Hugging the Yodo River, Takatsuki is a lively city between Kyoto and Osaka, home to the green oases of Settsukyo and Yodogawa Kasen. It’s also within easy access of the historic Hirakata amusement park and the Kansai Kannon pilgrimage temple of Yoshimine-dera.
Things to do in Takatsuki
Mingle with locals at the Takatsuki Golf Club where an 18-hole course overlooks the Yodo River. Alternatively, stroll through the nearby Yodogawa Kasen Park whose riverside trails ignite with cherry blossoms during spring.
Travelling with kids? Visit Hirakata Park, the oldest amusement park in the Osaka area. Get your thrills on the Red Falcon roller coaster or experience the Giant Drop Meteor. There are also swimming pools for cooling off in summer and ice-skating rinks during winter.
Takatsuki makes an ideal base for visiting the Tendai Buddhist temple of Yoshimine-dera, which forms part of the Kansai Kannon pilgrimage route. Founded in the 11th century, it enshrines an image of the thousand-armed bodhisattva and is famed for its “Gliding Dragon” pine tree that was trained to grow horizontally.
Escape the bustle of the city in the tranquil surrounds of Settsukyo Park, which sprawls along the Akutagawa River. Follow one of the hiking trails to see its unusually-shaped rocks and seasonal flower displays, including about 1,300 cherry blossoms planted around the park’s playground.
Getting around Takatsuki
Takatsuki is a 40-minute train ride from the centre of Osaka and 45 minutes from Osaka International Airport or 3.5 hours by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. Both buses and trains travel throughout Takatsuki.