If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Osaka City and get back to nature, consider coming to Minō / Minoo / Minoh city (箕面市). It is in Osaka prefecture, less than 30 minutes by the Hankyū Train from Umeda Station (梅田駅)! Right next door to Minō is Ikeda city (池田市) which has the tree-covered peak of Satsukiyama (五月山), which offers a panoramic view of the Osaka plain. But in terms of sheer beauty, Minoh Park and the magnificent Minoh Falls probably outrank the view from the top of Satsukiyama.
If Satsukiyama is the symbol for Ikeda City, then Minoh Park (箕面公園) represents Minō City. Within the 9.6 km² grounds, there are a couple of must-visit attractions when you hike through the park. In addition to the scenic Minoh Park, other destinations can also be easily assessed by public transport. We have included them in the list below (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
A List of Attractions in Minō city
- Momiji no Ashiyu (もみじの足湯)
- Minoh Kanko Hotel (大江戸温泉物語 箕面観光ホテル)
- Minoh Park (箕面公園)
- Katsuo-ji Temple (勝尾寺)
- Cherry Blossom At Todoromi (止々呂美)
- Nakamasaen (中政園)
Momiji no Ashiyu (もみじの足湯)
Important: Momiji no Ashiyu has been closed. If it is open again in the future, we will update this article.
After a hard day’s exploring the outdoors, before catching your train home or to your next destination, Momiji no Ashiyu foot spa is perfect for relaxing and soothing those tired muscles (^_-)-☆.
It only costs 150 yen to enjoy the foot spa. You will also receive a little fresh towel to dry your feet, and you can take it home!
The spa is open from 10 am to 4 pm, Fridays to Wednesdays. Note that if Thursday is a public holiday, the spa will be closed the next business day.
Please note that in November, the spa is open every day to ensure that those who come to the city for its famous autumn foliage have a perfect experience at Minoh!
Minoh Kankō Hotel (大江戸温泉物語 箕面観光ホテル)
Minoh Kankō Hotel features a re-creation of a typical Japanese summer festival (minus the food stalls and fireworks, of course). This gives you a feel for what a traditional Japanese summer festival is like, without the heat and humidity!
Tatami mats are common in traditional ryokans. At Minoh Kankō Hotel, however, tatami mats are also in their Oto no Yu (音ノ湯) and Taki no Yu (滝音ノ湯)!
There is a curious, pleasant, cushion-like feel when walking across these tatami mats – the sensation is hard to describe, but if you are visiting the hotel, we think it is worthwhile to try these mats a try!
In addition, the hotel has private baths you can rent for extra charges. While the hot water in the tub isn’t onsen, it is still good to have some privacy if it bothers you to bathe naked with strangers.
Whilst an overnight stay at Minoh Kanko Hotel gives you access to all the facilities, such as enjoying an onsen in the open roof area, if you are not a guest, you can only drop by during the daytime (or at night, which will be cheaper albeit you get less time to explore).
Important: if you are vegetarian, please note that dinner and breakfast are buffet-style with limited vegetarian options. The hotel doesn’t cater to special dietary requirements but will allow you to bring your own food. Please let the hotel know if you need to do so when booking.
Access to Minoh Kankō Hotel
The hotel is just a 3-minute walk from Minoh Station.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Minoh City.
Minoh Park (箕面公園)
Whether you are a regular visitor or are discovering Minoh Park for the first time, the Takimichi Hiking Course (滝道ハイキングコース) should be on your itinerary.
Completed in 1886, this well-maintained 2.7 km course (which takes around 40 – 50 minutes) starts at Hankyū Minoh Station (阪急箕面駅) and ends at the spectacular Minoo Falls (箕面大滝).
This is a great hiking course for the family, with lots of great photo opportunities, shops, and restaurants to enjoy along the way. Best of all – there are no steep slopes!
For more information, please refer to our article about Minoh Park.
Katsuo-ji Temple (勝尾寺)
Whether it is a competition, a match, a game, or just a bet – if you want to win, come to Katsuo-Ji Temple!
The temple, which has a beautiful precinct, is filled with Daruma Dolls of various sizes offered by pilgrims who had their wishes granted.
For more information about this interesting temple, please refer to our article on Katsuo-ji!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Minoh City.
Cherry Blossom at Todoromi (止々呂美)
Another great place to enjoy the cherry blossom apart from Katsuo-Ji Temple is Todoromi (there are a couple of trees in Minoh Park as well).
From early April, various types of cherry blossom trees in the mountain of Todoromi will start to bloom. Come before the flowers become just a pink carpet on the floor in late April!
If you are going to Todoromi by Hankyu Bus from Senri-chūo Station, you can take bus routes 1, 21 to 25, and 27 and get off at Hakushimakita Bus Stop (白島停留所).
Nakamasaen (中政園)
From July to the beginning of November, those who love mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and shiitake mushrooms, will want to drop by Nakamasaen for some vegetable and mushroom picking!
The farm also offers a mushroom barbeque with rice and other ingredients included. In autumn, you can enjoy rice with chestnuts on top!
Whilst different activities at the farm come with different price tags, starting from as little as 1,380 yen for shiitake mushroom picking, you can bring back some really fresh products to add to the number of dishes for dinner (^_-)-☆.
A List of Activities at Nakamasaen
- Summer Shiitake Picking: 400 yen entry fee + 800 yen activity fee
- In 2024, the season is from the end of July to early August
- Shiitake Barbeque: 2,800 yen (1,800 yen for pre-school and elementary school students)
- Chestnuts Picking:
- In 2024, the season is from the 15th of September to the 4th of November.
- The cost is 1,600 yen.
- Booking is essential at least 3 days in advance if you are coming on weekdays or you have a group of more than 4 people.
- Sweet Potatoes Picking:
- It is held on weekends and public holidays.
- In 2024, the season is from the 15th of September until all dug out.
- The cost is 700 yen + an entry fee of 400 yen
- Shiitake Picking:
- It is on weekends and public holidays.
- In 2024, the season is from the 15th of September to the 4th of November.
- The cost is 800 yen + 400 yen entry fee
- Shiitake Barbeque Course: 4,400 yen (3,400 yen for kids) includes entry fee + chestnuts picking, barbeque, and chestnuts rice
- Sukiyaki Course: 5,300 yen (4,700 yen for kids) includes entry fee + chestnuts picking, barbeque, and chestnuts rice
To make a booking, please give them a call at +81-72-739-0895.
Important:
☛ This attraction is only suited for those who can cook the ingredients they pick before they leave Japan.
☛ If you choose the package that includes barbeque or sukiyaki, meat is included normally. So when you book, please check with them if they can replace the meat with other ingredients for you if you are vegetarian.
☛ Each activity has its own maximum amount of ingredients you can bring home. If you want to pick more, extra charges will incur.
☛ Booking is essential for the barbeque and sukiyaki course 3 days in advance. You need to have four or more people in your group.
How to Get to Nakamasaen
You can get to the farm by catching either bus route no. 1 or no. 27 from Senri-chūo Station, which is operated by Hankyu Bus (阪急バス), and get off at Todoromi Minami (止々呂美南). The farm is a 15-minute walk away from the bus stop.
- Timetable for bus route no. 27 departing from Senri-chūo Station can be accessed from Kankyū Bus’s website HERE .
- Timetable for bus route no. 1 departing from Senri-chūo Station can be accessed from Kankyū Bus’s website HERE.
- If you don’t read Japanese, use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Minoh City.
Extend Your Getaway to Minoh’s Neighbour City – Ikeda!
Minoh is a great place to enjoy nature. But if you also want some cultural elements added to your exciting escape from the big cities, combine your visit to Minoh with its neighbor city Ikeda!
You can find all the popular attractions with our Ikeda city article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
