Japan Mint Osaka Branch

Why Japan Mint Osaka Branch is special ?

Osaka Mint Bureau is a very special place for cherry blossom viewing as its 'cherry blossom passage' is open to public for one week only every year. The viewing period is in mid-April, but the exact period is announced only in early or mid-March. This year the viewing period was 16-22 April, and we were there on the first day. As expected, there was a big crowd. Several teams from newspapers and television stations were there to report the event. The 560-meter long passage is surrounded by 350 trees of 130 varieties. We never realized that there are so many varieties of cherry blossoms. Most of the cherry blossoms in the Bureau are the late-blooming species which have various shapes, colors (mostly pink or red) and number of petals. The most abundant ordinary cherry blossom, Somei Yoshino, has five petals. However, it is very common for the late-blooming cherry blossoms to have 40-50 petals. Visitors enter the passage from the South Gate and exit through the North Gate (one-way traffic). The cherry blossoms are illuminated by spot-lights at night. So it is a good idea to come in the late afternoon. After going through the passage, one can rest, relax and have meals (there are many food stalls outside the Bureau) by the Okawa River bank, and then go through the passage again after the lights are on. If you happen to be in the Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe region during the cherry blossom viewing week, you should try to go there to enjoy the cherry blossoms. By the way, except for the cherry blossom viewing week, the Mint Museum is open to public from Monday to Friday. Tour the facility that produces Japanese coins and medals of honor and visit the historic coinage museum year-round. If you visit during the spring, you might catch the cherry blossoms on the Mint's 400 cherry trees.

How to get to Japan Mint Osaka Branch?

15 minutes on foot from Sakuranomiya or Kyobashi station, Osaka Loop Line

10 minutes on foot from Osaka Temmangu station, JR Tozai Line

15 minutes on foot from Temmabashi station, Keihan Railway or Subway Tanimachi Line

15 minutes on foot from Miamimorimachi station, Subway Tanimachi Line or Subway Sakaisuji Line