Osaka Castle is one of Japan’s most famous castles. Although nothing remains of the original castle after several destructions, it is one of the most important historical sites in the world, due to its importance for the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate.
On the way to the castle, you pass the Osaka Museum of History. I would have loved to visit it, but (like almost all museums in Japan) it is unfortunately closed on Tuesdays — something for another city trip.
History lesson at Osaka Castle
After the Battle of Sekigahara, all power was in the hands of Tokugawa Ieaysu. Nevertheless, he could not feel safe because Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of the second unifier of the empire, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, continued to reside in Osaka. The shogun instigated a siege under a pretext, during which the Toyotomi clan was completely wiped out and the castle was razed. It was rebuilt several times after that but was finally destroyed during the Meiji Restoration. The main tower and other parts were rebuilt after the Second World War, but nothing of the historical structure was preserved. The main tower is a modern concrete building with a historical (very beautiful!) facade and houses a museum. There you can learn about the entire history of the castle.
Osaka Castle Tour
A bridge leads over the moat and then you follow a long path to the castle entrance. Entry is quite cheap at 600 ¥. However, you better be prepared for long waiting times if you haven’t prebooked your tickets. Pro tip: With the JR Pass or various other day tickets you get a (small) discount. But most importantly you can pass everyone else in a fast lane. Yay 🙂
As said above, the castle is not very exciting from an architectural point of view. Anyone interested in a complete castle complex should go to Himeji. That said, the museum is truly exciting. You can learn a lot about the last phase of the Unification Wars. I already knew most of it, but the presentation was very helpful and I could see a lot of facts in a new context. A good mix of classic exhibitions, interactive displays, and extra multimedia material.
You also have a great view of the surrounding area from the viewing platform. In theory, because it was very crowded. You had to contort yourself to get a quick glimpse. Unfortunately, that was also a problem in the exhibition. You should wear comfortable shoes because you have to climb a lot of stairs and sometimes have to stand around for a long time.
Once again a lot of gold-plated shachi decorate the roofs. Together with the brilliant white paint and the green roof tiles, this gives the ensemble a truly magnificent impression. It’s a pity that only a few parts of the whole complex have been reconstructed.
There is also the option of visiting the Nishonomaru Garden for a few extra yen. This is especially worthwhile in the evening and/or during sakura. Neither of these was the case for me: even though the cherry trees should have been in full bloom by now, there wasn’t much to see. What a pity.