Hoshida Park, with its Star Swing, is located in Katano City, in the northeastern part of Osaka Prefecture.

For access from Osaka City, transfer to the Katano Line at Hirakata Station on the Keihan Electric Railway and get off at Kisaichi Station.

It’s about a 30-minute walk from there. From Kisaichi Station, walk along National Route 168, and after a while, you will see a river flowing parallel to the road. This is the Amano River. To go to Hoshida Park, continue along the nature trail that stretches along the Amano River.

We visited during the latter part of May when the foliage was a lush green. Walking through this pleasant greenery you will arrive at the entrance gate to Hoshida Park, one of Osaka's popular tourist attractions. Admission is free.

Very near the information board, you can see the Forest Railway-style Footbridge.

This wood deck bridge is about 200 meters long and about 10 meters above the ground. The sounds of the babbling brook and birds singing in the woods fill the air. While slowly walking along amid this lovely nature, a gentle breeze would sometimes rustle the leaves of the trees and carry on it the fresh scent of the earth.

After passing over the forest railway-like pedestrian bridge, the field of view gradually expanded. Just ahead is the climbing wall, which rises to a height of about 16.5 meters!

Groups of 2 to 6 people can use it if accompanied by one adult at least 20 years of age, who has passed the climbing class held by Hoshida Park (for 4th graders and above) and have been certified. There are also regular seminars for beginners, so please check the website (participation fee is 3,000 yen per person, tax included; reservations accepted from one month in advance on a first-come-first-served basis).

The Piton Lodge faces the Climbing Wall. The building is a combined rest area and information center. Inside there are vending machines for drinks and ice cream as well as tables and chairs for relaxing and a washroom. It can be used free of charge between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

After a brief rest here, let’s now head to the Hoshi-no-Buranko - Star Swing! As I walked along the wide, gently sloping gravel path, I saw something in the sky between the trees ahead. It appeared to be part of the suspension bridge.

Walking about 10 minutes from the Piton Lodge I came upon a signboard.

Until now, walking has been easy, but from here, it changes; wending your way through the trees, you need to walk up the stairs carefully. The gigantic boulder beside the path is somewhat overwhelming.

There is only this single path, so no need to worry about becoming lost. I suddenly became anxious when I saw a Beware of Pit Vipers sign and glanced about me. I was surprised when I saw a lizard suddenly dart past my feet, and I continued my way along the Road of Adventure in this extraordinary natural setting.

While taking rests along the way, I walked about 30 minutes on the Road of Adventure, which finally came out onto a wide, gently sloping road. The Star Swing was only about two or three minutes away from here.

Something suddenly came into view! It was the Hoshi-no-Buranko - Star Swing suspension bridge.

The Star Swing, at an elevation of 180 meters, is a wooden planked pedestrian suspension bridge about 280 meters long and about 50 meters above the ground. This is one of the largest pedestrian suspension bridges having wooden planking in the country!

It was time to cross it. Naturally, beneath the planking, there was nothing but trees growing far below. I suddenly became scared and very nervously placed one foot ahead of the other.

I started forward very cautiously. The planks seemed to be thick enough to support my weight without bending, and there was a metal handrail, too. The wind did not cause the bridge to sway, so I felt a little relieved!

Even if you don't like high places, you might be able to cross over while enjoying the surrounding nature as the bridge is very solidly constructed. This area in Hoshida Park is stunning in the autumn when the leaves are all red and yellow.

There is a place in Hoshida Park where you can enjoy an even more exhilarating view. To reach it, you need to walk a bit farther after you cross the Star Swing. On the way, you will pass the Yamabiko Plaza, a rest area with restrooms.

Beyond the forested mountain is Kyoto City in the right rear background. From there, continuing to the left, you can see Takatsuki City and Hirakata City in Osaka Prefecture. If you look even further to the left, you will see the Tower of the Sun standing at the Expo'70 Commemoration Park in Suita City.

Hoshida Garden is a place set in the broad expanse of nature where you enjoy the clean, forest air in an area that can be easily accessed from Osaka. This place is wildly popular and heavily visited by many people during the spring and autumn, as well as on weekends and major holidays; the parking lot can accommodate 88 normal-sized vehicles. You can also quickly get there using public transportation.

The area from Katano City, where the Hoshida Garden is located, to the neighboring Hirakata City, is considered the birthplace of the legend of Tanabata in Japan. Katano City is also called the “Star Town” because it is dotted with spots related to Tanabata.

We took this occasion to visit the Hatamono Shrine, the most famous of all these.

After returning from Hoshida Park to Kisaichi Station, take the train to Kawachimori Station, one stop away. From there walk about five minutes to the JR Kawauchi-Iwafune Station and from there take the Katamachi Line (Gakken Toshi Line) one stop to Tsuda Station and get off there. It is about a 15-minute walk to Hatamono Shrine.

Trade with the continent began during the 3rd to 7th-century Kofun [Tumulus] Period. It is thought that a group of visitors with sericulture and weaving techniques, as well as those familiar with constellations, came from Chang'an (now Xian) in China and settled in the area of the Hatamono Shrine. For this reason, it is said that Orihime [The Weaver Girl] came to be enshrined here.

Then in the early Heian period Emperor Kanmu held a festival around here to deify the North Star and pray for the well-being of the nation. As a result, the nobility of Kyoto came to visit this place as a hunting ground and held poetry parties related to Tanabata.

Although it is a small shrine, I was amazed by the richness of its history in this area that has been inhabited since the arrival of the first visitors from the continent.

A grand Tanabata Festival is held on July 6th and 7th every year.

In the adjacent Hirakata City, there is also a Kengyu-Seki (Cowherd Stone), where the spirit of Hikoboshi (Altair) is said to reside. It is said that this area is also called the Village of Tanabata after the Tanabata legend, where Orihime and the cowherd meet once a year across the Amano River.

Make sure to visit Katano City, Osaka, for a superb view of the Star Swing that can be enjoyed by both adults and children, and discover the romantic Tanabata legend.