[Latest Edition] 15 Select Spots for Beautiful Fall Foliage in Osaka

1. Expo \'70 Commemorative Park (Suita City)

This park was built on the site of Japan World Exposition 1970. It contains numerous cultural, sports, and leisure facilities. It is also home to the Natural and Cultural Gardens and the Japanese Garden, which have a combined total of roughly 10,000 trees of 20 varieties, as well as a variety of other plants. In the fall, all of them turn magnificent colors. Events like concerts occur at the Foliage Festival, which is held at the height of the fall foliage season every year.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually mid-November - late November
Admission fee for both gardens: 260 JPY/adult, 80 JPY/elementary and junior high school students

2. Osaka Castle Park (Osaka City)

This municipal park stands on the site of Osaka Castle. It has 13 structures that are designated as important cultural properties of Japan, numerous historic sites that tell the history of the area, and a variety of other facilities like an open-air music hall. The park\'s symbol is Tenshukaku - Osaka Castle’s main keep, which was rebuilt in 1931. In the fall, numerous trees around the park, including a 300-year-old gingko tree, turn beautiful colors, creating a wonderful contrast with Tenshukaku.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually early November - early December

3. Meiji-no-mori Minoh Quasi-national Park / Minoh Waterfall (Minoh City)

This is a quasi-national park in a mountainous area, where the altitude is roughly 100m - 600m, in northern Mino City. It is surrounded by a nature-rich valley. The symbol of this area is Minoh Waterfall. 5m wide and 33m high, this waterfall has been selected as one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan. In the fall, the trees around it turn into such vivid colors that they look like they’re on fire! At the park, you can enjoy the crashing sound of the powerful waterfall, along with the brightly colored trees beyond it.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually mid-November - early December

4. Kyuan-ji (Ikeda City)

This temple is said to have been built in 725. It has many highlights, such as a two-storied gate that’s designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and a beautiful garden that’s famous for its seasonal flowers. In the fall, leaves on trees planted around the temple grounds, such as gingko and Japanese maple, color beautifully. On the third Sunday of November every year, there is a Momiji Matsuri festival that always brings a lot of people to the temple’s grounds!

Best time to see the foliage: Usually mid-November - early December

5. Katsuo-ji (Minoh City)

Established in 727, this temple has long been popular for bringing about victory. In the fall, the leaves on the trees planted along the temple path and around the 260,000 sq.m. temple grounds color beautifully, creating a view that looks almost like a painting. The grounds are lit up in the evening on weekends and national holidays during the fall foliage season, presenting a magical scene that’s different from the daytime.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually early to late November

6. Midosuji (Osaka City)

Home to a plethora of hotels, Midosuji is one of the most beautiful and famous streets of Osaka. As a main street, it connects different commercial streets together. Here, you’ll find approximately 972 gingko trees planted along a 4 km stretch. The leaves on these trees turn a vivid golden color in the fall, creating a beautiful contrast with the clear autumn sky. The rows of gingko trees on this street are registered as cultural properties of Osaka. They are believed to be the "symbol of modern-day Osaka".

Best time to see the foliage: Usually late-November - early December

7. Daisen Park (Sakai City)

Located near the Mozu burial grounds that were awarded World Heritage status in July 2019, this park is iconic in Sakai City. As a leisure spot, it has a variety of facilities and attractions, such as a small burial mound, library, museum, and large lawn area. It also has many trees, including Japanese maple and gingko, that color beautifully in the fall. During the fall foliage period, the Japanese garden in the park is also lit up in the evening yearly.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually mid to late November
Japanese Garden admission fee: 200 JPY/adult, 100 JPY/child (elementary and junior high school age)

8. Kabusan-ji (Takatsuki City)

This temple nestled among the mountains of Takatsuki City is said to have been established in 774. It possesses several important cultural properties of Japan, such as the statue of Vaisravana - a deity for luck and fortune - that is said to be one of the oldest in Japan. During the fall, around 500 gingko and Japanese maple trees along the temple path and around the grounds turn beautiful red and golden colors; a gorgeous sight that the temple has become famous for!

Best time to see the foliage: Usually mid-November

9. Hattori Ryokuchi Park (Toyonaka City)

Located in northern Osaka, this park with hilly terrain is home to an abundance of nature, such as ponds and pine forests, as well as a variety of culture and sports facilities. The Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses, which features old houses from around the country that have been relocated and restored, is particularly famous. During the fall, trees planted across the park - such as Japanese maple in the museum grounds, Trident maple along the main path, and Chinese sweetgum in the East Central Plaza - all color beautifully.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually late November - early December

10. Daiitoku-ji (Kishiwada City)

Famous for its fall foliage, this temple belongs to the Tendai sect of Buddhism. There are Japanese maple and gingko trees near its treasure tower, which is an important cultural property of Japan, as well as numerous other trees around the temple grounds. All of these trees color beautifully in the fall. The scenery created by the foliage and the variegated landscape, which includes the valley at Ushitaki River, numerous waterfalls of various sizes, and moss-covered stone steps, is fantastic. A festival known as the “Momiji Matsuri” is held during the height of the fall foliage season.

Best time to see the foliage: Usually early to late November

11. Settsukyo Park (Takatsuki City)

Settsukyo Park is recommended for those who want to enjoy the fall foliage while hiking among nature. It is a vast park in a forest in the mountain with a 2 km (one way) hiking course along a valley perfect for a relaxing hike listening to bird songs and the flow of the river. The colorful leaves falling into the river make for wonderful photographs.

Best time to see the foliage: Late October - late November

12. Mt. Inunaki (Izumisano City)

Mt. Inunaki has 48 waterfalls of varying sizes all surrounded by beautiful fall foliage. The path leading up to Inunakisan Shipporyu-ji temple has a mystic feel to it and is a popular spot for seeing the changing leaves. At the foot of the mountain, there are onsen hot springs to enjoy after a hike of quintessentially Japanese views of waterfalls, temple, and fall foliage.

Best time to see the foliage: Mid to late November

13. Hirokawa-dera (Kanan Town)

Hirokawa-dera temple is famous for its cherry blossoms in the spring, but its fall foliage is just as fantastic. There is a wonderful contrast between the serene main temple building and the vivid colors of the fall foliage surrounding it. The best spot is behind the main temple building, so be sure to go around and enjoy the colors. There is also a path up the mountain at the back so you can see the view from the top.

Best time to see the foliage: Mid to late November
Admission fee: Entry to the garden and Saigyo Memorial Museum - Adult 500 JPY, Child 200 JPY

14. Hoshida-enchi Park (Osaka City)

This is a place where you can enjoy a little thrill together with the beautiful fall foliage. Hoshida-enchi Park is a 250-acre natural park famous for a huge suspension bridge affectionately known as Hoshi no Buranko (Star Swing). It is a rare place where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of colorful fall foliage. There is also a great viewing spot with a panoramic view encompassing the suspension bridge and even Kyoto City.

Best time to see the foliage: Mid-November - early December

15. Kanshinji Temple (Kawachinagano City)

Kanshinji Temple has a main temple structure that is designated as a National Treasure that is surrounded by beautiful red maple and yellow ginkgo leaves in the fall. The colors enhance the beauty of the building that is painted crimson. If you are going to Kanshinji Temple, be sure to stop by at the nearby KU-RI restaurant, where you can enjoy Shojin vegetarian cuisine with a modern twist in a comfortable space with a modern Japanese design. It is a popular restaurant, so be sure to make reservations online.

Best time to see the foliage: Late November
Admission fee to Kanshinji Temple: Adult 300 JPY, elementary and junior high school student 100 JPY

It can get quite cool in the evening, so if you plan to go see the fall foliage lit up at night, make sure to dress warmly!