Minoh Park: A Natural Escape Near Osaka

Minoh Park is the closest national park to Osaka. It is about a 3-kilometer walk from Minoh Station to the main attraction of the park, Minoh Waterfall. You can enjoy a leisurely hike while taking in the surrounding scenery, which includes lovely trees and clear rivers. If you're lucky, you might even spot red-faced monkeys in the park, allowing you to enjoy some fresh air and connect with nature. Along the way, there are many vendors selling fried maple leaves tempura. We bought some to try, and they were very crispy. There's also an insect museum in the park. I guess many different types of insects have been discovered here, but we didn't see any visitors going in. The final highlight of the hike is the waterfall. The sound of the rushing water and the visual treat of the rainbow at the base of the waterfall were the grand finale of our hike. Most visitors to this park are Japanese, and it's wonderful to spend half a day in this national park, especially after experiencing the crowds and hustle and bustle of Osaka (especially Dotonbori!). The path to the waterfall is paved, making it very easy to climb and perfect for joggers and outdoor enthusiasts. There are stalls selling drinks and food, especially grilled fish, near the waterfall. The weather was great that day, making it perfect for an outdoor hike! From Osaka Umeda Station, take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line to Ishibashi Handai-mae Station, then transfer to the Hankyu Minoh Line to Minoh Station.