In 2024, sightseers from 14 countries gave two thumbs up to Tourism Toyota's bus tour around the cherry blossoms and fall foliage of Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture. And why not? The outing offered visual treats you won't find anywhere else in Japan; sweet, brand-name persimmons; and the chance to create your own colorful, traditional Japanese washi paper.

Of all the Shikizakura Four-Season Cherry Blossoms in Obara, the most beautiful are located in Senmi Shikizakura no Sato Park. Normally, you need to wait for a shuttle bus from Obara Fureai Park, but with the bus tour, you can go right to where the area's premier pastel pinks bloom outside Senmi Shikizakura no Sato Park's parking lot, going straight to the most serene and beautiful spot.

Korankei Gorge crawls one kilometer along the Tomoe River in Asuke with some 3,000 maples, cedars, and other trees planted on the backdrop of Mt. Iimori, and our bus tour lets you savor the scenery with plenty of time to spare. Enjoy the vivid coloration of the fall leaves and reflections off the water as you watch the sun settle into the distant mountains. That's when the magic happens; again a reflection off the water occurs, but this time, it's that of a surreally lit-up landscape on Mt. Iimori. Make the most of the tour program, which lets you admire the scenery as it changes by the minute.

An English-speaking tour guide comes alongside you on the journey with participants raving about the friendly service and educational yet intriguing explanations to better illustrate the appeal of each local area. At Obara Fureai Park, you have some time to yourself to enjoy perusing and reveling in the piquant flavors of food vendors, so it might be advantageous to ask the guide for their recommendations. This time, the guide talked about Toyota's famous local cuisine: gohei mochi, or barbecued rice cakes on a stick, covered in a sweet miso sauce. They're skewered and easy to eat as you walk around, so get the full report from your tastebuds.

Maruka Orchard is a grower of Toyota's famous brand persimmons and a participant in Tourism Toyota's tour, offering the rare chance to step inside the agricultural operation. After touring the premises, those taking part in the program move over to Strawberry Park MIFUNE, where they delight in a tasting of the delicious, melt-in-your-mouth sweetness of Fuyu Persimmons and crisp, crunchy Jiro Persimmons. Tour participants raved about the chance to take home Japanese persimmons as souvenirs, the perfect item for their superior sweetness.

Toyota City's Obara area—famous for its Shikizakura Four-Season Cherry Blossoms—is known for another highlight: its deep roots in Japanese washi paper craft. Our bus tour stops by Obara Paper Art Museum, where you can take a course to experience creating washi for yourself. Obara washi is known for its use of strong and sturdy materials as well as its colorful appearance and artistically diverse functionality. Enjoy adding the colors of your choice and illustrations to create a sheet like no other.

Many bus tours from other areas also visit the famous Obara Shikizakura Four-Season Cherry Blossoms and Korankei Gorge's autumn colors, acting as a testament to the must-see scenery. Tourism Toyota's bus tour starts and ends at Shin-Toyota Station, which is relatively close to the spots, so you can enjoy a long and relaxed stay at each spot without worrying about getting back to home base. And with other allure unique to Toyota City, like its persimmons and washi paper packed in, it's a hot tour idea used even by tourism agencies around Japan. Plus, participants loved that they could get JPY 1,000 off of their stay at a hotel in Toyota City by taking part in the tour. With plenty to see around the Shin-Toyota Station, staying the night in Toyota for a relaxed trip is a sure bet!

9:45 am　　　　　　 Departure from Shin-Toyota Station
10:45 am–12:10 pm Free time at Senmi Shikizakura no Sato Park
12:10 pm–1:30 pm　Free time at Obara Fureai Park with lunch where you like (JPY 1,000 lunch ticket available for use within the park)

Note: Group splits into two courses until 4:00 pm
Group A: Persimmon Tasting Course
Group B: Obara Japanese Papermaking Course

4:00 pm–6:00 pm　 Free time at Korankei Gorge
6:45 pm　　　　　　Arrival at Shin-Toyota Station

JPY 12,000 per person (adults and children alike)

2025 availability:
Nov 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, and 28

Notes:
• Persimmon Tasting Course available Nov 18, 20, 26, and 28.
• Obara Japanese Papermaking Course available Nov 17, 19, 21, 25, and 27.