Minoh Park and Falls: Easy Hike in Osaka + Kid-Friendly

Last Updated on August 20, 2024 by Kay

Located near Minoh Station, Minoh Park is a popular destination with tourists looking to immerse themselves in nature and view the stunning waterfall.

Minoh Park (箕面公園), sometimes written in English as Minoo Park, is one of my favorite places in Osaka, and I don’t say this lightly.

I used to live less than a ten-minute walk from Minoh Station, so I would often walk to Minoh Park and up to the waterfall after I dropped off my daughter at preschool. It was incredibly peaceful in the morning. Sometimes after I picked my daughter up, we would walk to the park and enjoy some ice cream or something sweet at a cafe. She would also pick acorns while we listened to the rushing stream below.

My family loves Minoh Park so much that we even took our daughter’s Shichi-go-san photos there!

I honestly feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to live in Minoh City and so close to Minoh Park. (We wanted to build a house in Minoh but it was too expensive, which isn’t surprising! And yes, I miss Minoh almost every day!)

It’s taken me a while to write about Minoh Park because I wondered whether I could do it justice. But I feel that as a former local, I would be doing a disservice not to share my perspective about this beautiful place.

How to Get to Minoh Park

Minoh Park is very easy to get to from Osaka-Umeda Station.

Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line to Ishibashi Handai-Mae Station and then switch to the Hankyu Minoh Line (you’ll need to go down a set of stairs and through an underground passage). Get off at the end of the line, which is Hankyu Minoh Station (Mino-o Station).

Do not confuse this with Minoh-Kayano Station! Minoh-Kayano Station is far from Hankyu Minoh Station and you will need to take a bus to get there.

Once you exit Hankyu Minoh Station, turn left, go past a bakery, and follow the small road going up. You’ll see lots of little shops dotting the path that sell things like momiji tempura (maple leaves dipped in batter and then fried) and other souvenirs.

You can also stop by the Information Center, which is on the right side of the station near the Daily Yamazaki convenience store.

What to See in Minoh Park

Here are some of the highlights of Minoh Park that make it worth visiting.

Minoh Falls

Although the entirety of Minoh Park is beautiful, especially during autumn, making the short hike up to Minoh Falls is a must. I’ll cover that later in this article.

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Kanko Hotel

On the way up to Minoh Park, you’ll come across a large building on your left.

This is Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Kanko Hotel. Even if you don’t stay there, you can take the elevator up to see a beautiful view of the city. (During winter, the tunnel from the elevator to the hotel has lovely lights.)

Minoh Park Insect Museum

Minoh Park Insect Museum, which houses all sorts of local insects, is easy to reach since it’s only a 15-minute walk from Minoh Station and along the path to Minoh Falls, which I’ll introduce below.

I’m not the biggest fan of insects but I quite liked this museum. There’s nothing really creepy or gross in it — if anything, it’s fascinating. My daughter absolutely loves it.

This museum also has a greenhouse with lots of butterflies, which is the highlight for me. (It’s especially great to visit in winter since it’s nice and warm.)

🕰️ Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM daily (closed on Tuesdays)

Ryuanji Temple (瀧安寺)

Ryuanji Temple is located just past the insect museum. It was erected in 658 AD by En’no Gyoja, the founder of a Buddhist religion called Shugendou, after he spent some time meditating beneath Minoh Falls. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten and in the past was used as a training center for ascetics.

🕰️ Hours: 9 AM to 4 PM

Saikouji Temple

Cross the red bridge near Ryuanji Temple to enter Saikouji Temple on the right side. Here you’ll see paintings and impressive artwork on sliding doors from hundreds of years ago.

🕰️ Hours: 9 AM to 4 PM

After you visit Ryuanji and Saikouji, head up to Minoh Falls, which will take about another 30 minutes.

Hike to Minoh Falls

If you’re looking for an easy hike in Japan, then I highly recommend going to Minoh Falls. The path up to the waterfall has no stairs, so it’s accessible to those with strollers. You can easily visit Minoh Park and hike to the waterfalls in less than half a day.

There are several small shops around the falls selling snacks like ice cream. Grab a seat at one of the benches facing the falls and take a minute to enjoy the sight and sound of the crashing water. It’s easy to get lost in time here and I always feel so refreshed and happy afterwards.

(And this should go without saying but please do not swim here! Locals will not only think you’re bonkers but it’s also very dangerous. You can, however, dip your feet into the river along the way there or back, so consider bringing a small towel to dry off if you do.)

On the way back from the falls, you can relax in the onsen at Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Spa Garden. It’s a little run-down but the main onsen bath is still impressive.

Keep in mind that there are wild monkeys in the park, which tend to show up once you pass Ryuanji Temple. I usually saw them in the morning when there weren’t too many people around, so around 8-9 AM. Do not approach these monkeys if you see them as they can be dangerous and are known to attack people.

Don’t let this discourage you from visiting, though. As I’ve shared repeatedly in this article, I’ve been to Minoh Park many times and I have never been attacked or hurt. I always made sure to keep a safe distance from the monkeys when I saw them.

How Long is the Hike to Minoo Falls?

The hike up to Minoh Falls from Minoh Station takes about forty-five minutes one-way. It’s a little faster on the way down.

If you have small kids or a stroller, expect it to take more than an hour.

When I hiked with my daughter when she was four years old, it took about 1.5 hours to get to the Minoh Falls.

Minoo Park by Season

If you’re wondering when to visit Minoh Falls, here’s a quick overview from someone who has been every season (spoiler alert, it’s me!).

Minoh Park in Spring

Minoh Park isn’t known for having cherry blossom trees so don’t expect to see them while you’re there. You can, however, see pink blooming trees dotting the mountains when you’re in the city. This was one of my favorite things in spring when I lived in Minoh.

There is also a cherry blossom tunnel in the city, which is a ten-minute walk from Minoh Station. It’s really beautiful and worth seeing, but be careful of the cars!

There are also an impressive number of cherry blossom trees outside of Q’s Mall next to Minoh-Kayano Station, which you can get to by bus from Minoh Station.

Despite that you can’t see cherry blossom trees in Minoh Park, it is still absolutely lovely in spring, with lush green trees and the weather at just the perfect temperature.

Minoh Park in Summer

Like many places in Japan, Minoh Park during summer is hot and humid. I don’t recommend visiting in summer unless you go very early in the morning or in the evening.

One thing to note is that on summer evenings, you can see fireflies near the river along the walking trail to the waterfall. It’s very magical but can be quite busy as well. Make sure to wear insect repellent!

From mid-July to September, the waterfall is also lit up, which makes for a magical view.

Minoh Park in Autumn

The best time to visit Minoo Park is during autumn when the leaves transform into fiery reds and warm orange and yellow hues. It is absolutely stunning throughout the park and I guarantee you won’t be able to stop snapping photos of all the beauty.

Expect the autumn leaves to be at their best from mid-November to early December in 2024.

Minoh Park in Winter

Although nippy, this is another time I like to visit the park. It’s quiet and very refreshing to walk up to the waterfall.

If you visit at the beginning of December, you might be able to still see the fall foliage.

Minoh Park with Kids

As I’ve mentioned earlier in this article, Minoh Park is a place I took my daughter to many times and is very kid-friendly.

The walk up to the waterfall was a bit too difficult for my daughter between the ages of two to three, but she enjoyed picking up all the fallen maple leaves and acorns while we walked as far as she was comfortable. (Of course, it’s much easier if you have a stroller. You can also carry your child, as my husband is doing in the photo below.)

There are some stalls along the way selling snacks, too, so my daughter likes to nibble on goodies like momiji tempura to keep her going.

My daughter is a huge fan of the insect museum, which is a welcome break from walking if your child starts to get fussy or bored. She also enjoys the temples along the way but we try not to spend too much time there if we’re going to the falls because I don’t want her to get tired. (We usually save the temples for the way back.)

The walk up to the waterfall can be challenging for younger kids so I recommend having something to keep them motivated, like some gummies that they get every ten minutes or so. And once at the top, you can treat them to something nice from the drink vending machine or one of the shops.

If you have a stroller, note that some parts of the path up to the falls is steep and will require a little extra strength to push your stroller up.

Where to Eat in Minoh

As a former local, I’m going to be real here and share that I don’t like any of the restaurants in Minoh Park. They’re overpriced for what you’re getting, so skip them.

(Although I do recommend trying the momiji (maple leaf) tempura and Minoh’s local craft beer, called Minoh Beer, which is amazing. If you want to purchase a bottle or two of this beer on the cheap, go to the LAWSON or Daily Yamazaki convenience stores near the station.)

If you want to eat in Minoh around the station, I recommend:

• 壺千 : This is an upscale kushikatsu restaurant that has great service and amazing food. They’re also kid-friendly and have a kids set on their menu.
• Kushikatsu Tanaka (串カツ田中) : This is a chain izakaya that serves kushikatsu and other types of Japanese food. They’re also kid-friendly (kids under age 7 can get free takoyaki and ice cream).
• Pizzeria e Trattoria A La: If you feel like you need a break from Japanese food, this place makes amazing wood-fired pizzas.
• Kanmidokoro Kamakura: If you want something sweet and cool to drink, then I recommend trying this warabi mochi beverage. It comes in different flavors like strawberry and matcha. They also sell kakigori, which my daughter loves. The size is quite big so I suggest sharing one.
• Minoh Beer Warehouse: This is located a 12-minute walk from Makiochi Station, which is one station away from Minoh Station on the Hankyu Line. If you want to try Minoh’s local craft beer in draft form, this is the place to go.

Also, fun fact, the first Mister Donuts shop (think Japan’s version of Dunkin’ Donuts or Tim Hortons) was established in Minoh, and it’s still there, so definitely check it out!

Where to Stay in Minoh

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Kanko Hotel

If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to stay overnight in Minoh, consider Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Kanko Hotel.

I stayed there with my daughter the first night we moved to Osaka since our house wasn’t move-in-ready yet.

We were in a small room with a futon, which was comfortable enough for us since we were only there for one night. As the name implies, the hotel is known for its onsen “theme park” (Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Spa Garden), which has Japanese summer festival vibes.

They have summer festival games and you can rent a yukata for an additional fee.

To be completely honest, I found it underwhelming compared to the Ooedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba, Tokyo (which closed back in 2021, RIP) and it looks dated. But I guess if you’ve never been, it’s worth a look.

However, I did find the outdoor onsen extremely impressive since it overlooks Minoh City and you can see Osaka as well. This is especially stunning at night.

When it comes to food, the hotel offers a buffet dinner and breakfast, which is okay. Nothing to write home about but decent enough.

If you’re interested in staying at this hotel, you can book it here.

Sanso Kazenomori

This is a beautiful ryokan in the mountains of Minoh.

The rooms overlook the city and some have private outdoor baths, but the ryokan also has shared indoor and open-air onsen baths, so you can soak either way. All plans have breakfast included but you can choose plans with dinner as well.

They have a free shuttle bus that runs from Minoh Station to get you to the ryokan. It runs once an hour from 9:20 AM to 5:20 PM (note that there is no bus at noon on Tuesdays and Fridays). They also have parking.

More information on this ryokan is available here.

They also offer day trip plans, so you can use the onsen without staying overnight and if you like, have lunch there as well. If you want lunch, you need to make a reservation in advance.

For use of only the onsen, it costs 1100 yen for adults (plus a 330 yen charge on weekends and holidays), 550 yen for kids, 330 yen for kids ages 3 to 5, and free for babies. Hours are from 12:00 to 2:30 PM (last entry at 1:30 PM), except for Tuesdays and Fridays, and 6 PM to 8:30 PM (last entry at 7:30 PM).

What Else to Do in Minoh

If you want to make the most of your time in Minoh, consider going to Katsuo-ji Temple, which is around a 20-minute bus ride from Minoh-Kayano Station. This temple houses hundreds of Daruma dolls and is bound to be a highlight of your trip, especially in autumn.

There’s a bus that will take you from Hankyu Minoh Station to a parking lot near Minoh Falls, Katsuo-ji, and then back to Minoh Station for 2000 yen for adults and 1000 yen for kids. The cost includes some coupons you can use in Minoh, so this might be something to consider. You can buy the ticket from the bus, which stops in front of Hankyu Minoh Station (if you’re not sure where to find the bus, ask the Information Center outside Minoh Station).

For those who want to shop, Minoh-Kayano Station is right next to a shopping mall called Q’s Mall. This mall has several play areas for kids in the East area on the 1st floor (free) and 2nd floor (paid) as well as a Nishimatsuya, which is a great place to shop for kids. There’s a small (paid) indoor playground next to the Nishimatsuya as well that has massage chairs for parents.

And even if you don’t have kids, you might enjoy checking out stores like MUJI, getting a drink from Starbucks, or picking up some souvenirs from the grocery store. As mentioned earlier in the article, Q’s Mall has stunning cherry blossoms in the spring as well.

To get to Q’s Mall from Minoh Station, take bus 22, 23, or 36. You can then either take the Midosuji Line back to central Osaka from Minoh-Kayano Station or take bus 21, 23, or 36 back to Minoh Station.

Make sure to check out the CUP NOODLES Museum as well, which is less than a 10-minute train ride plus a 6-minute walk from Minoh Station to Ikeda Station.

Wrap-up: Minoo Park and Waterfall — A Must-Visit Spot in Osaka

I hope this look at Minoo Park is helpful to you. It’s truly a gem in Osaka and should not be missed by anyone who loves nature and feels like escaping the city for a quick and easy hike.