Osaka Castle is the symbol of Osaka.
Osaka Castle (Osaka-jo) was built by the powerful daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ruled Japan in the late 16th century. Construction began in 1583, and major structures, including the castle tower, were completed by 1585. The castle grounds cover over 3,300,000 m², and tens of thousands of workers were mobilized daily for its construction.
The donjon is five-tiered and nine-storied, with large golden sea creature ornaments adorning the rooftop. Pure gold chasings are said to have decorated the corridors. One of the castle’s highlights is its impressive stone walls, reportedly made of 40,000 rocks. Legend says that daimyo from across Japan competed to carry the massive stones, demonstrating their loyalty to Hideyoshi. The current castle tower, rebuilt in 1931, stands five tiers high and measures approximately 40 meters.
The Osaka Castle tower is surrounded by secondary citadels, gates, turrets, impressive stone walls, and moats. Nishinomaru Garden features a spacious lawn with 600 cherry trees and offers beautiful views of the castle tower from below.
Address : 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002
Access : 10-minute walk from Osakajo-koen station on the JR loop line or Tanimachi-4chome station on the subway Tanimachi line and Chuo line
Osaka Castle Tower
Hours : 9:00 to 17:00
Closed : 28th, DEC to 1st, JAN
Admission : 600yen
Nishinomaru Garden（西の丸庭園）
Hours : 9:00 to 17:00(Open untill 21:00 during the cherry blossom season)
Closed : Mondays(or following day if Monday is a national holiday), New year holidays
Admission : 200yen (350yen during the cherry blossom season)
Plum Garden
From the end of January to mid-March, visitors can enjoy plum blossom viewing before the cherry trees bloom. Osaka Castle’s plum garden features over 100 species and about 1,250 plum trees, which typically begin flowering in early February.
Cherry Blossom
From late March to mid-April, Osaka Castle Park, covering about two square kilometers, offers green spaces, sports facilities, the multi-purpose Osakajo Hall, and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park is one of Osaka’s most popular hanami spots during cherry blossom season, usually in early April.
At night, Nishinomaru Garden hosts illuminated cherry blossom viewings, where the Osaka Castle donjon rises majestically above the glowing blossoms—a truly breathtaking sight.
Autumn Colors
From November to early December, Osaka Castle is a stunning autumn destination, with vibrant red cherry leaves, golden ginkgo trees, and crimson maple foliage.
Goza-bune (Osaka Castle’s Pleasure Boat)
This boat is a reproduction of Hideyoshi’s Ho-Oh-Maru, depicted on the Toyotomi-Ki Osaka-Zu Byobu folding screen. Known for his love of gold, Hideyoshi earned Osaka Castle the nickname “Golden Castle” when sunlight reflected off its gilded surfaces.
The boat tour circles the inner moat of Osaka Castle in about 20 minutes, offering a unique perspective of the castle tower and its impressive stone walls—a great way to enjoy the historic site from the water.