ADVENTURE OSAKA

After passing Mt. Kunimi, a steady trail continues for a while and Shirahata Pond appears. Many migratory birds stay here during winter, and you can see other types of waterfowls resting above the pond during the other seasons. On the banks of Shirahata Pond is an animal fureai center where you can learn about the ecology of wild birds and plants.

At the top of Mt. Kono is a big rock called Kannoniwa that people can sit on. It is also one of the landmarks of Katano City.

In ancient times, this place used to be the training ground for Buddhism. This rock is named Kannoniwa, kannon known as one of the deities in Japanese Buddhism, because Sanskrit characters are carved on the west side of the rock.

From the top of the Kannoniwa, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the entire Kansai region.

Hoshi no Buranko is a 280m-long suspension bridge with a maximum height of 50m located in the Hoshida Enchi quasi-national park. It is the largest pedestrian suspension bridges with wooden deck plates in Japan.

Katano is where the legend of Tanabata (the Star Festival) originated, and this suspension bridge is given the name Hoshi no Buranko, meaning star swing, in the sense that it is the symbol of the land where the stars fall.

From the suspension bridge, you can see beautiful sceneries during different seasons, and you can enjoy the thrill of walking in the sky. In recent years, this area has become the most popular spot for autumn leaves in the Kansai region, many visitors travel to this area during the season.

Mt. Iimori is a mountain in the Ikoma Highland with a lower altitude of 314m and is easily accessible from Daito city and Shijonawate city. At the foot of the mountain, you can find several shrines and temples such as Shijonawate Shrine, Hojo Shrine, and Nozaki Kannon. In addition, the ruins of Mt. Iimori Castle are on the top of the mountain offering a time-travel like experience for you to see what the warlords of the ancient times saw.

With different route options, many hikers come here on weekends and holidays. Although Mt. Iimori has a lower altitude, it is not short of beautiful sceneries of both the mountain and the city.

After passing Mt. Ikoma and go further south, you will arrive at Kashiwara City where the Yamato River flows. Activities such as kayaking or paddling down the Yamato River on a standup paddleboard first and then using E-bike (electric assist bicycle) to tour the city and learn the history are held irregularly. Also, Kashiwara City is very accessible by trains such as the JR lines and Kintetsu lines.

A commercial facility in front of Hirakatashi Station on the Keihan Electric Railway, which is in the central area of Hirakata city. You can find a wide range of shops from hair salons to clothing, food, every day necessities stores to restaurants, and so on. The number of books sold in Hirakata city is one of the highest in the Kansai region because the famous Tsutaya Bookstore was founded here.

Extensive use of glass in the exterior of Hirakata T-Site gives it a unique presence both during the day and at night. A 7m high bookshelf was installed on the wall between the 4th and the 5th floor of the building. Since its installation in 2016, it has become a popular photo spot on social media platforms.

parkrun is a community event held all over the world where you can walk, jog, run, or spectate. You can participate in the 5km long event every Saturday morning for free with no time limit. The number of participants from overseas is increasing, and more and more people are participating in parkrun while visiting Japan. There are two parks near the Ikoma trail that hold the event. The first one is "Yodogawa River Park Hirakata District parkrun" in Hirakata city, and the second one is “Fukakitaryokuchi parkrun” in Daito city.

Why not take part in a parkrun in Osaka while on your trip in Japan?

Yamano Shuzou is a sake brewery in Katano city. Although it is a small brewery, it has been in business since the Edo period (1603~1868), and uses water from the Ikoma Highland and high-quality local sake rice to brew and sell the best quality sake.

Other than Yamano Shuzou there is another sake brewery in Katano city.

Cafe Gambi is a coffee shop located in Katano City near Kisaichi Station on Keihan Railway. Although this is a café, it is in fact famous for its domestically collected, unrefined, and additive-free honey. During summer, they travel to Hokkaido, collect honey, raise honeybees, and return to Katano around November.

Cafe Gambi is the place where you can find quality honey. They are constantly receiving orders from not only Osaka, but all over the country as well.

Just a 5-minute walk away from JR Shijonawate Station is a park area and commercial facility. You can find restaurants, shops, sportswear shops and other shops here. And behind this commercial area Mt. Iimori rises. You can stop by on your way to and from Mt. Iimori, or just spend some time relaxing in the area.

Katashimo Winery was founded in 1914. While it is the oldest winery in western Japan, wines are produced from cultivating and fermenting in the vineyard owned by the winery to bottling all by themselves.

Now new wines are still being produced. Wine produced by Katashimo Winery was served at the welcome reception for the G20 Osaka Summit held in 2019 and at the dinner parties for the Heads of state.

Kamenose, located in the valley on the border of Osaka and Nara, is said to have had a landslide about 40,000 years ago.

If another landslide occurs in this area, key transportation routes such as Route 25 and the JR Kansai Line may be cut off, and it may cause major floods.

Since 1962, landslide countermeasure constructions have been carried out under the direct control of the current Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

In the reference room, you can see what the drainage tunnel is like and the remains of the former Osaka Railway Kamenose Tunnel, which was buried after completion.

You can also kayak or standup paddleboard down the river.

Hoshinosato Iwafune is a 10minutes walk from Kisaichi Station, Keihan Katano Line.

It also take about 60 minutes from Hoshino-Branko via trail.

You can stay at the lodge, which is located in front of the river.

No meals are provided, there are convenience stores and supermarkets nearby.

URL:http://www.k-hoshinosato.jp/

Active Square Daito is a 3minutes walk from Nozaki Station, JR Gakkentoshi Line.

This venue used to be an elementary school, and was renovated. And there is also a sumo ring.

During the season of the OSAKA GRAND SUMO TOURNAMENT in March, is Sumo wrestlers use the venue as an accommodation.

There are Japanese-style rooms and Western-style rooms, and there is also a coin laundry. And have plans that include breakfast and dinner, and there are restaurants nearby.

URL:https://as-daito.com/

Bed & Bicycle is a guest house in Kashiwara City.

This building was built in 1934, and opened in 2018 after renovation.

It is possible to rent a bicycle, and you can take a ride to the vineyards, rice terraces, and ancient tombs.

You can also apply for cycling and standup paddleboat tours at the guest house.

URL:https://bedandbicycle.jimdofree.com/english/