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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Asuke
足助
Asuke is a half-day trip from Toyota or Nagoya for the Korankei Gorge and the old post-town streets. One night only if you want a slow walk and an onsen.
Asuke, a former post town in the hills of Toyota, preserves black-board houses and white-walled warehouses. The main draw is Korankei Gorge, famous for autumn leaves in November. Most visitors come for a few hours; an overnight stay is quiet but limited.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 足助
- Best months
- Nov (autumn colours), Apr–May (spring), Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (cold, fewer services)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–15,000 excl. bed · High ¥15,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Toyota → Asuke (one way) | ¥800 |
| Bus Nagoya (Akaike) → Asuke (via Josui) | ¥890 (subway + Meitetsu + bus) |
| Sanshu-Asuke Yashiki entry | ¥500 |
| Asuke Castle entry | ¥300 |
| Coffee at a local café | ¥400–600 |
| Noodle bowl | ¥800–1,200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NGO · Chubu Centrair
- Meitetsu limited express to Nagoya, then subway and bus to Asuke; about 2 h
Typical fares
- Bus Toyota → Asuke
- ¥800, about 30 min (check)
- Bus Nagoya (Akaike) → Asuke
- about ¥890, about 1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable: the old town and Korankei Gorge are within a 15-minute walk. Buses from Toyota and Nagoya stop at Korankei and Asuke.
See and do
Known for
- Korankei Gorge
- Asuke Castle
- Sanshu-Asuke Yashiki
- Post-town streetscape
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Korankei Gorge | Walk from Asuke town centre, about 10 min | 10 min |
| Toyota city | Bus from Asuke, about 30 min | 40 min |
| Nagoya | Bus to Toyota, then subway/Meitetsu, about 1.5 h | 1.5–2 h |
Sleep
- Asuke town centre
- A few minshuku and ryokan near the gorge; book ahead in November.
- Toyota city
- More choices and easier bus access; 30–40 min by bus.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうarigatō |
| How much? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the bus stop? | バス停はどこですか？basutei wa doko desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- November weekends are very crowded; arrive before 10:00.
- Last bus from Asuke to Toyota is around 18:00 (check).
- Cash only in many small shops and eateries.
Very safe. Watch for uneven stone paths and traffic on narrow streets during leaf season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Asuke yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Korankei Gorge
- Asuke Castle
- Sanshu-Asuke Yashiki
- Post-town streetscape
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Asuke, revision 5155336 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5155336
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Asuke足助
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US consulate in Nagoya; most other countries: consulates in Nagoya or Osaka, embassies in Tokyo.
Cash is king in Asuke; bring enough yen.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/asuke). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.