Let’s enjoy autumn in Nagatoro with brightly colored autumn leaves and a delicious tofu lunch
Hello! Chaso here!
This time I will be introducing a bicycle tour to see Nagatoro’s autumn leaves.
The trip starts at Nagatoro Station.
From Ueno Station take the Takasaki Line to Kumagaya Station, whi ch will take about 60 minutes, then change to the Chichibu Railway and ride another 50 minutes to Nagatoro Station. You could also take the Shinkansen from Ueno Station to Kumagaya Station, which will take only 30 minutes.
Let’s first borrow a bicycle from the tourist association center in front of Nagatoro Station.
At the reception desk, fill out a form with your name, address, and contact information, and present your identification card.(Please do not forget your passport if you are traveling from abroad)
The fees are as follows.
■Kanaishi Suikankyo
If you ride the bicycle for 5 minutes (15 minutes if you walk) from Nagatoro Station, you will arrive at Kanaishi Suikakyo. Here you can enjoy the autumn leaves from all directions.
Address Ido, Nagatoro-machi Chichibu-gun, Saitama, 369-1312, Japan
■Tsukinoishimomiji Park
You can enjoy the bright red momiji (Japanese maple) at this park.
If you go at the right time, you can enjoy the combination with the yellow ginkgo trees.
The best time to see these leaves is when they are light up every year from the middle to the end of November.
The light up autumn leaves are very different from the daytime atmosphere, and looks very magical. Please come and spend a romantic night while looking at the beautiful autumn leaves light up by the moon.
Address 947, Nagatoro, Nagatoro-machi Chichibu-gun, Saitama, 369-1305, Japan
Official site https://www.nagatoro.gr.jp/en/sights/index.html
■Otofu Tokoro Umedaya
I had lunch at “Otofu Tokoro Umedaya”, famous for their tofu cuisine.
Their lunch menu only consists of the “tofu lunch”.
The ingredients change depending on what is in season. The picture is from the autumn lunch menu.
Please enjoy the delicious tofu cuisine inside the store where you can feel the warmth and harmony of Japan.
Next to the restaurant, they sell “okara tonyu donuts”.
Here they use lots of okara to make the donuts. Okara is the residue left over from the soybeans after squeezing the soy milk out when making tofu, and is low in sugar, low in calories, and high in dietary fiber.
These donuts make the best of the graceful deliciousness of tofu and therefore make a good souvenir.
Please come and visit Nagatoro during the autumn season to see the brightly colored red and yellow autumn leaves and delicious tofu dishes to satisfy both
your eyes and stomach.
Address 268, Nagatoro, Nagatoro-machi Chichibu-gun, Saitama, 369-1305, Japan
Official site http://nagatorotoufu.wixsite.com/umedaya
■Access
1. From the Nagatoro tourist association to Kanaishi Suikankyo
Leave the Nagatoro tourist association, and go across from the station.
Go across the train tracks and immediately turn left, and you should arrive in about 5 minutes if you are riding a bicycle. (about a 15 minute walk)
There will be a sign board for Kanaishi Suikankyo on the right side.
2. From Kanaishi Suikankyo to Otofu Tokoro Umedaya
Go back a little and make a right at the first crosswalk.
Cross the train tracks and turn left when you get onto the main street. If you ride for another 3 minutes, Otofu Tokoro Umedaya will be on the left hand side.
There is a place to park your bike in the back . (For details please ask the clerk)
3. From Otofu Tokoro Umedaya to Tsukinoishimomiji Park
Leave Otofu Tokoro Umedaya and turn left, then return to Nagatoro Station.
After you cross over the train tracks turn right, and ride your bicycle for another 5 minutes.
Tsukinoishimomiji Park will be on the left side, so park the bicycle next to the parking lot and enter the park.
