Minoh City

Osaka Prefecture

It was about 6000 years ago (Jomon Period) that a small village was formed where Minoh City stands today. A dotaku, or native bronze bell, which is assumed to have been buried in the Yayoi Period (ca. 300 BC-ca. AD 300) has been unearthed in this area. The area, where Minoh Temple and Katsuo Temple were founded in the Nara Period (710-794), was considered a holy one for Buddhism. Since the Buddhist precept against destruction life was observed here,the beautiful natural setting has been left intact. The Minoh Waterfall in particular is well known throughout the country and the area around the fall is designated as a quasi-national park.
The Saigoku highway runs through the city's urban area, along which is Kensen-tei, a museum built in memory of Kayano Sanpei, a loyal retainer of the Ako clan known in connection with the 47 ronin incident (1703). From this museum, visitors can begin a walking tour of the Minoh and Katsuo-ji roads while enjoying many roadside spots of historic interest.
The city name, Minoh, is said to be derived from a Chinese legend and its pronunciation implies water spouting from the bottom of a waterfall.

(photo, left) A stone statue of En no Gyoja, an ascetic said to have publicized the Minoh Waterfall.
(photo, below) An old painting of the waterfall at Minoh Temple.