Nagoya day tour: Korankei Gorge, miso factory & Inari Shrine

Four stops across Aichi's nature, craft and shrine culture in one morning and afternoon

This eight and a half hour tour from Nagoya visits four landmarks across Aichi Prefecture: Toyokawa Inari Shrine (one of Japan's three major Inari shrines, with over 1,000 fox statues), a miso factory in Okazaki where you taste and eat lunch made with Hatcho Miso, Korankei Gorge with its 4,000 Japanese maple trees, and Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village where traditional craftspeople demonstrate blacksmithing, bamboo weaving and indigo dyeing. An English-speaking guide leads the tour. Admission, air-conditioned transport and the guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Aichi's nature, culture, and cuisine

• Tour Toyokawa Inari Shrine
• Shop at Toyokawa Omotesando street
• Visit Miso Factory and have lunch
• Walk Korankei Gorge and photograph scenery
• Explore Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village

The experience

The day starts at Toyokawa Inari Shrine, one of the "Big Three" Inari shrines in Japan alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Yutoku Inari in Saga. Your guide walks you through the shrine complex and the adjoined Buddhist temple, explaining the history and significance of the over 1,000 red-bibbed fox statues that guard the grounds. After the guided portion, you have time to explore on your own and photograph the site. The tour then stops at Toyokawa's Omotesando shopping street, a retro-feeling strip where you can buy Inari Sushi (vinegared rice wrapped in sweet and salty fried tofu), and browse local shops.

In Okazaki, you enter a working miso factory to learn how Hatcho Miso is made, the bold fermented paste Nagoya is known for. You taste the miso and then eat lunch cooked with it inside the factory itself. From there, the route heads to Korankei Gorge, where you walk through the landscape of Japanese maples. The gorge holds over 4,000 maple trees and is ranked among Japan's top three autumn foliage destinations, though each season brings its own character: wildflowers in spring, green canopy in summer, snow in winter. You'll see the iconic Tomoebashi Bridge and have time to photograph the 11 different maple varieties. The final stop is Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village, an open-air museum where artisans work at traditional crafts: blacksmithing, bamboo weaving, waraji straw sandal making and indigo dyeing. You explore the village at your own pace and watch the craftspeople at work.

What’s included

• The tour includes admission to Toyokawa Inari Shrine, the miso factory and Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village.
• air-conditioned transport throughout the day.
• lunch cooked with miso at the factory.
• and an English-speaking guide who leads the shrine tour and provides commentary at each stop.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and history without translation gaps. The eight and a half hour pace means you spend real time at each site (a guided walk at the shrine, a factory tour with tasting and lunch, a scenic walk through the gorge, and free exploration of the village) rather than quick photo stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is Toyokawa Inari Shrine and why is it significant?

Toyokawa Inari is one of Japan's three major Inari shrines, alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Yutoku Inari in Saga. The complex is home to over 1,000 fox statues dressed in bright red bibs, each one a guardian figure in the Shinto tradition. Your guide explains the shrine's history and Buddhist temple, then you have time to explore and photograph on your own.

What happens at the miso factory in Okazaki?

You tour a working Hatcho Miso factory to learn how the fermented paste is made. The bold flavor Nagoya is known for. The tour includes a tasting, and lunch is cooked with the miso and eaten inside the factory itself.

What makes Korankei Gorge worth visiting outside of autumn?

Korankei's 4,000 Japanese maple trees are most famous for autumn color, but the gorge changes with the seasons: wildflowers bloom in spring, the canopy turns vibrant green in summer, and snow creates romantic scenery in winter. You walk through the gorge, photograph the iconic Tomoebashi Bridge and see 11 different maple varieties.

What can you see artisans doing at Sanshu Asuke Yashiki Village?

Sanshu Asuke Yashiki is a living museum where traditional craftspeople work at their trades: blacksmithing, bamboo weaving, waraji straw sandal making and indigo dyeing. You explore the village at your own pace and watch the artisans at work.

What's included in the tour price?

Admission fees to all sites, an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day, and an English-speaking guide are included. Lunch at the miso factory is part of the experience. You'll need to budget separately for souvenirs and snacks at Toyokawa's shopping street.