When talking about Osaka, I think everyone would be very familiar with because it is the second largest and most important city after the capital, Tokyo. In addition, Osaka is also prosperous in trade, economy , and have several tourist attractions like Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, USJ, shopping center and food paradise in Namba, Umeda and Shinsaibashi.

For natural attractions, besides the beautiful Sakura cherry blossoms in Spring, Osaka also has several beautiful destinations for us to watch leaves changing color just like Tokyo.

Today I have 4 locations of leaves changing color that we shouldn't miss for you guys, two are in the suburbs and two are in the heart of the city.

1. Minoh Waterfall
2. Katsuo-ji Temple
3. Osaka Castle Park
4. Midosuji Ginkgo Avenue

This leave changing color trip was in November 2018. I mainly stay at Hotel Felice Shinsaibashi. This hotel is not expensive with good location at the Shinsaibashi shopping center area. From here, it's very convenient to go to red leaves location. Now, let's follow me to enjoy 4 beautiful leaves changing locations.

1. Minoh Waterfall (箕面大滝)

Natural attractions in Osaka is not normally famous among tourists but it is very much so during the leaves changing color season in Autumn. It is considered the must visit locations including Minoh Waterfall and Katsuo-ji Temple.

Minoh Waterfall is located in Mino Park on a mountain that is covered with leaves changing color. To access to the waterfall, we must walk from Mino Railway Station. We will be walking about 2.6 km distance through community and leaves changing color forest. Most of the road is not so steep small hills which offer many interesting beautiful things along the way, like beautiful leaves changing color forest, temple, and natural stream.

Area of more than 60% of the Mino Park is mostly forested. But because it is a popular tourist destination, there's also hotels, fitness facilities, spa, onsen, and many houses along the way now has turned into shops and restaurants to serve tourists too.

Interesting red leaves photography spots throughout the 2.6 km walk are as follows:

1. Saiko-ji Temple (西江寺)
2. Insects Museum (箕面公園昆虫館)
3. Ryuan-ji Temple (瀧安寺)
4. Hideyo Noguchi Statue
5. Minoh Waterfall (箕面大滝)

The Minoh Waterfall is a waterfall with a height of only 33 m. The strength of the waterfall is not very strong. We can easily stand in front of the waterfall for photography without having to fear water splashing onto the camera.

These photos are taken on 29 November 2018.

Information on leaves changing color at Minoh Waterfall
Starting time: Early November
Most beautiful time: Mid-end of November

Ryuan-ji Temple or as known by local people as Minoh Temple is very spacious. The temple is surrounded by leaves changing color forest. It has so many angles for us to take photos.

How to get to Minoh Waterfall:

Take the Midosuji Red Line subway from Shinsaibashi Station to Umeda Station. Then, continue the walk to the Hankyu Umeda Station (Umeda Station is large and very spacious. It is the same station as Osaka Station, it is walkable between two stations). When buying a train ticket, look for the Hankyu Railway sign first and then buy the ticket there.

Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line from Hankyu Umeda Station and get off at Ishibashi Station, then switch to the Hankyu Mino Line for two more stations and get off at Mino Station. It takes about 45 minutes from Shinsaibashi.

Since Mino is full of local tourists on the weekends, we should avoid the crowd by traveling here during the weekdays. After getting off at the terminal stop at Mino Station, walk out from the station a bit and we will reach the entrance towards Minoh Waterfall.

Official Website of Mino Park : http://www.mino-park.jp

2. Katsuo-ji Temple (勝尾寺)

Another highlight that we cannot miss watching the red leaves in Osaka is Katsuo-ji Temple, which is situated on the north of Osaka. It is located on the hill of Ochousan at a height of 400 m from sea level.

The Katsuo-ji temple is known for being sacred and is very famous for the blessing of victory. Therefore, we see lots of local people come to the temple for a blessing. For example, students come to ask for blessings to pass the exam or people who are ill are asking for blessings to be healed.

The symbol doll or the mascot of the Katsuo-ji temple is the Daruma doll. In Japan, people use the Daruma doll as a personal luck charm when needed for blessings. When asking for a blessing, people paint black on the right eye of the Daruma doll and place it at the temple. When their blessing is realized, then they come back again to paint black on the left eye of the doll.

When visiting Katsuoji Temple, you will see lots of Daruma dolls placing all around the temple.

These photos are taken on 19 November 2018.

Information of leaves changing color at Katsuo-ji Temple
Starting time: Early November
Most beautiful time: Mid-end of November

How to get here:

Take the Midosuji Red Line subway from Shinsaibashi Station and get off at Senri-Chuo Station. From there, take Hankyu Bus No. 29 at Sign no. 4 and get off at Katsuo-ji Station. The bus takes about 35 minutes. The bus fare is 490 JPY. Temple entrance fee is 400 JPY.

Bus schedule running between Senri-Chuo - Katsuoji

Weekdays
Going: 9:10, 11:15, 14:15
Returning: 11:18, 13:28, 16:31

Saturday-Sunday and public holidays
Going: 9:00 9:55, 10:55, 12:10 13:10 14:45
Returning: 11:31 12:31, 13;38 14:26 15:23 16:48

Official Website of Katsuo-ji Temple : http://www.katsuo-ji-temple.or.jp/

3. Osaka Castle Park(大阪城公園)

Osaka Castle Park consists of a castle and garden surrounding that castle. Generally speaking, it is a large historical park of Osaka. It is considered the landmark of Osaka that is famous for being elegant and the look of Osaka.

Osaka Castle Park is beautiful all year round. In this garden, there are plum blossoms to be seen in mid-March and over 600 cherry blossoms bloom in early April. In the Autumn, the Ginkgo tree and the cherry tree begin to change color in unison to welcome tourists.

The Osaka Castle has a total of 8 floors. Inside exhibits a lot of things, including historical utilities and many ancient weapons. The top floor is an observation deck for overlooking the entire city of Osaka.

These photos are taken on 28 November 2018.

Information on leaves changing color at Osaka Castle Park
Starting time: Early November
Most beautiful time: Mid-end of November

How to get here:

Since the garden around the castle is very large, it can be accessed in many ways from many stations:

1. Take the Subway Chuo Line or Tanimachi Line and get off at Tanimachi Yonchome Station, then continue the walk about 5 minutes before entering the Otemon Gate which is the front of the castle.

2. Take Osaka Loop Line and get off at JR Osakajo Koen Station before walking for about 5 minutes and enter the garden on the Ginkgo tree line.

Official Website of Osaka Castle Park : https://www.osakacastle.net

4. Midosuji Gingko Avenue

It is the 10th year of Midosuji Illumination 2018, which is a fair of decorating lights on Ginkgo trees on the Midosuji Road. Midosuji Avenue is the main commercial center of Osaka. It is about 4 km long connecting Umeda on the north and Namba on the south together.

Two sides on the 4 km Midosuji Road between Umeda-Namba lined with over 900 Ginkgo trees which turn into golden yellow throughout the Autumn. Thus, this makes this road very beautiful during the daytime and romantic when illuminated by lights at night.

Information on leaves changing color at Midosuji Gingko Avenue
Starting time: Mid of November
Most beautiful time: End of November-early December

Midosuji Illumination 2018
Time: 4 Nov - 31 Dec
Location: Midosuji Road (Hanshin Junction - Namba Nishiguchi Junction)
Lighting time: 17:00 - 23:00 p.m.

How to get here:

Take the subway Midosuji Red Line and get off at one of these 4 stations: Yodoyabashi, Honmachi, Shinsaibashi or Namba. Then, you can simply watch the beautiful Ginkgo trees on Midosuji once exiting the station.