photo by kiai
October is about to end and air feels deep fall everywhere. What highlights Japanese fall is beautifully colored mountains and gardens with scarlet maples and golden ginkgo leaves. Every autumn view spot all over Japan become busy with many tourists who enjoys colorful sceneries. This columns will introduce top 5 spots of fall scenery around the second largest city of Japan, Osaka, which are accessible by train.
Osaka Castle Park
Located in the middle of Osaka city, this peaceful city oasis is very much loved by local people and many of them visit here for jogging and stroll. It is normally very green, but also well known as a cherry blossom viewing spot in spring and transforms into the best colorful autumn color viewing spot of Osaka before winter. There are a few must-sees such as 300 year old ginkgo tree at the main tower, lines of ginkgo trees on the east of the park and number of scarlet maples creating beautiful contrast with evergreen trees all over the park. Those stunning views can also be seen on the water surface of the double moat.
Best view: Early November – Early December
Address: 3-11 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Nearest station: JR Osaka Loop Line “Morinomiya or Osakajooken station”, JR Tozai Line “Osakajo Kitazume station”, Keihan Line “Tenmabashi station”, Subway Tanimachi Line “Tanimachi 4-chome or Tenmabashi station”, Subway Chuo Line “Tanimachi 4-chome or Tenmabashi station”
Expo ’70 Commemorative Park
Well known for the tower of the sun, Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is a former show space of the Japan World Exposition ’70 transformed into a huge comprehensive park with a nature park, cultural facility and sport facilities. In late October, American storax, maples and Japanese zelkova start changing color followed by many other trees. While lined platanus on Nishioji Street, ivy on the wall of Expo ’70 Pavilion and lined Japanese zelkovas at National Museum of Ethnology are commonly visited, surround of tea houses in the Japanese Garden and Maple Waterfall are typically popular as the best views of Japanese autumn sceneries.
Best view: Mid November – Late November
Address: Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka
Nearest station: Hankyu Railway “Minami-Ibaraki, Yamada or Hotarugaike station”, Subway Midosuji Line “Senri-Chuo station”, Subway Tanimachi Line “Dainichi station”, Keihan Railway “Kadoma-shi station”
Minoh Park
A nature park which runs north to south along the River Minoh, there are many autumn view spots in Minoh Park such as Ichinohashi and Fufubash area which is 5-minutes’ walk from Minoh station, the nearest railway station, 15-minutes’ walk Ryuanji Temple area, then 20-minutes’ walk Jigokudani area. A thousands of tourists visit this park to enjoy deep autumn sceneries walking and strolling along the beautifully colored valley. Minoh Waterfall area, among other things, is the highlight in this park with vivid scarlet maple trees surrounding the great waterfall of over 30 meter height.
Best view: Mid November – Early December
Address: Minokoen, Mino, Osaka
Nearest station: Hankyu Mino Line “Mino station”
Suma Rikyu Park
Suma Rikyu Park was opened as an imperial park in honor of the present emperor of Japan. This park is handy access from Kobe city and ideal for family outing or picnic date with beautiful prospect of Suma city. In the botanical garden on the east of the park, many trees and flowers show its seasonal beauty. The Japanese garden, Maple Waterfall and footpath of maple in this park is well known for wonderful autumn colors. Opening hour is extended to 19:00 from 18th to 29th November during autumn season in order for lighting-up of trees. Admission fees applies: 400yen for 15 years and older, 200yen for primary and junior high school children.
Best view: Mid November – Late November
Address: 1-1 Higashisuma, Suma-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
Nearest station: Sanyo Railway “Tsukimiyama or Higashi-Suma station”
Nara Park
Well known for deer strolling around, Nara Park is one of the largest city park of Japan with 511 hector of land. Chinese tallow, ginkgo and maple trees are everywhere in the park creating stunning contrast with evergreen trees. There are many must-see spots like colorful trees surrounding Daibutsuike-pond and carpets of gingko leaves on the south of Shosoin. Also, many important cultural properties appointed as the world heritage exist nearby such as Todaiji Temple, Kasuga-Taisha Shrine and Kofukuji Temple, which you can’t miss when you visit Nara. A view of colorful autumn leaves and these historic temples are absolutely stunning just like a masterpiece painting. This park is so vast that there is no queues and crowds bother you while enjoying the scenery.
Best view: Early November – Early December
Address: Kasuganocho, Zoshicho, Takabatakecho, Noboriojicho, Nara
Nearest station: JR Nara station, Kintetsu Line Nara station
The falling leaves of red and gold
The Japanese love autumn season enjoying moon viewing, autumn festivals and many other events. Autumn leaves viewing has also been a traditional entertainment since the old times. Old temples in Kyoto may be the first things you think of when it comes to autumn views, but there are many good spots around Osaka as well. All places introduced in this column are within 1 hour by train. It is a good idea to visit one of these places to enjoy crisp autumn air, blue sky and stunning autumn colors when you visit Osaka city.
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A beautiful Tokyo autumn. 5 spots you can go by train to see autumn leaves
