To enjoy nature from Osaka-umeda Station, we recommend the following three areas: Minoh in Osaka, Arashiyama in Kyoto, and Mt. Rokko in Kobe. All are easily accessible and offer stunning scenery and delicious cuisine, making them perfect for families and people who like outdoor activities.

・Minoh area introduction

Take the Takarazuka Main Line Express train from Osaka-umeda Station, which will take 17 minutes, before transferring at Ishibashi Handai-mae Station to the Minoh Line. After a six-minute ride, you will arrive at Minoh Station, the final stop. Follow the 2.7-km waterfall trail leading from the station to Minoh Falls. This gently sloped pedestrian-only paved road takes about 40 minutes to walk and offers a scenic stroll through the picturesque valley landscape.

・What to see on the waterfall trail

Be sure to bring your sightseeing map, available at the Minoh Transportation and Tourist Information Center. The popular "Momiji no Tempura," deep-fried maple leaves, stand out among the many souvenir shops and restaurants on each side of the waterfall trail. Matching the autumn colors the area is known for, these crispy snacks made by dipping salted maple leaves in batter and deep-frying them are a surprising treat.

After crossing Ichino Bridge, you will enter a quasi-national park. The paved waterfall trail alongside the Minoh River is well-marked with signs, ensuring you can find your way easily. If you need a rest, you can relax at the old folk house Umeyashiki or the Shugyo no Koba rest area, both available for free. There are also several restrooms along the trail.

Along the waterfall trail, you can stop to visit the Minoh Park Insect Museum, which is famous for its tranquil butterfly garden. You can also explore Mt. Minoh’s Ryuanji Temple, which is said to have been founded in 650 by En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, as well as the giant boulder Tojin Modoriiwa, associated with a local legend.

・The park’s main highlight, Minoh Falls

The final spot on the trail is Minoh Falls, a beautiful 33-meter waterfall that changes appearance with the seasons. In the fall, the red and yellow leaves frame the falls, drawing many visitors.

On your way back to Osaka, transfer to the Osaka Monorail at Hotarugaike Station to reach the Expo '70 Commemorative Park. There, you can see the symbol of Expo 70 Osaka, the Tower of the Sun, up close.

・Arashiyama area introduction

To reach Arashiyama Station, it will take you 35 minutes from Osaka-umeda Station via the Kyoto Line on a Limited Express train, followed by a seven-minute ride from Katsura Station on the Arashiyama Line to the final stop. Renowned for its beautiful scenery, Arashiyama is considered a classic sightseeing spot. From the Togetsukyo Bridge to the Sagano district, visitors can find charming souvenirs, delicious local food, and historic temples and shrines. For a more relaxing sightseeing experience, we recommend going early in the morning.

・What to see in Arashiyama and Sagano

After crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge, you will find various souvenir shops and restaurants offering Kyoto specialties and quick snacks.

About 250 meters beyond the bridge, you will reach Tenryuji Temple, which opens to visitors at 8:30 AM. Take a walk through the Hyakkaen Garden inside the temple grounds, then exit through the north gate to discover a Sagano landmark: the bamboo forest Chikurin no Komichi.

Chikurin no Komichi is a 400-meter walking path from Nonomiya Shrine to Okochi Sanso Garden. The tall bamboo trees lining both sides are spectacular, and since there are few visitors before 7 AM, it’s the perfect time to take pictures. At night, the path is illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere.
The area from Arashiyama to Sagano offers many interesting attractions, so we recommend renting a bicycle to get around in order to expand your range.

To visit Mt. Rokko, the symbol of Kobe, take the Limited Express train on the Kobe Line from Osaka-umeda Station, transfer to a local train after 12 minutes at Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station, and get off at Rokko Station after eight minutes. From there, take the Kobe City Bus Route 16, which will take you to the Rokko Cable Shita stop in 14 minutes. Then, transfer at the Rokko Cable stop and get off at Rokko Sanjo Station after 10 minutes.

・Sightseeing spots

The central area on Mt. Rokko, Higashi Rokko, is home to many sightseeing spots. To get there, take the Rokko Sanjo Route 1 to Rokko-Arima Ropeway Sancho Station.

To visit the Rokko Morinone Museum, get off at the second stop, the Morinone Museum bus stop. There, you can enjoy the beauty of Rokko in this natural garden, relax while admiring 300 varieties of flowers, and listen to the gentle sounds of the stream, complemented by the chirping of birds and insects.

You can also enjoy exhibits and performances featuring self-playing musical instruments, such as antique music boxes and karakuri mechanical puppets at the Morinone Hall.

Rokko Garden Terrace, a classic tourist destination, is the third stop from the Morinone Museum bus stop. This facility offers a variety of restaurants and shops where you can enjoy nature, food, and art.

Visitors can admire panoramic views of Kobe and Osaka from numerous observation points throughout the area. Be sure not to miss the stunning landscape known as the "million-dollar night view," which appears as if it were studded with jewels. You can appreciate views of Kobe both during the day and at night.

If you’re looking to enjoy great food, shopping, and interactions with locals, these next two itineraries are for you. One takes you from Kyoto’s lively Kawaramachi area to Juso in Osaka, while the other starts in the charming port city of Kobe and leads to the retro shopping streets of Nakazakicho in Osaka. Both routes offer a rich mix of old-town charm and modern flair: perfect for experiencing the everyday culture of Kansai.

・Kyoto-Kawaramachi introduction

Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, the last stop on the Kyoto Line’s Limited Express train, is your starting point after a 43-minute ride from Osaka-umeda Station. It is Kyoto’s busiest downtown district. Centered around Shijo Kawaramachi, where the streets of Shijo-dori and Kawaramachi-dori intersect, the area features well-established department stores and large commercial buildings.

The Kyoto Shinkyogoku Shopping Street and Teramachi Street, located west of Shijo Kawaramachi, are shopping arcades perfect for leisurely browsing and trying various foods, even on rainy days. To the east, Kiyamachi-dori Street and Pontocho are charming drinking areas with cobblestone pavements and traditional wooden townhouses. The area boasts an abundance of restaurants serving Kyoto cuisine, as well as pubs and bars, creating a lively nighttime atmosphere typical of the city.

・What to see in Kyoto’s downtown area

Located just off the main streets of Shijo-dori and Kawaramachi-dori, you will find a variety of cafes and shops in renovated townhouses, offering classic Kyoto scenery. This area, full of unique shops, is sure to have something to suit your taste.

The Kamo River flows from northern to southern Kyoto and features a well-maintained promenade ideal for strolls and relaxing breaks. During summer, riverside restaurants provide terrace seating known as "yuka," where locals enjoy drinks and meals in the cool evening air.

Crossing the Shijo-ohashi Bridge and heading east leads you to Gion, home to the Hanamikoji geisha district, a historic entertainment area lined with teahouses, traditional Japanese restaurants, and cafes in restored townhouses stretching approximately 800 meters from north to south.

At the southern end of Hanamikoji is Kenninji Temple, Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple. Visitors can experience the beauty of Zen by exploring its tranquil grounds, including the rock garden and a reproduction of the Wind God and Thunder God Screens, designated as a National Treasure.

When you reach the eastern end of Shijo-dori Street, you will arrive at Yasaka Shrine, characterized by its large vermilion-lacquered torii gate. The shrine is renowned for blessings that ward off bad luck and attract good fortune, and its nighttime illumination provides excellent photo opportunities. Since it is a popular spot, we recommend visiting early in the morning.

・Juso Introduction

The area around Juso Station, which is six minutes from Osaka-umeda Station on the Kobe, Kyoto, or Takarazuka Lines, features a vibrant downtown atmosphere. Juso Station has two ticket gates on the east and west sides, and after exiting them, visitors can walk through a passageway beneath the railroad tracks.

The east ticket gate is located near Juso-ekimae-dori and Juso-ekimae Shopping Street. The shopping street and surrounding alleyways, bustling with local residents, include many pubs where you can have a drink during lunchtime.

Upon exiting the west ticket gate, you will find yourself in an arcade, as if the station and shopping arcade were all in one place. Nearby is an old shop selling Japanese sweets famous for its mitarashi dango rice dumplings, often with a long line of customers waiting.

Experience "deep Osaka" in the Juso area. Located close to central Osaka, it is a convenient stop on your way to Kyoto or Takarazuka.

・Sannomiya introduction

The area around Kobe-Sannomiya Station, 28 minutes by express train on the Kobe Line from Osaka-umeda Station, is the central area of Kobe and can be easily explored as a day trip from Osaka. Kobe will make you feel as if you have stepped into a foreign country with its proximity to the sea and mountains. In the city, you can also enjoy shopping and delicious food.

・What to see

Meriken Park is one of the most popular destinations when visiting Kobe, and it takes about 20 minutes to travel from Kobe-Sannomiya Station to the southwestern seaside for a leisurely stroll through the streets. The Kobe Port Tower, which was renovated and reopened in 2024, is the city’s landmark.

Harborland is a 10-minute walk west along the waterfront from Meriken Park and offers typical Kobe scenery. You can find large complex facilities such as Kobe Harborland umie with over 200 stores and the Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall, where you can enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Kobe Kitano Ijinkan is a 15-minute walk north of Kobe-Sannomiya Station. This area developed as a settlement for foreigners with the opening of the Port of Kobe, and its Western-style buildings from that era still stand, creating a unique blend of cultures. Many buildings can be toured, including the Weathercock House, Uroko House, and Moegi House. A map of the area is available at the Kitano Tourist Information Center located on the south side of the Weathercock House to help guide your exploration of the Ijinkan.

・Stroll around Nakazakicho and Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street

A 10-minute walk east from Osaka-umeda Station will take you to the Nakazakicho area where people enjoy visiting cafes. Locals preserve the charm of the many remaining traditional townhouses and rowhouses by converting them into shops and retro cafes reminiscent of the Showa era.

Head east near Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line’s Nakazakicho Station to enter the Tengo Nakazaki-dori Shopping Street where you can enjoy the retro atmosphere as you explore and make your way toward Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street.

Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street stretches from Tenjimbashisuji-ichome to Tenjimbashisuji-nanachome (north to south) and is known as Japan’s longest shopping street. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from one end to the other, during which you can taste typical Osaka specialties such as takoyaki, a ball-shaped octopus snack, and okonomiyaki, a grilled savory pancake.

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, situated near Tenjimbashisuji-rokuchome Station on the Osaka Metro and Hankyu Railway lines, is popular for its recreation of Edo-period Osaka. Visitors can learn how daily life was in the city through realistic sounds, images, and the scenery changing depending on the time of day.

In the Nakazakicho and Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street areas, some cafes stay open late into the night, providing a perfect spot to relax with a cup of coffee or a sweet treat after a long day.

The Hankyu 1-Day Pass offers a convenient way to visit the sightseeing spots introduced in this article, as well as other destinations in Osaka. This digital ticket grants unlimited travel on all Hankyu train lines for one day and can be purchased through the Enjoy website operated by Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. To use the pass, simply scan the QR code at the ticket gate. Traveling by train has never been easier.
Support in multiple languages is available (English, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese).

The Hankyu Railway, which connects Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, allows visitors to conveniently explore the top attractions in the Kansai region. Just a short distance from the city center, you can discover abundant greenery, another highlight of Kansai. If you are visiting the city for Expo 2025 Osaka, be sure to take the opportunity to travel around Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe.