Sprawling to the north of Osaka, Toyonaka is a bustling city blessed with beautiful green spaces and easy access to the famous Itami Sky Park. It’s home to a cherry blossom-filled arboretum and Japan’s first open-air museum where old farmhouses are showcased.

Things to do

Witness rural architecture from across Japan at the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses, which is located in the hilly landscapes of Hattori Ryokuchi Park. See a Nambu-Magriya house from Iwate and an Amami-Takakura residence from Kagoshima and attend regular events highlighting the unique cultures and traditions of the various regions represented.

Also within the park is the Hattori Ryokuchi Arboretum where you can wander through lush bamboo gardens and around 2,500 cherry trees. There’s a children’s playground and colourful flower gardens, as well as tennis courts and a horseback riding trail.

Slightly west of Toyonaka is the Itami Sky Park, which provides spectacular views for watching the comings and goings at Osaka International Airport. The park is also home to a children’s adventure playground and maze where you can let the kids run loose.

Toyonaka makes a good base for taking in the sights of Osaka, including the 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle and the ancient Shinto shrine of Sumiyoshi-taisha. Delve into the movie-making world at Universal Studios and experience Japan’s fascinating underwater world at the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan.

Getting there

Toyonaka is a 25-minute train ride from the centre of Osaka and just 10 minutes from Osaka International Airport. Both trains and buses travel throughout Toyonaka.