Osaka Castle is one of Japan’s most renowned landmark. Situated in the grounds of the 107-hectare Osaka Castle Park, Osaka Castle stands out like a beacon in its modern and commercial surrounding.
Virg and I made a mistake of using our Osaka Amazing Pass earlier than we planned, so we decided to visit as many places as we could the day we arrived in Osaka. That day we visited Umeda Sky Building and Osaka Castle Park for free. We rode the HEP Five Ferris Wheel for free. We planned to ride the Osaka-jo Gozabune Boat but we misread the direction and got lost within the Osaka Castle Park. By the time we recovered our bearing and saw each other (we also lost each other), we were too tired of walking from end to end of the park and too hungry. So we decided to go back to Umeda to ride the HEP Five Ferris wheel and buy things at Don Quijote.
There is a tram inside Osaka Castle Park. Each ticket costs 200 yen (US $1.81)
Osaka Castle Park
In 1924, Osaka Castle Park opened as Otemae Park, originally constructed on the site and ruins of the Osaka Castle built by the feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1583. After his death, The Summer War (Toyotomi family versus Tokugawa family) of 1615 burned down the Osaka Castle but then it was rebuilt in 1629. In 1665, it was destroyed by lightning. In 1931, through the donations of Osaka citizens, the Osaka Castle main tower was reconstructed and then renamed the “Osaka Castle Park”.
Over the years, Osaka Castle Park has seen a number of developments including the construction of the Forest Park, a commemoration of the 1970 World Exposition in Osaka.
More than half a century passed since the rebirth of the Osaka Castle as the Osaka Castle Park.
It is enjoyed, in great popularity, among the citizens of Osaka as a rich source of greenery and a treasure of local history. Osaka Castle Park has also become a popular tourist attraction for visitors. For their enjoyment, the main tower is illuminated from within as well as radiated externally to present the historic colors of Osaka at night.
Huge Stones at Ote-guchi-masugata Square
Masugata is a square set adjacent to the main gate of a Japanese castle and served to prevent the intrusion of enemies. Ote-guchi-masugata, one of the Masugata Squares in Osaka Castle, incorporated many huge stones. For example, the stone placed at the front behind the Otemon Gate measures 47.98 square meters in surface area, which is the fourth largest in the Osaka Castle. The stone walls of Osaka Castle that remain today were built as part of Osaka Castle reconstruction work initiated by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1620. This part of the stone walls was constructed by Tadahiro Kato, a feudal lord of the Kumamoto, and later renovated by Toyouji Arima, a feudal lord of the Kurume.
The lovely volunteer guide that we had explained that the stones were taken from their point of origin and transported as they were. It took thousands of people and some imagination to do so.
Site of Minami-shikirimon Gate and Taiko-yagura Turret
The western and southern sections in the Ni-no-maru (Outer Bailey) were divided by two stone walls, and access between the divided sections was provided by a gate called the Minami-shikirimon, which means “south-dividing gate”. On the stone wall west to this gate, stood a turret called the Taiko-yagura or drum turret. Both of these structures are considered to have been built in 1628, during the early Edo period (1603 – 1867). The Taiko-yagura Turret housed a drum, which was beaten to summon samurai working in the castle, signal the change of a shift, and alert people of emergencies. Both structures were lost in fire during the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
Well Curb of the Gimmeisui Well
This well curb was originally used for the Gimmeisui Well, located at the back of the headquarter building of the former Army Fourth Division, in the Hommaru (Inner Bailey). During the Edo period, the Gimmeisui Well was located behind the Hommaru palace kitchen and used as a source of drinking water by officials. When the headquarter building of the Fourth Division was constructed in 1931, the well curb and the cobbles around the well were brought to the present site, and running water was piped to the new building to provide drinking water.
Main Tower of Osaka Castle
The main tower of Osaka Castle we see today was rebuilt in 1931 with donations from the citizens of Osaka City, modeled after a picture of the main tower dating back to the Toyomi period (late 16th century) as depicted in the “Folding Screen Illustrating the Summer War of Osaka”. The original main tower was completed in 1585 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi but was lost in fire during the Summer War of Osaka in 1615. The second main tower was built in 1626 by the Tokugawa shogunate, which, again, was lost in fire caused by a lightning strike in 1665. The third main tower, which remains today, has been open to the public as the Osaka Castle Museum since its inception.
Gokurakubashi Bridge
Gokurakubashi is a bridge that connects the Yamazato-maru Bailey and the Ni-no-maru (Outer Bailey). The original Osaka Castle that Hideyoshi Toyotomi began to build in 1583 had a bridge of called Gokurakubashi, and this name was succeeded by the bridge of Osaka Castle rebuilt later by the Tokugawa shogunate. This bridge was lost in fire in 1868, and the present bridge was rebuilt in 1965. Considering that “gokuraku” is a Buddhist term meaning “the world of peace”, the name could be associated with the Osaka (Ishiyama) Hongan-ji Temple, which was located on the site where the bridge is before Osaka Castle was built by Hideyoshi.
Inner Moat
This moat surrounds the Hommaru (Inner Bailey) and its southern part is empty while the rest is water-filled. The stone walls were built by raising the ground level of the original Hommaru constructed during the Toyotomi period, as part of the second-phase of the reconstruction of Osaka Castle launched by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1624. The Tokugawa shogunate ordered 59 feudal lords, including the Hosokawa family of Tottori in Inaba, and the Kuroda family in Fukuoka in Chikuzen to participate in the reconstruction work. The entire length measures about 2.70 kilometer and the height of the stone wall on the easten side is about 24 meters above the water level. Within the Hommaru, eleven three-roofed turrets and two two-roofed turrets were built, centering on the corners of the stone walls facing the moat, which were all lost to the fire during the Meiji Restoration.
How to get to Osaka Castle Park:
- Take the JR Kansai or JR Osaka Loop and get off at Osakajo Koen Station. Take Exit #1.
- Take Nankai Kuko, Subway Midosuji, or Subway Chuo and get off at Tanimachi 4-chome Station. Take Exit #1B and #9.
It is about 15 to 20 minute walk from the station.
Osaka Castle Park Volunteers:
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 330pm (except New Year holidays: December 28 to January 1)
The volunteer guide wear green coats and they have a book to explain the things one can see inside Osaka Castle Park. We met our lovely volunteer guide who talked about the stone walls with so much passion as soon as we entered Otemon Gate. If you can, please avail of this service
Osaka Castle Park Address:
〒540-0002 1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Osaka Castle Park Contact Number:
+81-6-6941-3044
Osaka Castle Park and Museum Operating Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm (last entry: 30 minutes before closing)
Osaka Castle Park is closed on New Year holidays
Osaka Castle Park Admission Fee:
FREE!
Osaka Castle Museum Admission Fee:
Adults: 600 yen (US $5.43)
Children aged 15 years and younger: FREE
For more information, please visit osakacastle.net.