One-day red leaf viewing tour from Osaka

Every November and December, Kansai locals and tourists head to Kyoto’s famous temples and gardens to enjoy the fall colors. Although Osaka isn’t as popular for its autumn foliage, it does have its own set of picturesque spots. Minoh City — just a short train ride from downtown Osaka — offers delightful autumn scenery.

Minoh is a small city at the foot of the Kitayuki Mountains in northern Osaka. It is known for its rich natural beauty and peaceful residential areas, and is home to a large number of foreigners due to the city’s proximity to Osaka University and other educational institutions. The city is also a vast home Meiji Forest Minoh Quasinational Parkwhere visitors will find Minoh Park and the much-loved Minoh Falls.

Minoh Falls

Minoh’s treasured landmarks and landmarks of the same name

Minoh Falls is rated as one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan and is suitable for all seasons. Its gently curved peak is said to resemble a traditional farm implement called a dustpan – rice Japanese – and shaped the name of Minoh City. The aura of the waterfall attracted many influential figures and artists, including feudal lord Oda Nobunaga and haiku master Matsuo Basho.

autumn wonderland

The falls are at their most stunning in late November to early December, when they are surrounded by a lush canopy of bright reds, burnt oranges and golden yellows. At its base, a traditional Japanese bridge arches over the river, echoing the deep red of the maple leaves fluttering overhead.

Visitors can hike to the waterfall along a paved path from Minoh Station, which takes about 45 minutes. Along the way, check out shops selling souvenirs and local specialties, such as maple tempura (supposedly originated from fried Japanese maple leaves some 1,300 years ago).

These candies are made from yellow autumn leaves Thich Hanh Temple The maple production process takes more than a year and involves harvesting the leaves, preserving them with salt, hand-picking the undamaged leaves, and finally frying and seasoning the leaves. One of the most famous shops is Hisakunikosendo, located in front of the station exit.

As you wander the area, keep an eye out for Japanese macaques, which can often be seen hanging out on the trails and around the waterfalls. But while you may be tempted to give them some treats, don’t: Feeding monkeys is prohibited.

Katsuo-ji Temple

Bodhidharma clan

Just walk up the mountain from Minoh Falls Katsuo-ji TempleIt is another precious local leaf viewing spot, its main feature is: hundreds of Bodhidharma dolls. This Buddhist temple covers an area of ​​over 260,000 square meters to grant Kachi Cloud – Winner’s Luck – Help customers who are about to face an important test, job interview or other challenge.

The temple’s reputation for helping patrons overcome adversity stems from its name, which is written in Chinese characters meaning “victory” or “victory” (win) and the Chinese characters for “tail” (oh). Interestingly, the “o” in “Katsuo-ji” was originally written with the kanji “sovereignty” (or), was named “the temple above the monarch” in the ninth century after the temple’s prayers cured Emperor Seiwa (850-881 AD). The temple eventually adjusted its name, replacing the “ou” in “Zong” with a Chinese character that closely matched the pronunciation.

Bodhidharma Every nook and cranny of the temple grounds is decorated with dolls of various sizes, and seeing how many you can spot is a fun activity in itself. These Win the rolyor “Victory Bodhidharma”, is unique to Katsuoji Temple and has the Chinese character “Victory” on its belly.

pray for victory

In order to realize your wish – whether it’s passing the JLPT N1 test or successfully proposing to your girlfriend – you must first purchase a blank-eyed Daruma doll and write your immediate goals on the back. The bottom of the doll is for writing your broader goals. (For example, you could write “Via JLPT N1” on the back and “Move to Japan” on the bottom.)

After praying with a few sticks of incense, place the roly-poly doll on top of the cigarette and fill one of its eyes with a marker. Once your wish is fulfilled, fill the other eye and return to the temple to place your Dharma doll on the special offering stand.

There is also a tumbler enshrined in the temple short (Falling fortunes). If you are looking for guidance on a specific situation or aspect of life, choose a mini daruma doll with a mikuji. After the fortune telling, these little dolls can be placed anywhere on the temple grounds or taken home as souvenirs. The temple gift shop sells many other quirky Dharma-themed gifts, snacks, and more.

Where to eat in Minoodle

Yuzuya

There is no shortage of charming cafes and restaurants in the station and park area, especially along the path to the waterfall. An atmospheric option by the river is Yuzuya, a cafe and restaurant run by food activist Hiroaki Ukita. The building was originally a ryokan from the Meiji period and was restored in 2020. The first-floor café features patio seating and serves casual meals, cakes, homemade yuzu butter toast and a variety of beverages.

For those looking for a fancier meal, the second floor houses Yuzuya a Table Ukita, a reservation-only sustainable French restaurant. Chef Ukita focuses on Japanese fermentation techniques and healthy ingredients. Close to the falls, there is a smaller Yuzuya shop selling snacks, soft-serve ice cream and hot drinks.

Hetangjiji

Riverbed Jiji is the riverside kaiseki The historic restaurant dates back to the Meiji era. With outdoor seating only, the restaurant is only open from late April to late October/early November, giving guests the opportunity to taste elegant kaiseki style cuisine Kinai Bento favorites such as sashimi, pickles, tempura, and salt grilled dishes Ayu Enjoy the fresh air of autumn and the peaceful waters of the Minoh River while enjoying sweetfish. Due to limited seating, reservations are required at least one day in advance. Hours depend on month, fall hours are noon to 4 p.m.

Yamamoto Cafe

For coffee lovers as well as retro enthusiasts, Yamamoto Café is the ideal place for refreshments. Yamamoto is a famous specialty coffee brand founded in the 1950s. This particular location offers classic kisaten-Style food and drink: sandwiches, curries, desserts and steaming coffee from antique pots. The café’s cozy interior is perfect for chilly autumn days, and outdoor tables are available for those who want to enjoy a drink in the forest breeze.

Travel recommendations

this Minoh Takimichi one-way sightseeing shuttle bus Stops at various attractions in Minoh, including Minoh Falls and Katsuoji Temple. One-day ticket (unlimited rides) costs 2,000 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children.

For fall color predictions, check out Minoh Park’s autumn leaves report.

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