Minoh Waterfall

Spring is in the air, the warm weather, the clear blue sky, so what better way to escape the grey, concrete, urban city of Osaka than to venture out to the mountainside suburb of Minoh about a 30 minute train ride from Osaka on the Hankyu line. Minoh is home to the Minoh Quasi National Park with its main feature being the 40 metre waterfall.

The path through the national park leads off from the train station and is good for all ages, the path is wide enough for a stroller if you are with young children.

The waterfall is at the end of a 2.8 Kilometre trail, there are a few things to stop and do on the way including an insect and butterfly musuem with entrance only 200 yen as well as the Ryuanji temple.

At the base of the waterfall there are plenty of food stalls selling snacks, hot food and drinks including beer that I must admitt went down well after the hike. The Minoh waterfall is also known to have monkeys but on the day that I went there happened to be none.

After you spend time at the waterfall, you have to turn back the same way you came so the walk is actually 5.6 kilometres but don't worry if that sounds far at the entrance they have a hotel where you can experience a hot spring for only 1300 yen,($13) a great way to end your day and to soothe the aches and pains in your legs.

Also maybe a nice souvenier to buy on the walk is deep fried maple leaves that are sold at all the stalls. Its a nice little walk that can be enjoyed in all seasons especially Autumn when all the mountains leaves have changed colours and in Summer when it is around 6 degrees cooler in the park.