Play in Kyoto! 8 locations to enjoy red maple leaves with your children

Red Leaves
京都紅葉鑑賞

Adults can enjoy the red leaves quietly, but children may feel a bit bored. This time we are going to introduce you some locations with red leaves and something interesting. Both adults and children can be satisfied undoubtedly.

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Umekoji Koen Park

Inside the park, there are the Kyoto Railway Museum and the Kyoto Aquarium. You can surely have a wonderful day. Standing on the black granite in the Suzaku no Niwa, you can see the reflection of red leaves on the pond with 1 cm depth only. Visitors can also stroll along the “Forest of Life” to observe the wild birds and insects. You can enjoy the melody of the nature with the red leaves. You can also go for a picnic on the grassland inside the park.Click here for more information[hr][/hr]

Monkey Park Iwatayama

It is a very well-known tourist spot in Kyoto. Visitors can enter the house surrounded with protective nets to feed the monkeys (avoid to be scratched or snatched). Standing on the leisure park of 160m altitude with sunlight, we can overlook at the whole Kyoto. There are also some playground facilities for the children. Let them release their energy! Here is very suitable for children to hike. We can also discover many red leaves at the same time.
Open hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm (1st October to 14th March) (Peak: 4:30pm)Fee: 550 Yen for high school, 250 Yen for secondary school

Address:

61 Arashiyama Nakaoshitacho Nishikyo-ku

  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Hankyu Railway, walk for 5 mins
  • Get off at Arashiyama station by Keifuku Electric Railroad Arashiyama Line, walk for 5 mins
  • Get off at Saga-Arashiyama station by Jr Sagano Line, walk for 15mins
  • Get off at Arashiyama bus stop by City bus, walk for 5mins
  • No car park. By showing the ticket to the car park near the Hankyu bus stop for 200 Yen discount.

Red maple leaves period: Late November to Early December

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Takaragaike Park

宝が池公園There is a “Children playground” in the east side of the park , with the games and activities to experience the nature on the first and third Saturday of each month. There are also some free games in the playground every Sunday. Since it is a bit far away from the centre of Kyoto, everyone can relax and enjoy the red leaves peacefully.Click here for more information[hr][/hr]

Okazaki Park

Okazaki ParkIt is located at the middle part of the pilgrimage’s path of Heian-Jingu Shrine Otorii Gate. Passing through the park, here is the Heian-Jingu Shrine. Although the park isn’t very big, the buildings nearby including ROHM Theatre Kyoto, Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, The National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto and Kyoto International Exhibition Hall (Miyakomesse) etc, all including are called Okazaki ParkKyoto City Zoo is also nearby, a very good place for family day. In 2015, a transparent tunnel under the zoo was launched for visitors. This is so exciting for both adults and children. Walking along the Okazaki Canal from Okazaki Park to Heian-Jingu Shrine, it is a wonderful place to admire the red leaves.
Opening hours: 24 hoursFee: Free

Address:

606-8342 Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Okazaki Saishojicho

  • Get off at Higashiyama station by Subway Tozai line.
  • Get off at Art gallery or zoo of Okazaki Park by City bus
  • Car park: In the park (with charge, total 506 cars)

Red maple leaves period: Early to Late November

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Funaoka Yama Park

It is located at a small hill of the Daitoku-Ji Temple at 112m altitude. During the Heian period, it is the important battlefield to protect the capital city Heian-kyo (Now Kyoto). Considering on the geographical factors, it is also the major position of western army in the Onin no Ran War.Visitors can go to the open area near Kenkun Shrine (worshipped by Oda Nobunaga) to enjoy the red leaves. There is a public bath house Funaoka Onsen and some shops selling roasted mocha located from the park to the pilgrimage’s path near Imamiya Shrine.
Opening hours: 24 hoursOffice in Kenkun Shrine: 9:00am to 5:00pmFee: Free

Address:

Kyoto, Kita, Murasakino Kitafunaokacho, 42

  • 市バス船岡山バス停下車または千本北大路バス停下車
  • 建勲神社の場合：市バス船岡山バス停下車または建勲神社前バス停下車
  • 駐車場なし

Red maple leaves period: Mid to Late November

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Amanohashidate View Land

It is located near Amanohashidate station. Visitors can go to the platform Matanozoki (Upside down looking through your legs) of the mountain by elevator or cable car. Children can play on different facilities like throwing stones, carousel, ferris wheel and bicycles. People can also enjoy the red leaves freely in autumn anywhere the park.If time permits, suggest take a bike from Amanohashidate View Land to Kasamatsu Park and go back to Amanohashidate station by sightseeing boat. You can also visit Nariaiji Temple near Kasamatsu Park to appreciate the red leaves. In 2017, there were the night lighten-up events for 2 days during the red leaves period.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 4:30pm ( 21 st October to 20th February)Fee (Entrance, elevator and cable car)850 Yen for secondary school, 450 Yen for primary schoolFree for child (0 year old to primary school), one adult with one child free, charged for the second child.

Address:

Kyoto-fu Miyazu-shi Jimonju

  • Get off at Amanohashidate station by Willer Trains, walk for 5mins.
  • Get off at Amanohashidate bus stop from Kyoto by Tango Kairiku Kotsu bus for 2 hours
  • Car park for 400 private cars near the Chionji Temple

Red maple leaves period:Early to Mid November

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Rurikei Valley

Rurikei ValleyIt is located 4km away from the Sonobe river valley. There are 12 sceneries along the Rurikei. We can admire the view of red leaves at the creek(錦繍巌) in autumn.There are the Rurikei Onsen hot spring, grassland park, barbeque area and accommodations nearby. Why not stay for few days?
Open hours: 24 hoursFee: Free

Addres

onobecho Okawachi

  • Get off at Sonobe station by JR San’in Line (Sagano Line), get on a Notan city bus followed by Hatta bus, get off at Rurikei bus stop.
  • Free car park at Rurikei onsen for 530 private cars

Red maple leaves period: Late October to Mid November

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Ono Dam Park

There are almost 500 maple trees near the Dam Lake. In November every year, there is a “Dam Maple Leaf Festival”(18th to 19th November 2017, 9:00am to 4:00pm). This lake is also named “Rainbow lake”You can go for a picnic on the Park or let the children play in the playground. You can also enjoy the golf and disc golf (frisbee golf) games at the weekend or on the holiday.
Opening hours: 24 hours Fee: free

Address:

Nakanoyama-48-5 Miyamacho Kashihara

  • Get off at Wachi station by JR San’in line, get on the Notan city bus and get off at Ono Dam bus stop

Red maple leaves periodEarly to Late November

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EpilogueThis time we introduce some location for children to enjoy the red leaves. These places are not so familiar to foreigners, so we can relax and enjoy the red leaves. If you like feeling of vacation, go now !