The Manyo-no-Mori forest park is located at the foot of Mount Nijo, which is written using the characters for “two” and “up.” Once called “Futakami-yama” (using the same characters), the mountain has two camel-like “humps” called Odake and Medake. The area here is perfect for a stroll through Japan’s ancient history: The side in Osaka Prefecture’s Taishi Town is home to many tumulus tombs and historic sites, including the ruins of Rokutani-ji Temple. The forest park itself spreads across the southwestern slope of the mountain and has a park trail going around historic sites, open squares, and more. The route from the trail entrance to the open space at the peak of Medake is alive with the flowers spoken of in the Man’yoshu, an 8th century collection of poetry. Come let your senses be delighted by Japanese andromedas, Japanese clover, camellias, bigleaf hydrangeas, and more. Looking out into the distance from the peak of Medake you’ll gaze down to Osaka Plain and (on a clear day) Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Osaka Bay, too. On the Nara Prefecture side, you’ll enjoy the gentle undulations of the Yamato Sanzan: Mount Unebi, Mount Kagu, and Mount Miminashi. Selected for the Top 100 of Osaka’s Greenery, this spot is filled with the romance and nostalgia of a Japan now a thousand years past.