Toyokawa: Temples, Nature and History

Toyokawa offers a variety of attractions, including religious history, nature and local food culture. As you look for a hotel, you can start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your stay: Toyokawa Inari, the grounds of Akatsukayama Park, Ushino-taki waterfall or the local Toyokawa Inari Sushi brand. The following features can help you narrow down your interests before choosing a hotel offer.

Getting oriented and arriving

Toyokawa has two highway interchanges, 19 train stations and bus routes. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether to travel by car, train or bus. Toyokawa Inari is a five-minute walk from both JR Toyokawa Station and Meitetsu Toyokawa-Inari Station. Check this walking time before your visit.

Temples and local history

Ohashiya is believed to have been built after the fire at Akasaka-juku in 1809. During the Edo period, it served as an inn for ordinary travelers. Toyokawa Inari, officially known as Myogonji, offers another point of cultural and historical interest: the temple belongs to the Sōtō Zen school. The Reikozuka at Toyokawa Inari contains 1,000 stone fox statues. Toyokawa thus brings together different aspects of local history: Ohashiya’s former role as an inn and the temple’s religious identity and group of statues.

Akatsukayama Park: aquarium, play areas and gardens

Akatsukayama Park is home to Gyogyoland, a freshwater aquarium focused on fish and other living creatures of the Toyokawa River. The park also offers opportunities to meet animals, a water play area and several playgrounds. Visitors particularly interested in river life can explore the aquarium, while the animal encounters and play areas offer other ways to enjoy the park.

The gardens offer a variety of highlights, too. The plum garden has 273 trees representing 25 varieties, while another garden is home to about 5,000 Japanese irises. Viewing conditions vary by season, so the timing of your visit will affect how the plantings look.

Waterfall and outdoor activities

Ushino-taki is set amid natural forest. The waterfall consists of a 10-meter-high, 2-meter-wide male waterfall and a 4-meter-high, 4-meter-wide female waterfall. The male waterfall is therefore taller and narrower, while the female waterfall is lower and wider. Ushino-taki is also known as Jōryū Waterfall or Kōgyū Waterfall and is associated with the legend of the yellow ox.

Beyond individual attractions, Toyokawa also offers hiking, riverside play and fishing. Options range from walking to activities on the water.

Autumn event and local food culture

Each autumn, the modern lantern event “Tenpyo Roman no Yuube” takes place at the Historic Park at the Mikawa Kokubun-niji site. If the event is a deciding factor in your trip, check the dates for the relevant autumn season.

Toyokawa Inari Sushi is a local brand offered by many shops in Toyokawa. Each shop creates its own variations. The name therefore refers to a shared local brand, while the specific version varies from shop to shop.

Discover more destinations: Hekinan, Kitashitara, Ama, Kitanagoya, Higashiura, Inuyama, Ōbu, Toyone

For the broader travel overview: Aichi Prefecture.