15 Jun 2023

Only in Osaka: Exploring Minoh Park and Osaka Castle Park

After meeting our Expedition Leader Nathan Russ and most our of our expedition team the night before at Osaka Hilton, the first day of our Asian Island Odyssey voyage began with an exciting exploration of Osaka.

Weather was a pleasant 23° Celsius as we explored our first stop at Minoh Park, established in 1967 to commemorate the centennial celebrations of the accession of Emperor Meiji. With a height of 33 metres, Minoh Waterfall is the park's main attraction. Its name comes from the fall's resemblance to winnowing, a traditional farming technique to separate grains from husks, and was later applied to the area in general. The hiking trail follows a crystal-clear stream and a lush forest home to macaques and unique birdlife, passing charming small shops selling battered maple leaves. Along the way there were a few temple buildings, Ryuanji Temple being the most impressive. A visit to the Minoh Park Insectarium offered the chance to view some of the endemic species along with a colourful butterfly pavilion.

Our next stop was the 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, one of Japan's most famous landmarks as it played a major role in the unification of Japan in the 16^th century under the leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It's surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees while the Osaka Castle Main Tower stands tall at the centre of the extensive premises of the castle. The observation deck on the 8^th floor commands a panoramic view of Osaka Castle Park and the Osaka Plain, while the exhibition rooms showcase authentic historical artefacts. We learn first-hand about the attractive features of the castle, dramatic stories of warlords and the interesting history of Osaka.

Our explorations ended at Osaka's port where Heritage Adventurer was ready to welcome us with lunch followed by an option to visit the nearby Aquarium before setting sail for Takamatsu.

Image (c) by: R.Morris