Minoo Park: Vast Nature Near Central Osaka
Visit beautiful sceneries including Minoo Falls
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Minoo Park (箕面公園) is a large park located in Mt Minoo in Osaka.
The park is popular because of its vast size and breathtaking scenery of nature. Being just about 30 minutes away from Central Osaka by train also makes this park such an attractive site for many Japanese and foreign visitors.
Minoo Park is most known for having the Minoo Falls (箕面大滝) which is a large waterfall that was used for Buddhist ascetic practices.
It is also very well known for being one of the best places to enjoy the scenery of the autumn leaves.
In this article, I will show you about Minoo Park, including its appeal points, how to get there, and interesting spots around the site.
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What is Minoo Park
Minoo Park is a park located within the more prominent “Meiji no Mori Minoo Quasi-National Park” (明治の森箕面国定公園), which was inaugurated in 1967 along with “Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park” (明治の森高尾国定公園) in Tokyo to celebrate 100 years from the start of the Meiji-era.
The park has a vast area of 838,000㎡ and is home to 1,300 species of plants and 3,500 species of insects. You will also find many animals, fish, and birds.
Because of its outstanding biodiversity and beautiful scenery, Minoo Park has been named one of Japan’s 100 best sites for enjoying nature. Nowadays, over 2,000,000 visitors come to Minoo Park to enjoy its refreshing atmosphere and breathtaking scenery.
Depending on the season you choose to go, this park will show you a very different atmosphere. It gets pretty crowded in fall due to being most famous for its autumn leaves.
What to do & see at Minoo Park
The main appealing point of Minoo Park is, without a doubt, its vast nature and beautiful scenery. Other than that, there is the Ryuanji Temple, which is in great contrast with the surrounding nature. There are also many shops and restaurants along the paths within the park, so there’s a lot you can see and do.
Minoo Falls (箕面大滝):
Chosen to be one of the 100 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. It has a height of 33m and was used for Buddhist ascetic practices.
Ryuanji Temple (瀧安寺):
A Shugendo Temple was created in 658 AD. During the Nara-era and Kamakura-era, monks who went to Minoo Falls for ascetic practices stayed at this temple. Many of the great Buddhist masters are said to have stayed at this temple.
Monkeys:
Within the park, you will see many wild monkeys. It is one of the few places you can see these ”Japanese macaque” or “Nihonzaru”(ニホンザル) in their wild habitat.
How to get to Minoo Park
There are two main ways you can access Minoo Park, which is by train or by bus.
By Train:
The nearest train station is “Minoo Station” (箕面駅) on the Hankyu Minoo Line.
By Bus:
There is also a bus that goes to Minoo Station from “Senri-Chuo Station” (千里中央駅) of the Kita-Osaka Kyuko Line.
From Minoo station, it will take you only 5 minutes walking to the entrance of Minoo Park or 40 minutes to the waterfalls.
Information
 Access |
5-minute walk from Minoo Station (Hankyu Minoo Line) |
|---|---|
 Address |
1-18 Minookoen, Minoh, Osaka 562-0002 |
 Business Hours |
Open 24 hours |
 Price |
Entrance is free |
 Official Website |
http://www.mino-park.jp/ |
How long do you need at Minoo Park?
I’d recommend you spend a whole morning or afternoon at Minoo Park, especially considering that it takes approximately 40 minutes to get to the waterfalls.
Tourist Reviews of Minoo Park
Minoo Park consistently ranks as one of Osaka’s most beloved natural escapes, receiving high ratings across multiple platforms. Google reviews rate it at 4.4 out of 5 stars with over 1,900 reviews, while Tripadvisor offers a slightly higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from more than 300 reviews, placing it as the top attraction in Mino. On Yelp.com, the park also holds a favorable rating of 4.4 out of 5.
Tourists often highlight the beauty of Minoo Park during autumn, when the vibrant maple leaves enhance the scenery. A Tripadvisor reviewer shared,
“Minoo Park is an hour or so by train from Osaka Station. The Park I guess will be very pretty if you visit in Falls with the maple leaves turning color. Winter is a bit average though. It is definitely a good exercise outdoor walk in Winter. Fresh air, wear a nice and comfortable shoes and walk the 2.4km to the waterfalls. You can try the local fried maple leaves. The grilled salted Ayu definitely is one of the must try in the small resto near the waterfalls. If you enjoy ice cream in cold weather, don’t miss the chocolate peanuts ice cream served with crispy pancake.”
– from Tripadvisor
Visitors also express appreciation for Minoo Park’s natural ambiance. A reviewer on Yelp.com described,
“Minoo Park is a forested valley famous for its colourful trees during the Autumn. Unlike other parks, the trees here grow wild and free, lending a true sense of natural awe and connection to these woodlands. Minoo Park’s main hiking trail goes through a valley alongside the Minoo River, ending at the Minoo Waterfall. With a height of 33 meters, the waterfall is the park’s main natural attraction. It truly is a wonderful landscape deserving of a view. This is worth the adventure to Minoo Park, let alone the wonderous nature surrounding you on the way to it.”
– from Yelp.com
These reviews underline the park’s appeal as a scenic, nature-focused destination near Osaka, with each season offering a unique charm for outdoor enthusiasts and visitors alike.
Tourist attractions near Minoo Park
1. Osaka Expo Park:
A large park located about 20 km north of central Osaka. This park was created as the site of the Osaka Expo ’70, and now it is a popular sightseeing spot.
2. Asahi Breweries Suita Factory:
146,000㎡ factory that was built in 1891. The outside of the factory has stayed the same. You can take a tour to see how the beer is made, and you can also look around the beer museum.
One of the 6 Universal Studios in the world. It is one of the most popular amusement parks in Japan, along with Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
4. Cup Noodles Museum:
One of the 2 Cup Noodles Museums in the country is located in Ikeda, Osaka. Here, you can learn about the history of Cup noodles and see all the cup noodles from all around the world.
5. Umeda Sky Building:
It is a 40-story-tall building in Umeda that is famous for its unique design. On the very top is located the Kuchu Teien Observatory, which, other than being an observatory, also includes a movie theater as well as many restaurants and shops.
Is Minoo Park worth visiting?
For those seeking a refreshing escape into nature close to central Osaka, Minoo Park is undoubtedly worth a visit. With its impressive biodiversity, scenic trails, and the iconic Minoo Falls, the park offers a rich experience that varies beautifully with each season.
Autumn is especially enchanting, with vibrant foliage drawing numerous visitors, while the park’s quiet, serene atmosphere during other seasons provides a peaceful retreat.
Whether for a leisurely hike, a chance to see local wildlife or a taste of traditional snacks, Minoo Park promises a memorable outing in one of Osaka’s most cherished natural settings.
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Written by
Born and raised in Costa Rica, I started living in Tokyo from college. I love traveling within Japan & around the world. Since I wasn’t born in Japan, I know the cultural impact that you can get when visiting Japan for the first time and what you might be worried about before your trip. And I’ve lived long enough to somewhat understand the nuances of the Japanese culture that make this country such an attractive place to visit. Hopefully I can provide to you both the information you’re looking for and the information you didn’t know you needed to know.
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