While looking for a day hike in Osaka a couple of Novembers ago, I chanced upon Minoh Falls (箕面大滝 Minō Ōtaki) and knew right away that it was a power spot I could not miss. I took the Hankyu Railway at Umeda Station and made a transfer at Ishibashi Station to the local Minoh Line for Hankyu Minoh Station (阪急箕面駅).
Minoh Falls: An autumn power spot
From Hankyu Minoh Station (often times spelled as Hankyu Mino-o Station), it’s a scenic walk to the waterfall, passing by family-run cafes and shops selling street food like yaki imo (焼き芋 baked sweet potatoes), taiyaki (たい焼き), and soft-serve ice cream.
The verdant green of the trees in summer had given way to resplendent reds and oranges of fall. It’s a beautiful stroll through the foliage with the refreshing cool autumn air gently nudging and enveloping you.
Minoh Falls (箕面大滝)
Address: Minoh-koen, Minoh-shi, Osaka 562-0002
Access: 40-minute walk from Hankyu Minoh Station (阪急箕面駅)
Katsuoji Temple: A hidden gem within the falls
Katsuoji Temple (勝尾寺) is a hidden gem that is approximately 4.5km from Minoh Falls. As there were no buses available, I made the trek by foot. The surrounding beauty of the landscape and companionship by fellow hikers made the journey worthwhile.
It was nature therapy at its best.
Daruma dolls of different sizes greeted me as I inched closer into the temple grounds. There were tiny dolls scattered around the temple complex, hidden in random nooks and crannies.
They are traditional Japanese talismans symbolising good luck and perseverance. It’s a sight to behold: some of them only have an eye coloured by their respective temple-goers… supposedly waiting for their wishes to come true someday.
It’s commonplace in Japanese temples and shrines to see fortune ornaments, okimono (置物) displayed. I certainly had fun chancing upon the daruma dolls in unexpected places!
Katsuoji Temple (勝尾寺)
Address: 2914-1 Aomatani, Minoh-shi, Osaka 562-8508
Access: 15-minute taxi ride from Hankyu Minoh Station (阪急箕面駅), or 30-minute bus ride (Hankyu bus 29) from Senri-chuo Station (Midosuji Subway Line, 御堂筋線)
After spending a fulfilling morning at Minoh Falls and Katsuoji temple, I joined a group of obaasan at the picnic benches, who were engaging in lighthearted chatter while I savoured the riceballs I bought from the convenience store at Minoh Station.
The hike to Minoh Falls is suitable for all ages, and makes for a lovely half-day trip out from JR Osaka Station to soak in the sights and sounds of autumn—a splendid season to be out hiking and connecting with nature, indeed.
Header image credit: Qiu Ting
