Katsuoji from Osaka-Umeda Station: A Quiet Day at Minoh's Daruma Temple

This guide covers the way to Katsuoji, the daruma, the main hall, the pond, the times of year and the practical details for a day out.

Katsuoji has Daruma omikuji placed throughout the grounds and many offered Katsu-daruma. The sections below follow the route, the temple grounds, the seasons and the practical details.

Getting to Katsuoji

The rail journey from Osaka-Umeda Station to Ishibashi-Handai-mae Station runs on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line express. The Hankyu Minoh Line then runs from Ishibashi-Handai-mae Station to Minoh Station. From Minoh-Kayano Station on the Kita-Osaka Kyuko, a Hankyu Bus runs to the Katsuojimae stop, which is right at the temple.

The table below gives each rail leg, the bus and the taxi rides to Katsuoji.

From	Route or operator	Time
Osaka-Umeda Station to Ishibashi-Handai-mae Station	Hankyu Takarazuka Line express	About 16 minutes
Ishibashi-Handai-mae Station to Minoh Station	Hankyu Minoh Line	About 6 minutes
Minoh Station to Katsuoji	By taxi	About 20 minutes
Minoh-Kayano Station to Katsuoji	Hankyu Bus to the Katsuojimae stop	About 20 minutes
Minoh-Kayano Station to Katsuoji	By taxi	About 15 minutes
Saito-nishi Station to Katsuoji	By taxi from the Osaka Monorail station	About 12 minutes

Daruma, the Main Hall and the Temple's Origins

After drawing a Daruma omikuji, visitors may place it anywhere on the temple grounds or take it home.

Sutra chanting never stops in the main hall, every day of the year. Funds donated by Toyotomi Hideyori went towards the reconstruction of the main hall. Katsuoji traces its beginnings to brothers who climbed the mountain, built a thatched hermitage and began ascetic practice to fulfil their vow to copy the Daihannya-kyō.

Benten Pond and the Seasons

Many koi live in Benten Pond, and visitors can feed them. At the Benzaiten shrine, visitors are invited to pray while sensing the sound of water flowing through the Katsuoji grounds. In April, weeping cherry trees bloom here and there within the grounds. The cherry blossoms come in deep and pale shades of red and pink.

Hydrangeas of different kinds colour the grounds in red, purple, blue and white. The autumn foliage season at Katsuoji and the surrounding mountains arrives in mid-November every year. The Sanmon gate is lit up during the autumn foliage season. On clear winter days, the blue sky stands in contrast with Katsuoji and the surrounding mountains.

When Katsuoji Is Quiet, and When It Is Not

The notes and the table below set the large buses and the parking lot rule beside the hours, the services and the sounds that shape an ordinary day.

On a morning in late November, large buses arrived at the same time and threw the parking lot into great confusion. The group bus parking lot is for reserved buses, every day of the year.

Time of year or day	Dates or times
Large buses arriving together	Morning of November 23, 2025
Group bus parking lot, for reserved buses	Every day from January 1, 2026
Autumn foliage season	Starts in mid-November each year
Autumn illumination days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays	November 1 to November 29, 2026
Gate opening, weekdays, Sundays and holidays	8:00
Gate closing, weekdays, Sundays and holidays	17:00
Gate closing, Saturdays	18:00
Gate closing, illumination days	20:30
Monthly Kannon festival memorial service, on the 18th	11:00 to 13:00

Sutra chanting in the main hall continues every day of the year. The chanting from the main hall echoes across the grounds. The Benzaiten shrine invites visitors to sense the sound of water flowing through the grounds. In the cemetery, where all plots face south, flowers and the chirping of small birds fill the space.

A memorial service for the Kannon festival is held on the same day every month. Check the times in the table above before you plan the day.

Hours and Fees, and Planning the Day

Settle the order of the stops before the day begins, using the tables below. Check the times before you travel.

Part of the day	Stop or leg	Duration or hours
Arrive	Osaka-Umeda Station to Ishibashi-Handai-mae Station, Hankyu express	About 16 minutes
Arrive	Ishibashi-Handai-mae Station to Minoh Station, Hankyu Minoh Line	About 6 minutes
Arrive	Minoh Station to Katsuoji, by taxi	About 20 minutes
Visit	Admission hours on weekdays, Sundays and holidays	8:00 to 17:00
Visit	Last admission on Saturdays	17:30
Head back	Leave by closing time on weekdays, Sundays and holidays	17:00

Item	Price
Admission, high school students and older	500 yen
Admission, elementary and junior high school students	400 yen
Admission, preschool children	100 yen
Admission, children aged 2 and under	Free
Private car parking lot, 2 hours	1,000 yen

If you are planning an overnight stay in Minoh, see places to stay in Minoh.