Osaka Castle

Tenmabashi

The castle tower that has kept watch over Osaka for 400 years.

Osaka castle can be traced back more than 400 years. Civil war continued from the mid-15th century in Japan, and it was military commander Hideyoshi Toyotomi who completed the military unification of the country. Osaka Castle was created as his base. Its beautiful design gives it the status as one of Japan's three major castles. The area around the castle tower has been developed as a park, and plums and cherry blossoms in the spring and red leaves in the autumn are magnificent sights. As you step inside the vast grounds of the castle, it feels as though you were stepping back in time to the Sengoku (Warring States) era. Osaka prospered as a city of merchants from long ago, and Osaka Castle can be considered a symbol of this prosperity.

©Osaka Castle Museum

Japan's first restored castle tower, brought back by the citizens of Osaka

The history of the current castle is full of twists and turns. Toyotomi Hideyoshi commenced construction of the castle in 1583, and the castle tower was completed in 1585. However, after Hideyoshi died in 1598, his senior statesman Tokugawa Ieyasu attacked Osaka Castle and destroyed the Toyotomi clan. As Tokyo was the base of the Tokugawa clan, the center of politics was moved to Tokyo. However, the Tokugawa clan rebuilt Osaka Castle. The castle tower was reconstructed and the spectacular stone wall that exists today was completed. Less than 40 years later, however, the castle tower was burned down as a result of lightning. For the next 250 years, Osaka was bereft of a castle tower. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1931 from the donations of citizens. It has been designed to imitate the castle tower of the Toyotomi Hideyoshi area. Major renovations were also carried out in 1995 with the intent of adding killer whale and tiger relief and restoring the castle tower to its former splendor.

Don't miss the fitting experience and the gold tearoom on the third floor!

Inside the castle there are exhibition rooms which detail the history of the castle. There is a great deal of valuable literature and picture scrolls, but what you really need to try is the Sengoku era helmet and tabard wearing experience. You can try on the same kind of helmet that Toyotomi Hideyoshi wore, and women can also try on kosode (basic Japanese robe). The golden tearoom that Toyotomi Hideyoshi is said to have made is also reproduced on the third floor. Here you can experience for yourself the gorgeous space enjoyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The Osaka city as seen from the castle tower is also exceptional! Enjoy strolling around the castle with the feeling of a ruling Shogun.