Planning a trip to Kawaguchi Maple Leaf Corridor? Here's how to get there by bus and car, and information on crowd levels.

The Maple Corridor is a popular spot for viewing autumn foliage along the Nashikawa River on the northeastern shore of Kawaguchi, and its origins date back to the Taisho era. It is said to have started when local residents planted maple trees on the riverbank to prevent flooding of the Nashikawa River.

Currently, about 60 maple trees, some over 80 years old, line both banks of the Nashikawa River for approximately 150 meters, making it a popular spot for viewing autumn foliage. During the autumn foliage season, it becomes the venue for the "Fuji Kawaguchi Autumn Leaves Festival," with stalls selling food, souvenirs, and more.

The autumn foliage in the Maple Corridor is typically at its best from late October to mid-November.

During the day, you can stroll along the riverbank and admire the vibrant red and orange autumn leaves up close. In some spots, you can even see Mount Fuji beyond the colorful trees.

Additionally, the autumn leaves are illuminated at night during the Autumn Leaves Festival. The leaves, lit up by the lights, look as if they're on fire, creating a sight unique to the Maple Corridor at night. Many photos of this scene have been shared on social media.

If you plan to see the illuminations, be sure to bring a jacket or other warm clothing, as it can get quite cold at night.

The Momiji Corridor is a spot famous for its autumn foliage that stretches along the Nashigawa River in Fuji Kawaguchi and Lake Town Kawaguchi, starting near the southern side of Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. The area where maple trees line both banks of the Nashigawa River is commonly known as the “Momiji Corridor.”

During the autumn foliage season, not only the area around the maple corridor but also the buses running in the surrounding area become crowded.

The level of crowding varies depending on the weather, day of the week, and the state of the autumn foliage, but it tends to get particularly crowded between 10 am and 4 pm, so if you plan to visit during the autumn foliage season, be sure to allow plenty of time, including travel time.

Take the Kawaguchi Loop Bus (Red Line) from Kawaguchiko Sta. and get off at Itchiku Kubota Art Museum bus stop. The journey from Kawaguchiko Sta. to Itchiku Kubota Art Museum takes approximately 20 minutes, and buses run every 15 minutes.

Red Line buses are easily identifiable by their red "Red Line" sign. You can board them at platform 1 at Kawaguchiko Sta.. However, departure times and boarding locations may vary depending on the season and day of the week, so please check the notices posted in front of Kawaguchiko Sta. and the timetable on the day of your trip.

After getting off the bus at "Itchiku Kubota Art Museum," it's about a 5-minute walk from the bus stop to the Maple Corridor. Head towards Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, and while checking the signs in the area, head towards Nashikawa. The Maple Corridor is located along the Nashikawa River, so when you reach the riverbank, you will see an area lined with autumn leaves.

The P-Line is a route that runs from Kawaguchiko Sta., along the northern shore of Kawaguchi, towards Oishi Park, and also stops at the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum, which is the closest stop to the Momiji Corridor.

At Kawaguchiko Sta., just like with the Red Line, you can board the P-Line from bus stop number 1 at the bus terminal located right in front of the station exit. The P-Line runs from Kawaguchiko Sta. at approximately 90-minute intervals depending on the time of day. Since there are fewer buses than the Red Line, it's a good idea to check the timetable in advance if you plan to use it.

One of the features of the P-Line is that it allows you to extend your trip to Kawaguchiko Natural Life Center (Oishi Park) area in addition to the Momiji Corridor. After strolling through the Momiji Corridor, you can also use it to visit other tourist spots around Kawaguchi, such as Oishi Park and Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace.

It's about 6km from Kawaguchi Interchange to the Maple Leaf Corridor, and under normal circumstances, it takes about 10-15 minutes.

After exiting Kawaguchi Interchange, proceed along National Route 139 towards Kawaguchi. Turn right at the Higashikoji intersection towards Kawaguchi, and continue straight along the road until you cross Kawaguchi Bridge.

After crossing Kawaguchi Bridge, you'll proceed along the northern shore of Kawaguchi, passing by Kawaguchiko Museum of Art and the Kawaguchi Museum of Music and Forest. Continuing straight, you'll arrive at the Maple Corridor along the Nashikawa River, near Itchiku Kubota Art Museum.

There is no permanent parking lot at the Momiji Corridor, but temporary parking lots are set up around the venue during the Kawaguchi Autumn Leaves Festival. Some of these temporary parking lots are free, while others are subject to a fee.

On weekends and holidays when the autumn leaves are at their peak, parking lots tend to get crowded, and traffic jams occur on surrounding roads. Parking lots closest to the venue fill up first, so it's best to use nearby parking lots as well for a smoother experience.

Please note that the location and number of parking spaces may change depending on the year the event is held. For the latest information on parking locations and usage, please check the "Kawaguchi Leaves Festival" page on the Kawaguchi Town Tourism Information website.

During the autumn foliage season, roads around the Momiji Corridor tend to get congested. In particular, when the peak of the autumn foliage season coincides with weekends and holidays, tourists tend to concentrate from around 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and traffic jams can occur on roads leading to the venue from Kawaguchiko Sta. and Kawaguchi Ohashi Bridge.

Additionally, the area around the venue will be illuminated at night during the autumn foliage festival, so it will be crowded even in the evenings. If you are visiting by car, please note that travel time from Kawaguchi IC or the area around Kawaguchiko Sta. to the venue will vary greatly depending on the peak of the autumn foliage season, the day of the week, and the time of your visit.

The “Maple Tunnel” is a spot famous for its autumn foliage located on the north shore of the lake at Kawaguchi, in the Oishi area. As the name suggests, the maple trees lining the road extend their branches to create a tunnel-like scene. About 20 maple trees line the road, covering it, and you can enjoy the autumn foliage while driving through.

Unlike the Maple Corridor, this is a place where you can enjoy the autumn leaves from the roadside, so even though it's the same autumn foliage spot, the view is different.

[Address] Around Oishi, Kawaguchi machi, Minamitsuru-gun Yamanashi Prefecture

This art museum, themed around Mount Fuji, is located on the northern shore of Kawaguchi. From Kawaguchiko Sta., it's about a 15-minute ride on Kawaguchi Loop Bus (Red Line) to the "Kawaguchiko Museum of Art" bus stop.

You can admire paintings, prints, photographs, and other works featuring Mount Fuji. From the observation lounge inside the museum, you can also enjoy views of Kawaguchi, making it a great place to stop by and relax during your autumn foliage walk. A lakeside promenade called the "Kawaguchi Art Waterfront Promenade" is also maintained around the museum.

[Address] Yamanashi Prefecture Fuji, Minamitsuru District Kawaguchi Lake Town Kawaguchi 3170

Oishi Park is a lakeside park located on the northern shore Kawaguchi. It is known as a place where you can enjoy views of both Mount Fuji and Kawaguchi, and the park features a flower-lined path approximately 350 meters long.

In autumn, the kochia plants turn red, offering a different autumnal landscape than that of the maple leaves. This is also the perfect time to capture Mount Fuji, Kawaguchi, and the vibrant red kochia together in a photograph.

Next to Oishi Park is "Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace." This area features shops and sweets stores, making it a great place to stop for a meal or some shopping after enjoying the autumn foliage.

[Address] 2585 Oishi, Kawaguchi machi, Minamitsuru-gun Yamanashi Prefecture

This small cape juts out into the lake from the foot of Kawaguchi Bridge, offering a scenic spot where you can enjoy views of both Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji. On clear days, you can even see the "inverted Fuji" reflected on the lake's surface, making it one of Kawaguchi 's most representative photography spots.

From Kawaguchiko Sta., take Kawaguchi Loop Bus (Red Line) or P-Line from platform 1 and get off at the "Ubuya-mae" bus stop.

[Address] Yamanashi Prefecture, Kawaguchi machi Asakawa

This ropeway connects the shores of Kawaguchi to the summit of Mt. Tenjo in about 3 minutes. From the observation deck at an altitude of 1,075m, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchi. There are also observation spots at the summit, such as the "Bell of Heaven" and the "Spectacular Panoramic Corridor," where you can enjoy the scenery of Kawaguchi from various angles.

During the autumn foliage season, the area around Mt. Tenjo also turns colorful, offering a different perspective from the Momiji Corridor, allowing you to enjoy the autumn colors of Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchi from a unique viewpoint.

From Kawaguchiko Sta., take Kawaguchi Loop Bus (Red Line) or P-Line and get off at the "Pleasure boat/ropeway entrance" bus stop. If traveling by car, you can use the free prefectural parking lot on the shore of Kawaguchi.

[Address] 1163-1 Asakawa, Kawaguchi machi, Minamitsuru-gun Yamanashi Prefecture Prefecture