Mino Park – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

A Visit to Ryuanji (Osaka, Japan)

Susan Spann Blog May 24, 2017November 8, 2017Buddhism, Japan, Mino Park, Osaka, ryuanji, temples, tourism, travel

Ryuanji is a Buddhist temple located in Minō Park, just north of Osaka. The temple itself lies about a 25 minute walk from the park entrance, on the path that leads to Minō Falls (one of Japan’s most beautiful waterfalls, and the reason many people visit Minō Park). Originally founded in 650 by an ascetic monk named En no Gyoja, Ryuanji is also the home to one of the oldest statues of Benzaiten (the goddess of music, fortune, and knowledge) in Japan. Although originally known as Minō-dera, the temple is now known as Ryuanji. It has been a functioning Buddhist temple continually since the

A Visit to One of Japan’s Most Spectacular Waterfalls

Susan Spann Blog May 22, 2017November 8, 2017Japan, Mino Park, Osaka, photography, travel, waterfalls

Minō Park, North of Osaka, is home to one of Japan’s most spectacular waterfalls – the 33-meter (99′) Minō Falls: The falls are the park’s most famous attraction, though it’s also known as one of the best places in the Kansai Region for viewing colorful autumn foliage (momijigari). Even the manhole covers in the park demonstrate the area’s pride in its autumn leaves: Visitors reach the falls by hiking a paved 4km trail from the park entrance. The path terminates at the falls, and takes about 45-60 minutes to walk, depending on walking speed and physical fitness. (The walk is paved the entire

A Visit to Minoo Park (Osaka, Japan), Part 1

Susan Spann Blog May 15, 2017November 8, 2017Japan, Mino Park, Minoh, Minoo, momiji tempura, Osaka, tempura maple leaves, tourism, travel, yuzu

As it happens, the home of momiji tempura–Minō Park (also written Minoo or Minoh Park) lies just north of Osaka, about 30 minutes from the hotel I’d booked near Osaka Esaka Station. Better still, Minō Park is also known for its lovely autumn foliage, and home to one of the top-ten waterfalls in Japan (the eponymous Minō Falls).

Hunting the Holy Grail of Japanese Snack Foods

Susan Spann Blog April 18, 2017November 8, 2017Japan, Mino Park, Minoh, momiji, momiji tempura, photography, tempura, tempura maple leaves

Last Sunday was my turn at Murder is Everywhere, so I took the blog in search of one of Japan’s most elusive seasonal treats. Click over and see where the journey took me, and what it was I set out to find…

In Search of: Momiji Tempura (Fried Maple Leaves)

Susan Spann Blog October 4, 2016November 8, 2017eating leaves, Japan, leaves, maple leaves, Mino Park, momiji, momiji tempura, Osaka, tempura, travel

Momijigari, or “viewing autumn leaves,” is a traditional Japanese pastime during the autumn months, when many Japanese trees (including maples, ginko, and other deciduous species) transform from lush, green summer tones: Japanese cuisine is seasonal by nature, and autumn favorites like roasted sweet potatoes (yaki-imo) and chestnuts begin to appear as the season turns. Regional specialties appear in autumn, too, including one I’m hoping to try when I head to Japan later this month: tempura maple leaves (momiji no tempura), a specialty served at Minō Park in Northern Osaka. The maple leaves are pickled in salt for a year, and then fried in a sweetened sesame batter, producing