Kumamoto

<p>Fall color in Heike no Sato folk village</p>

Fall color in Heike no Sato folk village (Photo: Mandy Bartok)

Kumamoto

Autumn at Heike no Sato

Magnificent maples in the mountains of Gokanosho

Mandy Bartok Nov 10, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Fall color in Heike no Sato folk village</p>

<p>The entrance gate to Heike no Sato</p>

<p>The maples here are at their best in the first half of November</p>

<p>The ground is littered with a colorful carpet of momiji</p>

<p>Maples frame a thatched roof building on the grounds of the folk village</p>

<p>A performance stage at the folk park is framed by maple trees</p>

<p>The village is small and takes no longer than a half hour to explore</p>

<p>But the changing fall colors will leave you captivated and keep you there for hours</p>

The folk village of Heike no Sato, hidden away in the mountains of Kumamoto's Gokanosho region, recounts the history of the Heike clan and their flight from the Genji after the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. But the village's biggest draw is its stunning display of fall foliage. In early November, the area's many maples turn crimson and gold, making this one of Kyushu's top leaf-peeping destinations. However, the area's relative inaccessability means that even on autumn weekends, the crowds are never overwhelming.

Mandy Bartok

Mandy Bartok @mandy.bartok

Japan resident for 10 years, with time spent in Okinawa, Kumamoto and Tokyo.