basic information

Construction on Osaka Castle (Osakajo) started in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule.

However, a few years after Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. Osaka Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle tower was struck by lightening in 1665 and burnt down.

It was not until 1931 that the present ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle was built. Major repair works gave the castle new glamor in 1997.

Inside the castle is a museum that documents Toyotomi Hideyoshi's life and the history of the castle.

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how to get there

JR Loop Line, Osakajokoen Station
Subway Chuo and Nagahori Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Line, Morinomiya Station

Orientation in Osaka

travel community

Users who have been to Osaka: 524
Users who have been to Osaka Castle: 304

1st of 8 most visited sights in Osaka.
18th of 417 most visited sights nationwide.

hotels & ryokan

ANA Hotel Osaka ANA Hotel Osaka will make a brand new start as ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka on October 1st, 2008. Osaka Yamatoya Honten Japanese style budget ryokan. From 5,775yen. Right next to Dotonbori in Osaka. Osaka guesthouse Osaka furnished apartments. No key money, commission charge, or guarantor. 51,000 yen/month 27,000yen/2weeks. w/ utilities Weekly Mansion Osaka Furnished apartments in the middle of downtown Osaka for short and extended stays. Free In-Room Broadband. Kaneyoshi Ryokan A modern Japanese inn in Dotombori. the center of Osaka. 2 subway stations nearby. Close to many shops and Osaka Castle.

tours and packages

Osaka Tours Various English tours of Osaka and surroundings.

english links

japanese links