Hoshi no Buranko: Spectacular views and autumn leaves from atop a suspension bridge

One of the best spots for viewing autumn foliage along the Keihan Railway is the Hoshi no Buranko (Star Swing) in Hoshida Park, one of the largest suspension bridges in Japan. When I visited, I saw some tourists from abroad. However, the nearest station to Hoshi no Buranko is far away, and it takes about 40 minutes on foot. Here, I will introduce not only the autumn leaves seen from Hoshi no Buranko, but also access by car from Osaka, parking lot information, and some advice for visitors.

1. What is Hoshi no Buranko?

Hoshi no Buranko is one of the largest suspension bridges that people can cross in Japan, with a total length of 280 meters and a maximum height above the ground of 50 meters. But the numbers alone do not give you a clear idea of its actual scale.

This is a view from Hoshi no Buranko overlooking the management road, which we will cover later. People look like ants! I couldn’t help but think of Colonel Muska’s line from Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky, “Isn’t it quite a swing, this high up?” I too had such concerns until I crossed the bridge. However, when I actually went across the bridge, I found that the floorboards were firm, and even with many people walking around, I did not feel fear or any swaying. However, fear of heights varies from person to person, so please do not force yourself.

1-1. How are the autumn leaves from Hoshi no Buranko?

I went in mid-November, but it was still too early to visit. However, I heard that when the autumn leaves reach their peak, the entire mountain is dyed red with them.This is a view of the foliage from looking back. As I mentioned earlier, Hoshi no Buranko is located at an altitude of 180 meters, so the entire field of view is filled with autumn leaves.

1-2. When is the best time to visit?

The best time to view the fall foliage at Hoshi no Buranko is between mid-November to early December. However, foliage depends on weather conditions that year. I visited Hoshi no Blanco in mid-November, which is said to be the best time to see the leaves, but as I mentioned earlier, it was a little early.

If you want to go to Hoshida Park when the leaves are at their most beautiful, please check the website of Hoshida Park, where the Hoshi no Buranko is located. Information is sent out from the beginning of November.
Hoshida Park Homepage

Now, let us continue with the route from the parking lot to Hoshi no Buranko.

2. Route from the parking lot to the suspension bridge

From the parking lot, it is almost a straight road to the bridge, passing the piton hut on the way.

2-1. First, we went to Piton’s hut

On the way to the suspension bridge, there are restrooms and vending machines for drinks at the piton hut. There are also benches, so you can take a rest here and then continue on to the bridge.Take the pathway at the rear of the parking lot to the right. From this point on, the path is gently sloping, but it is well-maintained, so you should not feel uneasy about your footing. Strollers can also be used up to the piton hut.There are clearly marked signposts, so you won’t get lost.Here is a look back. The path was a little wet from rain the night before, but we were not worried about our footing.This is the piton hut. There is a restroom at the front left. There are no vending machines past this point, so if you need something to drink, you should buy it here. It will take about 40 minutes to get to the next restroom past Hoshi no Buranko, so it is better to use the restroom here.Free Wi-Fi is available in the vicinity of the pitons hut.

2-2. From Piton’s hut to Hoshi no Buranko

※Click the image to enlarge

There are some precautions posted near Piton’s hut. Strollers are not allowed and hikers should beware of pit vipers. Strollers can be left at Piton’s hut. Please inquire at the reception desk and they will be happy to assist you.

The most common time of year when pit vipers are reported is from July to October. It is unlikely that you will encounter pit vipers during the fall foliage season, but if you do see a snake, do not provoke it, and if you keep your distance, it is unlikely to attack you. For more information about pit vipers, Honda automobile’s website has a clear explanation.
Honda Japan Outdoor Knowledge

Back to the description of the route.From the piton hut, the road is wide enough for cars to pass.Along the way, there are some areas where the pavement is damaged like this. It is hard to tell from the photo, but it is very uneven.
After a short walk, the trail splits into the Boken-no-michi (adventure trail) and the Kanri-no-michi (management trail). If you take the adventure path, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the bridge. If you use the managed path, it will take about 25 minutes.

What is the adventure trail like?

Stairs like this one continue. The steps are also uneven, so those who rarely walk may find it tough. I also rarely walk, but I managed to make it all the way up. However, I could not walk slowly while chatting.

What is the management road like?

The managed road is wide enough for cars to pass. There are no stairs and it is gently sloping. Here, you will be able to walk leisurely to Hoshi no Buranko while relaxing and chatting.Thank you for your hard work. The star swing is now in sight. You should arrive here regardless of which path you chose!

3. The star swing isn’t the only thing to see during autumn!

After crossing the star swing, the path continues. After a short walk, you will come to a fork in the road that leads to the Yamabiko Plaza, Observation Deck, Piton’s Hut, and Wanpaku Plaza. Head for the Yamabiko Plaza and Observation Deck.This is the Yamabiko Plaza. There are restrooms here.Look to the right at the Yamabiko Plaza and head further up. The observation deck is just a few steps away.This is the observation deck with autumn leaves in the foreground. And you can see all the way to Kyoto City. It is very pleasant.From the left side of the observation deck, there is a full view of the star swing. It surely must be very beautiful when the whole mountain is covered with autumn leaves.

4. What should I wear?

When going to the Star Swing, the one thing you need to be careful about when dressing is your shoes. We have never had any trouble with skirts or with luggage slung over our shoulders, but we recommend that you only wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in.

“Can I wear sandals?” Even on easy walking paths, there are uneven surfaces, and you may injure your toes. We recommend that you avoid wearing sandals or other shoes that expose your toes and instead choose sneakers or other footwear.

5. Access

There are two ways to get to Hoshi no Blanko. From Kisaichi Station on the Keihan Railway’s Katano Line, it takes about 40 minutes on foot or by car from Kisaichi Station. I do not usually walk very much, so I did not have the confidence to continue walking for 40 minutes.

It is also possible to take a bus from Kisaichi Station, but it runs only on Saturdays and Sundays, and there are only two buses a day (10:39 and 16:09). There is a bus stop along Route 168 a short walk from Kisaichi Station, and if you take the bus bound for Tawaradai 1-chome and get off at the Hoshi no BlanKo bus stop, you can get close to the parking lot. However… the number of buses is not so frequent, so it’s recommended to go by car.

5-1. To get to Hoshi no Buranko from Osaka, take Route 163

The best way to get to Hoshi no Buranko from Osaka is to take Route 163 to Route 168. When entering Route 168 from Route 1, you will have to make a right turn into the parking lot. You can enter the parking lot by turning right, but if there are many oncoming cars, you may be refused entry that way.

If you take the route from Route 163 to Route 168, you can enter the parking lot by turning left, so you do not have to worry about this. Route 163 is a two-lane road, but it becomes a one-lane road, and you will come to a T-junction with a traffic light (you cannot go straight), where you should turn right.Turn right and go straight, and you will come to the intersection with Route 168, where you will turn left (toward Hirakata). Little by little, you will start to see the autumn leaves.You will see a parking lot on your left. This is the parking lot of Hoshida Park where the star swing is located.After crossing the bridge, you will find the entrance to the parking lot.The parking fee is 200 yen per hour for a standard car. Only 1,000 yen bills are accepted at this gate. No currency exchange is available. It is recommended to have several 1,000-yen bills ready for the parking fee.

5-2. When will the parking lot be full?

The parking lot attendant told us that during the fall foliage season, the lot is full by about 10:00 am.I arrived at the parking lot around 9:30 am and there were still plenty of parking spaces available.This is the parking lot after 11:00 am. It was already full.It was a little after 11:00 am as I was leaving the parking lot. There was a line of cars on the bridge. Cars can not wait to enter the parking lot from Route 168, which runs in front of it (this is a directive of the local police). When I was leaving the parking lot, if one car was trying to wait to enter the parking lot on the National Highway, the attendant warned me to leave the area. When driving to the Star Swing, it is best to turn onto Route 163 and then onto Route 168 to reach the parking lot. The parking lot is full by 10:00 am during the fall foliage season, so it would be best to plan to arrive at the lot by 9:30 am.

6. Location details

7. Summary

How were the autumn leaves at Hoshi no Buranko? The autumn leaves seen from the 50-meter-high suspension bridge are truly panoramic! You can only experience it here. Moreover, the sight you see when you reach the bridge after a 30-minute walk through the forest from the parking lot will make you feel glad you came. If you are wondering where to go to see the autumn leaves this year, why not consider the Hoshi no Buranko? We hope your holiday will be a wonderful one.

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