Minō
Discover Minō
Minō is a primarily upper-middle class commuter suburb for people working in Osaka. It is situated at the last stops of train lines that come from Osaka city. Take the Hankyu Takarazuka line to Ishibashi and change to the Minoh Line. Railway buffs take note: this was among the first pieces of the Hankyu railway system.
Taste of Minō...
The local snack and souvenir specialty is momiji no tenpura, small maple leaves slowly deep fried in batter. They are sweet and crunchy. They are usually sold in small bags or cups and generally more delicious when warm. The area close to the waterfall has several shops selling a variety of food. If you are not interested in soba, udon or fish you should bring a sandwich or a picnic with you. Don't worry about bringing drinks... there are many vending machines along the path. There are also two convenience stores in Minoo station. You can buy drinks, sandwiches and a number of other things to take with you. Beware though: the monkeys love plastic bags! If they're in the area they might come down and try to steal your lunch. Minoh beer is produced by microbreweries in Minoh. You will find it for sale at most of the shops on the street between the station and the entrance to the park. You can buy beer and other drinks from the shops near the waterfall, but these are about twice the price you could buy them for at the convenience store near the station. Travelers may wish to look for accommodation elsewhere, as several major cities are within easy reach (see below). Osaka and Kobe are within easy reach on the Hankyu Line; it's also plausible to day-trip here from Kyoto.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsTake the Hankyu Takarazuka line to Ishibashi and change to the Minoh Line. Railway buffs take note: this was among the first pieces of the Hankyu railway system. You can also take the Subway Midosuji (Red) line to Senri-Chuo station and then at bus stop 11 you can catch either the 19 or 20 bus to Minoo Station (箕面駅). The 19 takes you past a hospital and takes about 10 minutes longer than the 20. The bus ride takes 15 to 25 min depending on traffic. Buses run from Senri-Chuo every 15 minutes until about 22:00. You can also take a taxi. Taxis generally cost about ¥1,400. It varies depending on the time and day. Weekends are usually more expensive. The main sights in Minō Park can be reached on foot. If you want to visit Minoo Q's Mall, a large shopping mall with many fun shops and a movie theater with one of the only IMAX screens in Japan, you can take the 19 or 20 bus from Minoo Station to Kayano-chuo bus stop....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The main sights in Minō Park can be reached on foot. If you want to visit Minoo Q's Mall, a large shopping mall with many fun shops and a movie theater with one of the only IMAX screens in Japan, you can take the 19 or 20 bus from Minoo Station to Kayano-chuo bus stop. If you leave from Senri-Chuo station, there is a loop bus that runs every fifteen minutes from the same bus stop as the 19 and 20 buses. You can also take the 19 or 20 buses and get off at Kayano-chuo Gakko Mae stop. The park features cedars and momiji (Japanese red maple). The best time of year to visit Mino Park is late November. During the fall, it is the arguably the best place in Osaka to see the changing leaves. Along the path that leads to the waterfall, which is about 3 km long, (and uphill for the last half) there are a number of cute little shops that sell souvenirs (omiyage) and serve Momiji-tempura. Momiji-tempura is breaded and fried maple leaves. They are sweet and surprisingly delicious.
Where to Stay
Travelers may wish to look for accommodation elsewhere, as several major cities are within easy reach (see below). Osaka and Kobe are within easy reach on the Hankyu Line; it's also plausible to day-trip here from Kyoto.
Money & Budget
There are small shops along the path to Minō Waterfall, with most of the usual souvenirs - albeit with a few more plastic bugs than usual, owing to the insect museum. The other main themes in the shops are owls, monkeys and momiji. You can also see a number of shops featuring red and white pottery that is only found in this area. The local snack and souvenir specialty is momiji no tenpura, small maple leaves slowly deep fried in batter. They are sweet and crunchy. They are usually sold in small bags or cups and generally more delicious when warm. The area close to the waterfall has several shops selling a variety of food. If you are not interested in soba, udon or fish you should bring a sandwich or a picnic with you. Don't worry about bringing drinks...