Trip to Minoo

We've met some Japanese friends through capoeira here in Osaka (more on that later). For the national "Thank you for working" Holiday Nov. 23rd, they invited us to go to Meiji Memorial Forest, a Quasi-National Park in Minoo that has a waterfall. That being said I assumed it would be far and hard to get to. Luckily I was wrong. We met up at Umeda/Osaka station, then got on the Hankyu Railway Takarazuka line, then switched at Ishinbashi to the Minoo line. The total transit was under an hour and only 510 Yen. Once there we followed the trail- 45 min. walk to the waterfall with a lot to see on the way. Minoo was a wonderful escape to the mountains and especially fun with some Japanese friends.

Scott, me, Saori, Massa, Tomo, and Iwakatsu

Me, Tomo, Yuzu-kun (mascot of Minoo) and Roberto. Yuzu is a citrus that grows in Minoo. It tasted like a grapefruit with some mandarin. Its only the size of a clementine but packed with seeds.

Checkin' out the Tempura Maples...

YUMM Fried leaves.

Shakuhachi Master stopped to play us a tune. Awesome!

Wash your hands before ringing the bell.

Ring the bell for luck!

Get your fortune.... er, I can't read this! I was told it said "kind of lucky." Good enough!

If your fortune is bad, tie it to the tree.

Tomo and the bridge kitty

Beautiful fall colors!

Scott showing off his origami skills. Cranes are for sissies- check out this spider!!

Mystical stairs to... somewhere mystical.

So vast.

We made it to the waterfall!

OMG monkey! The guides at Minoo said that the monkeys have learned how to get money from people and then put it in the vending machines to get drinks. I can believe that... I wonder if they like beer? Or maybe banana milk??

No bananas for monkeys. :( Sorry.

A wide variety of Maneki Nekos.

Merry Christmas!?

More info on Minoo here-

http://www.kansai.gr.jp/culture_e/nature/park/meiji.htm