Minoh/Minoo

Minoh City is known for its rich natural environment and is located about 30 minutes from Osaka. The name “Minoh” is said to come from the shape of Minoh Falls, whose “face” resembles a “mino,” a traditional winnowing tool used to sift grain and separate husks and straw. In addition to Minoh Falls—selected among Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls and a symbol of the city—Minoh offers attractions such as Ryuanji Temple, famous as the birthplace of lottery tickets, and Katsuoji Temple, known as a “temple of victory.” The area around Minoh Falls is part of Meiji no Mori Minoh Quasi-National Park, a scenic nature park spreading across the northern mountains of Minoh City at elevations of about 100 to 600 meters. The park is home to 980 plant species and more than 3,000 insect species. Minoh’s history is ancient, dating back to the Jomon period; pottery and stone tools used by people 3,000 to 6,000 years ago have been unearthed across the area. In the Nara period, Ryuanji and Katsuoji were founded; in the Kamakura period, commercial forestry developed; and in the Edo period, the region became known not only for rice cultivation for sake brewing but also for fruit growing and charcoal production.