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Just a short train ride from Osaka is Minoh Falls, a beautiful waterfall up the side of a mountain. It’s a beautiful spot that not many tourists have ever heard of so it’s worth going to visit if you’re in Osaka and have a love for the outdoors.
It’s also especially beautiful during autumn so it’s worth going all the way up until December. (Visit Minoh Falls in the fall?)
For the daytime stream, I decided to go on a hike up there because It’s been 10 years since my last visit, so I was excited to see if it still lived up to my memories. Spoiler alert: it did!
Getting there
Minoh Falls is located in Minoh National Park, just north of Osaka City. It’s super easy to get to from central Osaka.
You can access it by train through the Hankyuu-Mino line. The total train ride will take between 25 to 30 minutes but the walk up the mountain is what will be challenging.
The hike to Minoh Falls from the town is approximately 3 kilometers long and is supposed to take around 40 minutes to complete (It took me about an hour and 20 minutes on stream).
The main trail is paved and relatively flat, making it accessible to most people. The first half of the trail is lined with shops, temples, and restaurants, so there’s plenty of opportunities to stop and explore (take a rest). I popped into a few of the souvenir shops to browse the local wares, including handmade crafts and traditional snacks.
As you continue along the trail, the scenery shifts from urban to natural. The trees grow taller, and the sound of the river grows louder. The second half of the trail is steeper and more rugged, but the scenery is breathtaking. I found myself stopping frequently to take in the views and snap photos while sharing the ASMR nature noises.
My experience
For me, it was a bit of a tough hike with a lot of creepy crawlies on the way up.
As I went in December, it was a bit colder than expected. Luckily there was oden for sale at one of the shops. Be sure to bring some cash with you for beer and snacks when you go up (or down in my case).
But it was a nice escape from the city and a relaxing time with the community. It was also great to re-experience the beauty of the falls from 10 years ago. It’s a memory I won’t forget anytime soon.
Things to note
- There’s a sign warning you to watch out for snakes near the river area (it’s only in Japanese).
- There are parking lots near Minoh Station and closer to the waterfall if you prefer to drive.
- There’s a temple (Ryuanji temple) around the halfway point of the waterfall hike. It’s worth stopping by.
- There’s an insectarium at the base of the mountain if you’re into that kind of stuff.
- For those who want to explore further, there are additional trails that lead to observation points and deeper into the hills beyond the waterfall.
- Autumn (especially the second half of November) is a popular time to visit because the fall foliage is beautiful there. There’s gonna be more people, but trust me, it’s worth it.
Final thoughts
Minoh Falls is a bit of a hidden gem that’s waiting to be discovered. It’s pretty well known by Osaka people but most foreigners haven’t heard of it yet so it’s still a unique experience to visit.
It’s gonna be a nice escape from the city if you plan on visiting Osaka longer than 2 weeks.
Make sure you have comfy shoes before going though ok?
Thanks for joining me on this adventure if you were there live, and I hope you visit it someday.