Osaka, Japan Castle Tours

Posted by Nick on July 4, 2010

Osaka, Japan’s Osaka Castle stands in the center of Osaka city. Surrounded by wide exterior moats and acres of gardens, though, it seems set apart from the busy metropolis with over 2.5 million residents. Visitors can take a tour of Osaka Castle all year, but the Cherry trees blossom in the spring.

History

Commissioned by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a man born a peasant in a Japanese village who rose to become master of Japan in 1590, Osaka Castle stands on the grounds where Japan’s Honganji Temple once stood. Building on the castle began in 1583. Recognized as a symbol of power and security, according to the Osaka Castle website, Osaka Castle survived over a hundred years of war including The Sekigahara War and the Winter Siege of Osaka, and hosted feudal lords from all across Japan and missionaries from all across Europe.

The Main Tower

Finished in 1585, Osaka Castle’s Main Tower contains gold appointments on furniture and fixtures, and a tea room with gold-finished walls and ceiling. Though the Main Tower finally fell in 1615, it was rebuilt several times over the years, with the Main Tower that stands today completed in 1931. According to the Osaka Castle website, the Main Tower was put on the list of Registered Tangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.

Castle Museum

The museum at Osaka Castle holds historical artifacts from the 16th century, as well as screens and dioramas depicting historic events that happened in the castle itself, or in the city of Osaka. Items found in the castle museum include weapons, portraits and letters. Five separate films show the history of the castle and Toyotomi, with subtitles available in Korean, Chinese and English. The museum is housed in the castle’s Main Tower.

Exterior

Osaka Castle consists of 13 separate exterior structures. Aside from the Main Tower, the Japanese government recognizes each of the external structures of Osaka Castle, including the main gate, known as the Otemon Gate, the turrets, the gun powder storehouse and the stone walls, as “important cultural properties,” according to the Osaka Castle site.

Park

Surrounding Osaka Castle, Osaka Castle Park decorates the castle landscape. In the park, visitors find the Nishinomaru Garden, home to nearly 600 cherry trees, Ume Grove, which boasts over a thousand trees of different varieties, and the Grove of Remembrance, Omoide-no-mori. Admission to the park is free and draws not only tourists, but is also a gathering place for residents of Osaka.

Touring the Castle

The castle closes only December 28-January 1 of each year, according to the castle website. Hours are 9:00 am-5:00 pm, with the last admission to the castle at 4:30 pm, though hours may be extended during the spring and summer months. Before or after your visit to the castle, you can take the tram through Osaka Castle Park, which runs from one entry gate to the other, right past Osaka Castle’s Main Tower, walls and moats.