The Kokufu Maple Viewing Area (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)

2022.11.11

Joetsu CityKokufu MomijienAutumn leaves

The Kokufu Maple Garden in Kokufu, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, was open to the public as the maple trees turned color and attracted many visitors on the 10th.

Red-colored maple trees. The Kokufu Maple Garden has been open to the public since Mr. Shiro Sugisawa started to maintain the hill behind his house more than 30 years ago.

Currently, 350 large and small maple trees of 30 different types are planted on an approximately 1 hectare site.

In the warm weather on the 10th, many people visited the maple garden and enjoyed the reddish maple trees.

Visitor
‘Excellent. The green in the red. The panoramic view of the city below is also good. I think the colors are especially beautiful this year. I come here every year. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad, but this year is the best.”

From the top of the maple garden, the urban area of Joetsu City can be seen.

According to Mr. Sugisawa, last year the intense summer heat damaged the leaves, but this year, the cool mornings and evenings have not caused any damage, and the coloring is better than usual.

Shiro Sugisawa, Kunifu Maple Garden
Mr. Shiro Sugisawa, the owner of Kokufu Maple Garden, said, “Since I was young, I have been obsessed with vermilion maple trees, and I have maintained the current maple trees. The beauty is unprecedented in recent years. I think it is in perfect condition. I would like to continue to maintain the garden to make it the only one of its kind in the region.”

The maple trees will be at their best around the 15th. After that, visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage at lower elevations.

The park will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until the 23rd of this month.

About 1,000 people visit the maple garden each day.

Mr. Sugisawa says, “Since parking is limited, we encourage people to bring their cars along when they visit.

This video was taken on November 18, 2020. Please take a look at this one as well!