Minoh, Toyonaka, Takatsuki Travel Guides

A bedroom town located in the northern part of Osaka Prefecture. The area is rich in nature and is home to the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, famous for the Tower of the Sun. It is also convenient for access to neighboring Hyogo and Kyoto prefectures, making it a good base for sightseeing in Keihanshin (Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe).

The Minoh, Toyonaka, and Takatsuki areas offer sightseeing spots such as Atago Shrine, Hattori Ryokuchi, and Expo Park; sightseeing events such as the Inagawa Fireworks Festival, Takatsuki Jazz Street, and Ibaraki Festival; and local gourmet foods such as okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and sake lees soup.

Toyonaka is an area with an airport, which used to be called Osaka International Airport and has since become "Itami Airport" since the Kansai International Airport was built, and an upscale residential area. Expressway ICs are concentrated in various directions, making it a convenient area to travel anywhere from Toyonaka to Kobe, Osaka City, Kyoto, and the Sea of Japan.

Takatsuki is located almost halfway between Kyoto and Osaka, and this area is famous for its numerous ancient tombs and for the excavation of "haniwa" (clay figurines). The area is also famous as the base of "Miyoshi Nagayoshi." Minoh is a bedroom town of Osaka and is known as a high-class residential area. Minoh Park" is famous for the monkeys on the loose. However, the monkeys here are very belligerent, so for your own safety, do not open the windows, but close them.

In addition to being a major transportation hub, Toyonaka City is also an area where fossils and ruins are often excavated. The city was also the site of numerous settlements during the Yayoi period and a battlefield during the Warring States period, and although it was severely damaged, it was restored in the mid-Edo period and eventually came under the rule of the Tokugawa family. Toyonaka City is also a district with various strict environmental restrictions. In particular, carbon dioxide emission regulations are in place, so it is best to refrain as much as possible from exploring the city by car.

Takatsuki City has a lot of nature, and the upper reaches of the Akutagawa River, which runs through the city, have been selected as one of the "100 best places for greenery in Osaka. Takatsuki Castle, where Takayama Ukon also served as lord of the castle, is another famous sightseeing spot.

As for gourmet food, "Double Curry" is especially famous in Takatsuki these days. It is a new gourmet spot located in the shopping arcade just off Hankyu Takatsuki City Station. Minoh is also famous for "Momiji-manju" and "Mon-chan senbei" (rice crackers). Many of Minoh's local products can be made into souvenirs, so those who stop by should consider that as well when strolling the area.

During the spring and fall tourist seasons, the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves seen at "Settsukyo", which is popular among locals, are known to be very beautiful. There are also many campgrounds, and a great many people enjoy barbecues.