Toyokawa: Temples, River Nature and Regional Discoveries

Toyokawa offers a wide variety of discoveries: at Toyokawa Inari Temple, a thousand stone fox statues stand; Akatsukayama Park has a freshwater aquarium and gardens; and Ushino-taki lies amid a natural forest. There are also activities along the rivers and a local sushi brand with many variations of its own.

Toyokawa Inari: Temple and History

Toyokawa Inari is the commonly used name for Myogonji Temple, which belongs to the Sōtō Zen school. Reikozuka is home to 1,000 stone fox statues. This distinctive site is a good destination for anyone interested in temple culture and striking religious imagery. Toyokawa Inari is a five-minute walk from both JR Toyokawa Station and Meitetsu Toyokawa-Inari Station.

The Ohashiya building also tells a story about the history of travel: it is believed to have been built after the 1809 fire at Akasaka-juku and served as an inn for ordinary travelers during the Edo period. The temple and historic inn offer different glimpses into local history: religious tradition on the one hand, and the accommodation of travelers in those days on the other.

Park, Animals and Riverside Activities

Akatsukayama Park is home to Gyogyoland, a freshwater aquarium specializing in fish and other living creatures of the Toyokawa River. The same park also offers animal encounters, a water play area and several playgrounds. Families can spend time in the park in different ways: watching animals, playing in the water area or enjoying the playgrounds.

The gardens have their own distinctive features. The plum garden has 273 trees of 25 varieties, and there is also a garden with around 5,000 Japanese irises. With its aquarium, play areas and plants, the park offers different ways to enjoy nature and play. Within the city, you can also go hiking, play along rivers and fish. Depending on your interests, you can include either a more active outing or time by the water in your trip.

Waterfalls and Local Highlights

Ushino-taki consists of two waterfalls set amid a natural forest: the male waterfall is 10 meters high and 2 meters wide, while the female waterfall is 4 meters high and 4 meters wide. Their different dimensions give each waterfall its own character. Ushino-taki is also known as Jōryū Falls or Kōgyū Falls and is associated with the legend of the yellow ox.

Another local discovery is Toyokawa Inari Sushi. Many shops in Toyokawa offer this sushi brand, and each shop develops its own variations. If you want to explore regional cuisine, you can look out for different takes on the same local specialty rather than expect a single, fixed version.

Transport and Choosing Where to Stay

Toyokawa has two expressway interchanges, 19 train stations and bus routes. When choosing a holiday rental, you can start by considering which modes of transport will be useful for your trip. If Toyokawa Inari is a focus of your stay, the short walk to the temple from the two stations mentioned above is another practical point of reference. During your stay in Toyokawa, you can choose among cultural attractions, park and riverside experiences, and regional cuisine, depending on your interests.

The historic park at the Mikawa Kokubun-niji site hosts the modern lantern event “Tenpyo Roman no Yuube” every autumn. This seasonal event offers another opportunity to explore Toyokawa’s history and present-day culture, alongside its temples, nature and food.

More Destination Pages

More destination pages to help plan your trip: Komaki, Tōkai, Nagoya, Toei, Shinshiro, Handa, Seto and Inazawa.

For the overall travel guide: Aichi Prefecture.