The small city of Inuyama lies along the Kiso River at the northern tip of Aichi Prefecture, and is justly famed for its gorgeous fall foliage.

I started my visit at Inuyama Yuen Station, which is just over a half hour by Meitetsu train from Nagoya. From here you can go out the west exit and turn left to enjoy an easy and picturesque 15-minute stroll along the river to Inuyama Castle, but today my first destination was Momotaro Park, which lay in the opposite direction.

A fun way to get from Inuyama Yuen to Momotaro Park this time of year is by the Momotaro Koyosen boat service. To get to the ticket window and boarding point, go out the station's west exit, veer to the right at the bridge, and follow the path over the railroad tracks to the river.

During cormorant-fishing season (May through October), this is where spectators board the boats to go watch the birds in action from up close.

From November 15 to 30, though, the boats make special runs for enjoying the changing colors of the leaves on the trees along both banks of the river, and at expansive Momotaro Park as well.

Tickets are 500 yen for one-way travel to the park, which is about 20 minutes away.

Our guide for the trip was a young entertainer signed with owarai (comedy) talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo.

The leisurely ride afforded views of the trees on the banks whose colors were beginning to change...

...as well as an up-close look at ducks, cormorants, herons, sandpipers, and other waterfowl.

We soon reached Momotaro Park.

The park is dedicated to Momotaro, a character in Japanese folklore who sprang from a giant peach found floating in a river – in fact, the name "Momotaro" is often translated as "Peach Boy." The stories about him recount how he pacified demons with the help of some animal friends. Statues evoking characters and scenes from the tale are placed here and there throughout the spacious park amid the colorful trees, one of which looked like it might be a shiki-zakura – an unusual winter-blooming cherry.

At the heart of the park was Momotaro Jinja, a Shinto shrine, one of whose torii gate is unusual in having the shape of a peach...

...as are some of the ema votive plaques left by visitors.

The shrine also features a room where books, toys, figures, and other Momotaro-themed articles are on display.

The nearby mountaintop temple of Jakkoin was my next destination, about a 40-minute walk from the park, going downstream along the river.

On the way there I spotted another boat like the one I'd ridden as it was headed upstream.

Getting to the temple at the summit involved walking up some mountain paths and roads, then climbing a series of stone stairways – 320 steps in all.

About halfway up, there's also a small cable car to take you the rest of the way, if you're willing to deal with the long line to ride – the car can carry only six people at a time. The fee for a one-way ride is 200 yen.

I elected to keep on walking, the better to enjoy the foliage..

Placed on the hillside along the stone stairs were numerous small Jizo statues, many wearing their characteristic bibs.

Jakkoin is well-known for its many maple trees, and the colors of their changing leaves certainly were lovely.

At the summit, in addition to the temple's main hall, there were more pretty leaves, as well as a lookout point with views of Inuyama and the surrounding mountains.

There was also a bell tower…

...and a statue of Kukai – Kobo-Daishi – the ninth-century founder of the Buddhist sect that Jakkoin is affiliated with.

Back halfway down, I stepped inside a temple building and found a counter with amulets and other items available to visitors who make an offering. I put 500 yen in the collection box and received an amulet for a snake – the Chinese zodiac totem for the year I was born. It made a nice souvenir to remember the day!