Festival event)
Date and time: Sun, Oct 29, 2023 (Held at the same time on Fri, Nov 3 [national holiday] should rainy weather occur.)
From 1:00 pm: Parade from Shin-machi area to Hon-machi area
From 1:30 pm: Dance performance at Jinya-ato Encampment Site (in the Asuke Historic Townscape)

Opening Ceremony
The city of Toyota's Tourism PR Ambassadors come for a brilliant ceremony!
Date and time: From 5:00 pm on Wed, Nov 1, 2023
Venue: Korankei Gorge Square

Mt. Iimori Illumination
Nighttime illumination colors Mt. Iimori in shades of gold, creating a surreal view with Taigetsu Bridge's vibrant red color and the lights reflecting off the Tomoe River.
Date and time: Sundown–9:00 pm, Wed, Nov 1–Thu, Nov 30, 2023

City of Toyota's Toyota Illusion Magic Junior Marching Band Maple Festival Traffic Safety Parade
A total of some 80 musicians offer a powerful performance and colorful parade along the roads of Asuke's historic townscape!
Date and time: Around 1:00 pm–2:00 pm on Sun, Nov 5, 2023 (canceled should rain occur)
Venue: Front of the Asuke Community Center–torii gate outside JA Aichi Bank

Bamboo lanterns at Kojakuji Temple
Approximately 1,000 bamboo lanterns illuminate the pathway to majestic and serene Kojakuji Temple.
Date and time: 6:00 pm–8:45 pm; Sat, Nov 4–Sun, Nov 26, 2023 (not held on Thu, Nov 23 [national holiday])
Venue: Pathway from main gate to Kojakuji Temple

Wishing candles
800 wishing candles in glass line the banks of the Tomoe River near Tomoe Bridge. Lining them along the riverside is said to make your wishes come true. Available for JPY 500 a candle.
Date and time: 6:00 pm–8:45 on weekends, Sat, Nov 11–Sun, Nov 26, 2023 (not held on Thu, Nov 23 [national holiday])
Notes:
• Not held on Sun, Nov 12 due to Kojakuji Temple projection mapping.
Venue: Right-side bank of the Tomoe River and below Nishi-machi parking lot no. 2 (Entry restrictions to the riverside may occur.)

Monkey show
Date and time: Multiple times a day, almost every day. Times depend on the monkey. (Canceled should rainy weather occur. Held during the daytime only.)

Olden-time marching band parade
Locals volunteer for this odd, olden-time parade using eccentric instruments for an entertaining good time.
Date and time: Sat, Nov 18, 2023 (Tora Chindon group) / Sun, Nov 19, 2023 (Toyota Tonohime & Kizuna group)
Venue: Asuke Historic Townscape–Korankei Gorge (Mt. Iimori side)–Korankei Gorge Square (moving parade only to prevent people from clustering)

Middle Ages Asuke exhibition in the Asuke townscape
Asuke is home to ages of history such as that of its renowned Asuke Castle, ringing in its 30th anniversary this year since reconstruction. Asuke also enjoyed a rich history of ceramics as shown by a report released last year on the excavation of the Shiohazama Kiln Site in the town of Hosoda. The report brings to light Asuke's ceramics industry of the middle ages and the fact that the ceramic roof tiles of Asuke Hachimangu Shrine actually came from that very Shiohazama Kiln. Take a step back in time thanks to an exhibition of archeological remains and artifacts, and imagine the Asuke of yesteryear as you walk through its historic townscape.
Date and time: 9:00 am–5:00 pm; Fri, Oct 20–Wed, Dec 6, 2023 (closed Thu, Oct 26)
Venue: Asuke Chuma Museum (in the Asuke important preservation district of traditional buildings)

Notes:
• Admission free of charge.
• The Former Taguchi Residence acts as the townscape information center and is open every day during November.

◆Asuke map◆

Asuke Hachimangu Shrine and Asuke Jinja Shrine (B-4 on map)
It is said that the Asuke Hachimangu Shrine answers people's prayers for healthy feet. This is because Asuke used to be a crossroads where people could rest their feet during their arduous travels.
The shrine provides amulets for healthier feet and paper fortunes. The main hall of the shrine is a national important cultural asset.
Asuke Jinja Shrine worships skilled archer Asuke Jiro Shigenori. Lord Shigenori played an important part in guarding Emperor Godaigo in the Genko Incident as a military commander-in-chief of an army of 3,000 soldiers.

Korankei Gorge (D-5 on the map)
Korankei Gorge is the most famous place for autumn leaves in the Tokai Region (the region of Aichi and surrounding prefectures). In November, the leaves of about 4,000 Japanese maple trees turn red and yellow all at once, making for a picturesque view of the gorge. In May, the fresh, new leaves of spring aren't to be missed; and in March, light purple dogtooth violets bloom on the northwest face of Mt. Iimori, resulting in Korankei Gorge's reputation as a wonderful location to enjoy Japan's seasonal changes.

Kojakuji Temple (D-6 on the map)
Kojakuji Temple is an ancient temple of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism that was established in 1427 on the remains of the Asuke family residence, lords of the castle on Mt. Iimori.
The Japanese maples at Korankei Gorge originated from one tree that was planted in 1634 by Buddhist monk named San'ei, the 11th successor of the temple. The temple provides paper fortunes.

Sanshu Asuke Yashiki living museum (D-7 on the map)
Sanshu Asuke Yashiki is an interactive facility where you can experience olden-day life in the mountains including handwork such as weaving on a loom and indigo dyeing. The facility has a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious mountain village food such as goheimochi, large grilled rice cakes on a stick with a sweet miso sauce, and grilled salted sweetfish seasoned with salt.
It takes about 10 minutes on foot to get from the greater Korankei Gorge area to Sanshu Asuke Yashiki. (Phone number: 0565-62-1188)

Asuke townscape (C-4 to H-2 on the map)
The town of Asuke was an integral point along the old Ina Road (also known as the "Chuma Road") which connected the Owari and Mikawa regions to the Shinshu region. Asuke was a merchant town that prospered as an important place for the transportation of goods. Many houses that were built in the latter half of the Edo period (from 1776 to 1830) still remain in Asuke today.
In 2011, the Asuke townscape became the first area in the prefecture of Aichi to be selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

Asuke Castle (I-4 on the map)
Asuke Castle was built by the Suzuki family, who ruled the Asuke area during the Warring States period. The castle was restored based on the results of an excavation. The restoration of a mountaintop castle is extremely rare in Japan, and Asuke Castle was actually the first in the country to be restored.
You can enjoy a beautiful view of Asuke's townscape from the 301-meter-high castle keep. It takes about 40 minutes on foot to get to the castle from Korankei Gorge. (Phone number: 0565-62-0770)