Osaka Castle

Where it is & how to get there

• Train: Osakajokoen (JR Loop) or Tanimachi 4-chome metro, 15 minutes' walk.
• Museum: The main tower is a museum with a top-floor viewing deck.
• Boat: Gozabune boats cruise the inner moat.

The story of Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle was built from 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the warlord who unified Japan. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times; the current main tower is a 1931 reconstruction, restored in the 1990s.

Its stone walls are made of enormous granite blocks, some weighing more than 100 tonnes. The surrounding park has around 3,000 cherry trees and a plum grove.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• The park is beautiful in cherry blossom season.
• Go up to the observation floor for city views.
• Walk around the moats to see the giant stones.

What's around Osaka Castle

• Nishinomaru GardenGarden with cherry trees.
• Osaka Museum of HistoryViews over the castle.
• Plum GroveBlooms in February.
• Osaka Business ParkModern district.

Questions travellers ask