Naruko: Peak Colors

By Joe MignanoOctober 29, 2020

Autumn colors abound with the season now in full swing all over northern and central Japan. The colors in these parts of the country are now moving down from higher elevations, where the season is now finishing up, to lower elevation areas where the season is just picking up this week.

After exploring Akita Prefecture's stunning Mt. Akita Komagatake and Nyuto Onsen last week, today I headed to southern Tohoku where I visited an autumn color favorite: Naruko Gorge. Located in the mountains about two hours by train northwest of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, the Naruko Gorge becomes carpeted in brilliant reds and yellow around late October every year.

Today, I was very pleased to find the gorge's foliage at its very best autumn coloring. It seems that the gorge only just reached its peak state recently, so I expect that they will remain quite lovely through next week and possibly the following weekend.

Approaching Nakayamadaira Onsen Station, the nearest train station to the gorge

Leaf watchers alighting a 'one-man car' at Nakayamadaira Onsen Station from where it's a 30-minute hike to the gorge

A famous Naruko Onsen kokeshi doll leading the way

Naruko Gorge at peak autumn colors today

A JR Rikuu East train entering the gorge

Everyone waiting for the JR Rikuu East train to enter the gorge

Autumn colors carpeting the mountains around the gorge

The Narukokyo Resthouse perched above the gorge (from the Ofukuzawa Bridge)

The iconic Ofukuzawa Bridge (from the Narukokyo Resthouse)

A festive atmosphere with plenty of food (and people)

Buses run hourly between the gorge, Naruko Onsen and Nakayamadaira Onsen

After taking in the colors at the Naruko Gorge, I took a bus to Naruko Onsen. This tiny onsen town is famous for kokeshi: a traditional hand-crafted wooden doll, usually simply colored with the face of a child. Kokeshi are made throughout the Tohoku Region, with several towns claiming their own unique variations.

The town is also, of course, famous for its hot springs. The most famous is the charming Taki no Yu, which features excellent milky-colored sulfuric water (300 yen).