Enjoy nature and hot springs! 17 recommended sightseeing spots to fully enjoy Nose Town, Osaka Prefecture

Nose Town, located at the northern tip of Osaka Prefecture, boasts abundant nature, local delicacies, and hot springs, making it a destination full of charm. With excellent access from Osaka City, it’s an ideal spot for a quick weekend getaway. Here’s a guide to the most attractive tourist spots in Nose Town.

1. "The Great Zelkova of Noma" - A 1,000-year-old tree with astonishing vitality and presence.

Why not take a look at the overwhelming presence of nature while sightseeing in Nose Town? It is a zelkova tree that is said to be 1000 years old. It stands majestically in the grounds of Noma Shrine in Nose Town, which has many local parishioners and is a giant tree that the town is proud of nationwide, with a height of about 30 meters and a trunk circumference of about 14 meters. It is the largest zelkova tree owned by a temple or shrine in Japan, and many people visit it to see it. In addition to being designated a national natural monument, it has been selected as one of the "New 100 Famous Trees of Japan" and "Osaka Green Top 100," attracting attention from all over the country. A 1000-year-old tree means that it has continued to live for 10 centuries, and it is likely that it has been very difficult to restore its vigor.

It goes without saying that the power of a sacred tree resides in it, and just being near the "Noma no Okiyaki" makes you feel as if you will receive mysterious power. It is a recommended spot for sightseeing in Nose Town that will make you think about the wonders of nature and the strength of life.

2. "Ichigo-en Nakagawa" - Enjoy strawberry picking while surrounded by Nose’s natural beauty.

Fruit cultivation is also popular in Nose Town, which is blessed with a rich nature. One of the characteristics is that there are many tourist farms where tourists can casually enjoy fruit picking. "Ichigoen Nakagawa" is a tourist farm located at the northern end of Nose, surrounded by rich mountains, and is working day and night to produce delicious strawberries.

Strawberry picking is perfect for people who want to enjoy the nature of Nose while sightseeing, but also want to try something other than leisure. Another attractive feature is that it is grown in a greenhouse, so it is not affected by the weather. When it comes to strawberry picking as a tourist, you usually have to maintain a difficult position while sitting on the ground and looking down, but here, the seedling beds are more than 1m above the ground, so you can pick them while standing.

The aisles are wide, making it easy to move around in wheelchairs and strollers, so it is a nice point that everyone who visits Nose can enjoy it. It is an all-you-can-eat for 30 minutes, so enjoy strawberry picking until you are full. There is also an option for condensed milk service.

3. "Shio-no-Yu Onsen" - A historic hot spring with 1,000 years of history and delicious mountain cuisine.

Shionoyu Onsen is a hot spring that boasts the blessings of the mountains of Nose and a long history. It is easily accessible from anywhere in the Kansai region, and it is also attractive that you can easily stop by on your way to and from sightseeing. It is an ancient hot spring resort that dates back about 1,000 years, and the hot springs have been gushing out for a long time without drying up.

The water that springs out is colorless and transparent, but after a while, it turns brown. You can spend a rich bathing time in the hot springs that have been used by great people who have left their mark on history. You can heal your body and mind with delicious and luxurious foods that are the blessings of Nose's nature, such as wild vegetables, matsutake mushrooms, sweetfish, and peony hotpot.

There are tourist spots in the surrounding area where you can fully experience the charm of Nose, such as tourist farms where you can experience digging potatoes, ranches where you can interact with animals and product centers, so it is perfect to use this hot spring as a base for sightseeing and enjoy Nose sightseeing. Please enjoy Nose's nature and the baths that flow directly from the source.

4. "Roadside Station Nose Kuri-no-Sato" - A tourist hub packed with the charms of Nose.

Michi-no-Eki Nose Kuri no Sato is a roadside station located along National Route 173 in Toyono-gun, Osaka Prefecture, and is the perfect spot for a base for sightseeing in Nose and a place to take a break. It is a tranquil place where you can feel the nature of Nose, and there are tourist farms in the surrounding area that grow various fruits. It is also recommended for couples and families to enjoy fruit picking.

Inside the facility, there is a direct sales store that sells Nose's proud agricultural products, and there is a wide selection of products that allow you to feel the charm of Nose, such as rice, local eggs, and Nose cider. The nature of the four seasons will soothe your fatigue from a sightseeing drive and will give tourists a variety of enjoyment, such as cherry blossoms in spring, fireflies in summer, and fruit picking in autumn.

It is also perfect for camping, and you can enjoy outdoor activities such as bird watching. You can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and get in touch with nature while refreshing your body and mind, making it perfect for sightseeing with small children. There are tourist spots such as ranches scattered around the area, so get information and maps at the roadside station and enjoy sightseeing.

5. "Nose Onsen" - A relaxing hot spring to unwind after exploring or trekking in Nose.

Nose Onsen is a hot spring bathing facility where you can enjoy the nature and hot springs of Nose together, and you can also stay overnight and use it as a base for sightseeing. It is a place where you can fully enjoy the tranquil nature, but its great accessibility, about an hour from Osaka city, is also a big attraction.

The Hot Spring Inn has a very calming Japanese atmosphere where you can feel the history and the years of its history. The open-air bath, which is a great point for tourists visiting Nose, allows you to relax in the hot water while enjoying the view of the Japanese garden.

Many tourists enjoy mountain climbing and trekking in the rich mountain ranges that make you feel the changing of nature with the seasons, and then heal their fatigue in the hot springs. The carefully selected dishes, such as seasonal dishes that use plenty of seasonal ingredients from Nose and authentic kaiseki cuisine, are popular with tourists. There are various plans, but if you are using it as a stopover bath while sightseeing in Nose, we recommend the day trip plan that includes meals and hot springs.

There is also a lunch buffet where you can taste a variety of seasonal flavors of Nose at a reasonable price, so even tourists with children will be very satisfied.

6. "Nose Myoken Mountain" - A must-visit spot in Nose tourism.

"Nose Myokensan" is a must-see spot for sightseeing in Nose, and is a mountain visited by many tourists throughout the year. It has an altitude of 660m, and at the top of the mountain is a temple that enshrines Myoken Daibosatsu as a sacred site of the Nichiren sect. It is affectionately known by locals as "Myoken Shrine" and "Nose's Myoken-san", and there is a constant stream of worshippers throughout the year.

There are various ways to reach the top of the mountain, so choose one based on your sightseeing plan and the members you will be traveling with. You can take a cable lift from the foot of the mountain on the south side, and you can slowly look down at the approach to the mountain, decorated with seasonal flowers. For those who are sightseeing in Nose by car, it is convenient to drive to the top of the mountain.

It can also be climbed on foot in about an hour, so it is recommended to take your time climbing while enjoying the gradually changing natural scenery around you. There are five hiking trails, and it is said that Katsu Kaishu and others once walked to worship there, so it is a good idea to follow the same path. There is an observation deck near the temple at the top of the mountain, where a magnificent panoramic view awaits. Be sure to visit this representative tourist spot that is also known as the symbol of Nose.

7. "Mizukoshi Chestnut Garden" - Enjoy chestnut picking in a vast chestnut grove.

Mizukoshi Chestnut Orchard is one of the tourist spots where you can fully enjoy the mountain nature that is full of the charms of Nose. This is a vast chestnut mountain of 70 million square meters that seems mind-boggling, and just looking at it will soothe your soul.

Although it is a chestnut mountain, it is not a steep slope, but a gentle and spacious mountain. You can enjoy the feeling of forest bathing while looking at the various plants that grow naturally, and you will be surprised at how different the air is.

Depending on the season, you can see a scene that reminds you of the original Japanese landscape with many dragonflies flying around, and you will be soothed from the bottom of your heart by the peaceful and quiet nature. The chestnuts cultivated at Mizukoshi Chestnut Orchard are "Ginyo", a specialty of Nose Town. They are characterized by their large kernels and strong sweetness and are Nose's representative chestnuts. Because the chestnut mountain is so vast, even if there are many tourists, the harvesting location can be changed depending on the day, and you can pick up chestnuts that have fallen naturally at any time.

Chestnuts are a representative of autumn taste, so of course the harvesting season overlaps with the autumn foliage season. Another attraction is the luxury of being able to spend time picking seasonal chestnuts while watching the magnificent scenery of the colorful mountains.

8. "Nose Satoyama Creation Center" - Explore the kilns of branded charcoal.

Blessed with rich nature, Nose has been making charcoal since ancient times, making use of its forest resources, and the Nose Satoyama Creation Center was built as a tourist spot to convey the culture of charcoal. Nose is proud of its brand charcoal, Nose Kiku-tan, which is known nationwide. The cross-section of the charcoal is like a delicate chrysanthemum petal pattern, making it a masterpiece like a work of art.

The charcoal is made from sawtooth oak trees grown in the Nose region, located north of the Inagawa River, and they are still planted today. Many people may think of charcoal as yakitori or barbecue, but this chrysanthemum charcoal is famous as a charcoal loved by tea ceremony practitioners. There is a deep and inseparable connection between charcoal and the tea ceremony culture that developed since the time of Sen no Rikyu, and it seems that delicate chrysanthemum charcoal has been favored since ancient times.

The Nose Satoyama Creation Center sells charcoal as a kiln, and also provides tourist information such as charcoal kilns and the planting sites of sawtooth oak trees, which are the raw materials for charcoal. You can see the charcoal kiln, which is something you rarely get the chance to see, and you can also enjoy choosing charcoal objects that can be used as interior decorations and deodorizers, in addition to being used as fuel. It's also a great souvenir from Nose.

9. "Joruri Theater" - Experience the traditional performing arts of Nose.

While sightseeing in Nose, why not experience the traditional performing arts that have been handed down for a long time in this area? Joruri was introduced to Nose about 200 years ago. It is said that Mr. Sugimura, who had trained in Joruri in Osaka, started practicing Joruri in Nose.

When we think of Joruri, we imagine a puppet Joruri performance in which a puppet is skillfully manipulated by a performer dressed in a black costume, but Nose Joruri is a unique style that does not use puppets and is performed using narration and a type of shamisen called a futozao. Steady efforts to pass on the tradition have borne fruit, and in 1974, it was designated an intangible folk cultural asset of Osaka Prefecture, and in 1999, it was designated an intangible folk cultural asset of the country.

With the establishment of this theater in the Heisei era, "Nose Ningyo Joruri" was born, adding new puppets and musical accompaniment, in an effort to preserve Nose's traditional performing arts for future generations. Ningyo Joruri performances are also held at the theater from time to time, providing a place for tourists to easily experience Nose's traditional performing arts.

The lobby is open to tourists even on days when there are no performances, and you can see exhibits of the puppets and tools used in Joruri. Joruri Theater is a tourist spot where you can experience the culture and history of Nose.

10. "Sankukai Onsen" - A sulfur-rich hot spring with natural flow directly from the source.

"Yamakukai Onsen" is a hot spring bathing facility deep in the mountains that will soothe your tired body after sightseeing in Nose Town. As you go deeper into the mountains, you will see the roof of a single-story building with a hot spring mark painted on it in the tranquil scenery of farmland and mountains. It is a short walk from the parking lot to the facility, but you can enjoy nature as you walk along the path between the stream and trees, so you will not get bored.

Also, for those who do not feel like they are in a hot spring unless they can smell sulfur, this Yamakukai Onsen is recommended. As you approach the facility, the pungent smell of sulfur hits your nose, and you can feel the atmosphere of a hot spring. Since it is a facility purely for enjoying hot springs, the building is simple and a little old, but that is why you can enjoy the goodness of a remote hot spring deep in the mountains.

Just turn the faucet and plenty of hot spring water will come out. There are various hot spring bathing facilities in Osaka, but hot spring water with a sulfur smell is very rare. You can relax in the luxurious sulfur spring while surrounded by the nature of Nose.

11. "Tada Experience Farm" - Offers various agricultural experiences throughout the year.

Tada Experience Farm is a popular tourist spot where you can experience the nature of Nose Town. Many people who visit Nose Town for sightseeing want to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and be healed by the great outdoors and the tranquil countryside scenery. It's fun to visit tourist spots where you can enjoy nature and spectacular views, but if you're going to Nose for sightseeing, why not try farm work such as working with the soil with your own hands?

This farm is too large to be called a tourist farm, and it's surprising that 300 people can harvest at once in the vast fields. Not only can you harvest vegetables such as sweet potatoes, cucumbers, edamame, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants, but you can also experience rice farming such as rice planting and harvesting. In spring, you can fully enjoy the tourist feeling by picking flowers and taking photos in the yellow rapeseed fields that bloom all over the place.

In autumn, you can enjoy the sight of the cosmos blooming and enjoy the potatoes and vegetables you harvest at a barbecue. The taste of fresh vegetables just harvested after sweating in the farm work is exceptional. This is a recommended spot where you can fully experience the natural bounty of Nose while sightseeing.

12. "Ichirizumatsu Campsite" - Immerse yourself in outdoor activities surrounded by Nose’s nature.

Ichirimatsu Campsite is a popular campsite for tourists as an outdoor leisure spot where you can enjoy the nature of Nose. Surrounded by rich nature, you can enjoy an extraordinary world where you can encounter various plants and wild animals. It is one of the places you should definitely visit if you are enjoying sightseeing in Nose with your family.

A cute log cabin-style lodge like one in a picture book or movie is built in the forest, and it is recommended as a summer resort. There is also an auto campsite where you can park your car nearby. A beautiful river flows through the site, and children can enjoy natural experiences such as playing in the water, fishing and catching rainbow trout.

At night, you can fall asleep soothed by the stars and the chirping of insects in the complete absence of artificial sounds. Although it is deep in the mountains of Nose, it is equipped with clean flush toilets and diaper changing stations. It is also attractive that you can use it with peace of mind even if you are sightseeing with small children. It is open from March to November and reservations are prioritized, so if you are planning a trip to Nose, make a reservation early.

13. "Wapparu Youth Nature Center" - A facility to fully enjoy Nose’s natural environment.

Wapparu Youth Nature House is a facility where you can casually enjoy nature and outdoor experiences while sightseeing in the nature-rich town of Nose. When you think of a Youth Nature House, you might imagine it being used by groups such as schools and sports clubs, but this is a popular facility for tourists who want to enjoy camping or day camping with their families or groups. There is a forest with untouched nature surrounding it, and you can make various discoveries while enjoying nature walks and forest bathing.

After playing to your heart's content, it's time for outdoor cooking. Unlike modern life surrounded by electrical appliances, you can enjoy cooking by lighting a fire with firewood. There is plenty of time, so why not try a more elaborate dish rather than just the standard curry?

At night, you can enjoy stargazing with the telescope installed on the roof of the facility. Spend your time experiencing nature while sightseeing in Nose.

14. "Tourism Center Kurusu" - Savor the wild flavors of Nose’s cuisine.

If you want to try something a little different and delicious while sightseeing in Nose, you can easily drop by the restaurant "Kurusu Tourist Center" on your sightseeing drive. The restaurant is marked by a large udon lantern, and the recommended dishes are "udon suki" and the currently popular "game dishes".

There is a wide selection of dishes that are rarely on the menu in cities, such as boar hotpot set meals and bear hotpot set meals. "Kurusu Tourist Center" has been featured in the media as a delicious restaurant in Hokusetsu and Nose, so the taste is guaranteed. In the cold season, game hotpot will warm your body and give you energy, blowing away the fatigue of sightseeing.

Depending on the season, you can taste duck and pheasant dishes. The vegetables are of course local to Nose. The restaurant has an unpretentious and homely atmosphere, and sculptures made by the chef are also on display. Be sure to add this restaurant to your plans as a place where you can fully enjoy the true pleasure of food during your trip to Nose.

15. "Ryokan Nishikitei" - Indulge in exquisite dishes at this traditional inn.

At Ryokan Nishikitei, you can enjoy seasonal cuisine while watching the tranquil mountain scenery during your sightseeing trip in Nose. It is easily accessible, about an hour from Osaka, and is a popular weekend destination for groups and families. In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom over the inn, and you can see the charming scenery of cherry blossom snowstorms as the petals fall.

You can enjoy luxurious dishes such as vegetables, wild plants, and river fish grown in the nature of Nose. Among them, the bamboo shoots in spring and the matsutake mushroom kaiseki and chestnut rice in autumn are so delicious that many tourists come to enjoy them. In winter, you can enjoy the flavors of the Satoyama, such as the botan nabe that warms your body to the core, while watching the snow flurry.

In autumn, you can also go chestnut picking. The great value plan that includes a barbecue is also popular with tourists with children. This is a recommended tourist spot where you can enjoy the nature of the Satoyama and delicious cuisine.

16. "Nose Yamabe Trout Fishing Spot" - Enjoy river fishing.

Nose Yamabe Trout Fishing Area is a spot where you can enjoy river fishing to your heart's content while sightseeing in Nose. Enjoy fishing in the river that flows through the mountain village while looking at the tranquil countryside and mountain scenery. The fishing area, which makes use of the natural flow of the river, is divided into a bait fishing area and a lure/fly fishing area. The fishing areas are separated, so it can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from those who are fishing for the first time in Nose sightseeing to fishing enthusiasts.

It is managed by the Nose Town Fisheries Cooperative Association, and trout fishing and sweetfish fishing can be done depending on the season. You can also have a barbecue by the river. Bait is sold and fishing rods are rented, so even tourists who do not have any equipment can enjoy fishing easily.

Catching fish is fun, but the luxury of slowly casting your fishing line while enjoying the rich natural scenery and spending time doing nothing and thinking about nothing is something you can never experience in your everyday life.

17. "Nose Take-ya Honpo" - Have fun picking shiitake mushrooms.

Nose has many delicious ingredients blessed by nature, and mountain delicacies are especially popular with tourists. At Nose Mushroom Shop, shiitake mushrooms, a representative mountain delicacy, are cultivated using traditional methods. This is a tourist spot where you can easily pick shiitake mushrooms. Many children have only ever seen shiitake mushrooms packed in supermarkets. This is a good opportunity to show how shiitake mushrooms are made, so many tourists with children visit.

Nose Mushroom Shop also makes tsukudani using the shiitake mushrooms they harvest and you can watch them being made. They are cooked slowly over time in a traditional firewood-fired cauldron.

We also recommend having a barbecue or sukiyaki while enjoying the nature of the Nose mountains. The fresh mountain air will increase your appetite. Buy tsukudani shiitake mushrooms, which can only be purchased here, as a souvenir, and talk about your memories of sightseeing at the dinner table.

◎Summary

Nose Town has many scenic spots where you can enjoy the rich nature, as well as tourist spots that make the most of that nature. Get away from your everyday life, surrender yourself to nature, and come and relax. If you're not sure where to go for sightseeing, be sure to visit Nose and refresh your body and mind.

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