Spectacular Fall Colours of Yoro Keikoku

"Autumn is a second spring 

when every leaf is a flower."

Albert Camus

French Nobel Prize winning author, journalist, and philosopher

The three Chiba Kun Ambassadors, all-set to discover the beauty of Yoro Keikoku.

Chiba Prefecture is blessed with numerous spots where visitors get to enjoy gorgeous autumn foliage; and one of the most spectacular places to view the autumn artwork in full splendor is Yoro Keikoku (養老渓谷). Yoro Keikoku is a rugged, lush valley carved over centuries by the Yoro River, located in the central Bōsō Peninsular of Chiba Prefecture, between Otaki Town and Ichihara City.

On November 24, 2013, the Chiba Kun Ambassadors had the pleasure of visiting Yoro Keikoku as part of the third tour of the year. Cherry blossom or sakura may be the centre of attraction during spring here in Japan. Come autumn, it is the season which offers the special delight of the changing of the colour of the leaves. From a wide array of brilliant yellow, mellow orange and bright crimson red of the Japanese maple (momiji), this is the seasonal sight that is longed for. It is a display of a myriad of colours before the coming winter.

Not many leaves had turned their colours yet when we started our hiking.

However, slowly but surely, we were greeted with beautiful autumn foliage.

The sunlight shining through the colurful momiji leaves.

Hello! Watashi-wa Chiba Kun Taishi desu lol!

Steep densely forested hills surround Yoro Keikoku, as the picturesque Yoro River carves its way into the Pacific Ocean. The valley has the Osawamata-no-taki Falls, often called Maboroshi-no-taki, or the mirage waterfalls. The best and most popular spot in this region however, is the Awamata-no-taki Falls (粟又の滝), located in the mountains about 4 kilometers upstream. With a height of 30 meters and clear water running over a distance of 100 meters down stair-shaped rocks, this waterfall is the biggest waterfall in Chiba. This earned the waterfall it praise for its resemblance to silk cloth spreading out from the top of the mountain.

Yoro Keikoku is well known as the slowest spot in Kanto region, where you get to enjoy the breathtaking sight of yellow, orange and striking crimson red leaves. Local tourism association holds a momiji festival every year in late November to celebrate the spectacular autumn foliage. During this period, there are also light-ups held at certain spots and this gives visitors the chance to enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage at night.

 Sometimes, I just lost for words to describe the beauty of the autumn leaves.

And the magical view is reflected on the crystal clear river.

You can choose to enjoy the magnificent autumn foliage either looking up or down the river, because both looks equally great.

Apt to its name, there are several little waterfalls along the "Taki-meguri" course.

There are several courses where visitors can choose from to enjoy the autumn foliage in Yoro Keikoku, namely the "Taki-meguri" course (滝めぐりコース), which is approximately 4 kilometers, the "Bungalow-mura & Kōbundōato" course (バンガロー村・弘文洞跡コース), approximately 7.4 kilometers and the "Daifukuzan & Umegase" course (大福山・梅ヶ瀬コース), approximately 9.6 kilometers. Disappearing down one of the trails, one can experience entering the world of nature far removed from the mega metropolis of Tokyo.

The "Taki-meguri" course is one of the most common course taken by visitors. It is a 1.7-kilometer walkaway, which has been constructed on the west bank of the river. Here, visitors can enjoy the sound of the stream flowing down from the mountain, as they stroll along the Yoro River. This spot is especially crowded during autumn, as visitors get to view the beautiful autumn leaves.

This is the course we took on the day (source).

 As we head to the end to see the highlight of the place, we just could not get enough of the magical sight surrounding us.

Blazing red momiji looks great when the sunlight shines upon them.

However, the steps going down to the walkway from the Awamata-no-taki bus stop is rather steep (and slippery on raining days) and might not be friendly to children and the elderly. Also, as Yoro Keikoku is one of the most popular spots for autumn foliage viewing during its peak season in late November, it is recommended that you avoid the weekends. Alternatively, if your schedule only permits you to visit the place during the weekends, it is advisable to go early, ahead of the tour groups who normally reach there by ten in the morning.

Finally, I'd be remiss not to mention the numerous hot springs (onsen) in the Yoro Keikoku area, some of the best in all of Chiba Prefecture. Here, you can relax in a hot natural mineral bath after you day out hiking, or spend the night at some. In fact, after your hike you should relax your aching feet in the free hot spring foot-bath (ashiyu, 足湯) at Yoro Keikoku station. Another unique thing about the hot spring in this area, also known as the Yoro Keikoku hot spring village, is the onsen with black-coloured water (kuroyu, 黒湯). In addition, there are also sites for outdoor activities such as fishing, barbecues and camping, where you may want to set aside time to enjoy yourselves.

And finally, the long-awaited Awamata-no-taki (栗又の滝), at the end of the course.

In a nutshell, despite of its remote location, hidden in the middle of Chiba prefecture, Yoro Keikoku is indeed a lovely place to experience nature's artwork in full splendor, and get off the beaten track at any time of the year, especially during the amazing autumn season.

|| INFORMATION ||

Yoro Keikoku
Taki-meguri Course (滝めぐりコース): Approximately 4 kilometers.
Bungalow-mura & Kōbundoōato Course (バンガロー村・弘文洞跡コース): Approximately 7.4 kilometers.
Daifukuzan & Umegase Course (大福山・梅ヶ瀬コース): Approximately 9.6 kilometers.
Parking spaces: Available
Tel: 0436-22-8355 (Ichihara Tourist Association) (closed on Monday)
Tel: 0470-80-1146 (Otaki Tourist Association) (closed on Monday)
Website: http://www.youroukeikoku.com/ (Japanese only) (Yoro Keikoku Sightseeing Association)
Access:
Train:
※ Tokyo station (東京駅) to Goi station (五井駅) (approximately 60 minutes), on JR Keiyo Line and JR Uchibō Line (limited express) (JR京葉線 & JR内房線), and then Goi station (五井駅) to Yoro-keikoku station (養老渓谷駅) (approximately 60 minutes), on Kominato Line (小湊鉄道)
※ Ohara station (大原駅) to Kazusa-nakano station (上総中野駅) (approximately 60 minutes), on Isumi Line (いすみ鉄道), and then Kazusa-nakano station (上総中野駅) to Yoro-keikoku station (養老渓谷駅) (approximately 8 minutes), on Kominato Line (小湊鉄道).
Car:※ From Tokyo, exit Ichihara IC (市原IC) (via Tateyama Expressway, 館山自動車道), take Route 297 and Route 81 (via Ushiku, 牛久) to Yoro-keikoku.
※ From Kanagawa, exit Kisarazu IC (木更津IC) (via Tokyo Bay Aqualine, 東京湾アクアライン), take Route 410 and Route 32 (via Kururi, 久留里) to Yoro-keikoku.

Siti Nurhaliza At ASEAN-Japan Music Festival 2013

“Ehh, tinggi-nyer. Umur brape?”

first comments from Siti

upon meeting her

 The program book of the evening.

There is a saying that dreams sometimes come true when you least expect it. And indeed it happened to me a fortnight ago. Thanks to ASEAN Youth Network in Japan (AYNJ), I had the privilege to attend the ASEAN-Japan Music Festival in NHK Hall in Tokyo. This music festival was held in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of friendly relationship between Japan and ASEAN countries, and also to support the Japan-ASEAN Special Summit to be held this month in Tokyo, where the state leaders from all the ten ASEAN countries are invited to discuss about political and economic, as well as cultural exchange between Japan and ASEAN countries.

As such, top artists from participating countries were invited to this music festival, which was more than just music entertainment. The unique culture and traditional costumes of each representing countries were introduced to encourage further understanding between one another. Among the VIP present was the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe who gave a welcoming speech at the opening of the music festival. This is the second time I saw a Japanese Prime Minister in real-life, after Mr Yukio Hatoyama several years back.

The best of the best artists from ASEAN countries and Japan graced the stage on the special evening (photo source).

Representing Japan in this music festival were EXILE, w-inds and AKB48. As for Malaysia's representative, it was none other than Siti Nurhaliza, one of the most successful artists Malaysia has ever produced. To watch these world class artists (read: EXILE and Siti Nurhaliza) performing on the same stage is not something you get to witness often. Besides, part of the ticket donation collected would be used to invite junior and high school students from the tsunami affected regions in Tohoku to this music festival, and also to promote the Japanese boom to the international community.

To get the ticket however, was much more difficult than I thought. It was a lottery system and only lucky individuals will get the chance to attend this festival. My entry was did not make the cut. However, AYNJ was my saviour as they have 30 free limited tickets for representatives from ASEAN countries to attend this music festival.

 

The ticket is sold at 6,000 yen, but the experience was unforgettably priceless.

The opening was AKB48 but to be honest, I am not a fan AKB48. Sorry all AKB48 fans. Well, it was great to see them performing live with quite extreme level of kawaii-ism but that was not the show I was anticipating on the evening.

After the artists from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos entertained the crowd with their respective songs and performances, finally it was Siti's turn to grace the stage. Light on the stage were dimmed and moments later, Siti stepped into the stage, wearing an elegant-looking dark blue kebaya. I have seen her gracing the singing stage down the years, ever since the years where she ruled the Juara Lagu in the late 90's and early 2000's, but that evening was the first time I saw her live.

 I was lucky enough to get Siti to personally autograph this page for me!

That very moment, you can feel the powerful charisma this singer holds, that people surrounded her are enlightened with her presence. For the next ten minutes, we were entertained by this talented singing queen who belted three songs - "Biarlah Rahsia", "Koibiyo Yo" and "Nirmala". I may sound biased here, but she certainly blew the stage. It just get people of the seat and wanting to hear more from her. With no disrespect to the other singers from other countries, which I thought they were good. However, Siti was simply a par above them. She was simply great.

I am proud to say that Malaysia can boast to have produced such internationally recognized talent in Siti, which is not only limited to singing but she is also a composer and producer, and occasionally a host for talk shows. Yet, despite her immense success, Siti is well-known as a simple and down-to-earth person. Siti presents herself in a moderate manner in public but she still invokes an elegant and powerful charm. Her dressing sense represents the eastern values she holds dearly.

 Havoc at the backstage as we intruded the place in search for Siti after the show lol!

It may sound exaggerative but getting to watch Siti performing in Tokyo on that evening was one of the beautiful things that I will treasure for a long time. But the evening did not stop there. 

Presenting ourselves as the representatives from the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo, we managed to sneak into the backstage to meet Siti personally. That was one thing that was not in our plan. And despite not knowing who we were, Siti greeted us with a sweet smile and we managed to have a short conversation with her. As I approached her to have a photo taken, she smiled and commented, "Ehh, tinggi-nyer. Umur brape?" ("Wow, you’re so tall. How old are you?").

 Siti whispered to me, "Hey lets pose for peace sign!" as we were to take this shot hahaha! (photo credit: Cliff)

Thank you Siti for the wonderful performance and arigato AYNJ, especially Ruiz, Chi Wern and Watanabe-san, for giving me a chance to witness a wonderful show on the evening of November 28, 2013.