- Edo Shogunatethe last samurai government
- The Edo Shogunate was a samurai government established in Edo in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was appointed as the Great Shogun. It was the last of the samurai government that began in the Kamakura period, and is also called the Tokugawa shogunate because the Tokugawa family inherited the position of shogun. Also,
Osaka CastleOsaka-shi, Osaka
- TOP
- Kansai
- Osaka Prefecture
- Osaka Castle
| Other name | Kinjo, Kinjo |
|---|---|
| castle construction | 1597 |
| address | 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture |
| telephone number | 06-6941-3044 |
| Opening hours | 9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30) |
| closing day | December 28th - January 1st of the following year |
| Admission fee | Adults 600 yen / Junior high school students and under free |
- Transportation access to Osaka Castle
- Approximately 1 minute walk from JR Osaka Castle Park Station
HISTORYAbout Osaka Castle
Read about incidents related to Osaka Castle
- Osaka winter campSanada Maru, which caused suffering to Ieyasu
- The Battle of Osaka was a battle in which Tokugawa Ieyasu, who founded the Edo Shogunate, destroyed the Toyotomi family, his lord. The last war of the Sengoku period took place during the Edo period. Consists of "Osaka Winter Camp" in 1614 and "Osaka Summer Camp" in the following year.
- Osaka summer campToyotomi Soke finally falls
- The battle in which Tokugawa Ieyasu destroyed the Toyotomi family was the ``Osaka no Jin'', which consisted of two battles: the ``Osaka Winter Jin'' and the ``Osaka Summer Jin''. During the Winter Siege in Osaka in 1614, both the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families were dealt a blow, but peace was concluded;
- Boshin WarThe Great War that determined the trends of the end of the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration
- The Tokugawa-Edo shogunate, which had lasted for 260 years, ended with the Restoration of Imperial Government, but the Tokugawa family continued to hold power. In response, members of the new government such as the Satsuma, Choshu, and Tosa clans sided with the former shogunate in order to seize control of the government.
- The Love Suicides at SonezakiChikamatsu Monzaemon's representative "tragedy"
- During the Genroku period (1688-1703), under the rule of the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, various cultures developed, including theater, literature, art, crafts, and learning. One of the masterpieces by Chikamatsu Monzaemon that represents the Genroku period is "The Love Suicides at Sonezaki."
Read biographies related to Osaka Castle
- Toyotomi HideyoshiThe most successful person in the Sengoku period
- The late Muromachi period was a time when the world was in turmoil and was called the Warring States period. During the Sengoku period, there was a hero, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who rose from the dead and unified the country. Hideyoshi served Oda Nobunaga, distinguished himself from small items that could not be called samurai, and became an influential member of the Oda family.
- Toyotomi HideyoriThe second generation was at the mercy of the times.
- As the Sengoku period progressed to the Edo period, there were many military commanders who couldn't help but think, ``What if they had been born at a different time or place?'' Toyotomi Hideyori is one of them. Born near the later years of his father, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he left home at the age of just 6 years old.
- Terumoto MouriPrince of the Chugoku region
- During the Sengoku period, there was a feudal lord from Aki Province (present-day Hiroshima Prefecture) in the Chugoku region who grew to become a powerful force, Motonari Mori. Mori Motonari's grandson was Terumoto Mori. Terumoto was in conflict with Oda Nobunaga, who rose to prominence in the Tokai and Kinki regions, and then with Toyota, who rose to prominence.
- OmandokoroMother of Emperor Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- The late Muromachi period was also called the Sengoku period, which was compared to the history of China. Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose through the ranks in the Oda family from a small shop to unifying the country. Hideyoshi rose from a lowly position in Owari Province to serve the Oda family. This Hideyoshi
- Tokugawa HidetadaSecond Shogun of the Edo Shogunate
- As time passed from the Sengoku period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the Edo period, the warlords changed from a world of war to a world of peace, and the rewards they received increased from land (territories) to swords and tea utensils. It was a time when views changed.
- Kodaiin (Kitamandokoro/Nene)A wife who supported the nation's naked people
- The late Muromachi period was a time when many parts of Japan were in turmoil and called the Warring States period. During the Sengoku period, there was a hero named Toyotomi Hideyoshi who rose from the dead and unified the country. Hideyoshi served Oda Nobunaga, and rose to prominence from a small item that could not be called a samurai.
- manifestationReligious people who opposed Oda
- Buddhism was introduced in the Asuka period, and especially from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, the number of sects with teachings that were easily accepted by people increased. One of them is Jodo Shinshu. This Jodo Shinshu Honganji Temple has continued to develop through ups and downs. and
- Toyotomi HidenagaThe capable younger brother of the ruler of the world
- During the Sengoku period, successful warlords had the support of capable relatives and vassals called Fudai. For Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who rose from peasant status to power in a single generation and did not have reliable relatives or vassals called Fudai like other Sengoku warlords,
History of the Tokugawa Shogunate, whose residence was Osaka Castle
| residence | Edo castle |
|---|---|
| old area | Edo |
| stone height | 4 million koku |
| main lord | Tokugawa family |
Osaka Castle, the symbol of Osaka built by Hideyoshi
Osaka Castle, located in Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, is a vast castle that represents Osaka and has been selected as one of Japan's three most famous castles. It is located within Osaka Castle Park, one of Osaka's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, and the park is dotted with a reconstructed castle tower, turrets and stone walls remaining from the Edo period. The spacious park also contains a hall, a complex and a baseball field, making it a popular spot for events.
- History of Osaka Castle
- The Uemachi Plateau, where Osaka Castle is located, was a key transportation point and was originally the site of the Jodo Shinshu Ishiyama Honganji Temple. It was Oda Nobunaga who demanded the surrender of this land, and fought against the Honganji forces in the "Ishiyama Battle" from 1570 to 1570.
Following the peace agreement following the Battle of Ishiyama, the Hongan-ji Temple forces left Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple, but the mountain was completely burned down during the peace agreement. Nobunaga later passed away in the Honno-ji Incident in 1582. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who succeeded Nobunaga, began construction of Osaka Castle in 1583. The castle, completed in 1599, was decorated with gold leaf tiles and was huge, befitting a ruler of Japan. The main tower at that time was a compound or linked watchtower type with five layers, six floors and two basement floors.
After Hideyoshi's death, his successor, Toyotomi Hideyori, and Tokugawa Ieyasu came into conflict. The Battle of Sekigahara took place in 1600, but Toyotomi's Western Army was defeated. Osaka Castle continued to serve as the Toyotomi clan's base after that, but the clan was destroyed in the Winter and Summer Sieges of Osaka from 1614 to the following year. The castle came under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1619.
The following year, in 1620, the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, ordered the rebuilding of Osaka Castle under the direction of Todo Takatora. Ten years later, in 1629, during the reign of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the castle was rebuilt as a separate tower with five layers and six floors (five floors above ground and one below ground). During the reconstruction, the castle was filled with earth and the stone walls were added, and the Osaka Castle from the Toyotomi era was almost completely gone.
The castle tower from the Edo period was unfortunately burned down by a lightning strike in 1665. Furthermore, during the turmoil at the end of the Edo period, many of the buildings were lost, leaving only parts such as the Otemon Gate and Tamon Turret. After the Meiji period, Osaka Castle became the site of the army, but in 1931 the castle tower was restored thanks to donations from citizens. After the war, it was developed as a historic park, and in 1997 it was designated a national registered tangible cultural property. - Highlights of Osaka Castle: 1. The reconstructed castle tower
- The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1931 using steel-reinforced concrete. The rebuilt castle tower is a free-standing watchtower-style tower with five floors and eight levels, and was built with a design from the Toyotomi period, referencing the "Osaka Summer Campaign Screen." The exterior is gorgeous, with karahafu and chidorihafu gables, and gold-leaf decorations of cranes and tigers. The granite castle tower base dates back to the Tokugawa period.
Inside is a museum where you can learn about Osaka Castle and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Historical materials related to Hideyoshi are also a highlight. On the third floor, there is a full-scale model of the golden teahouse that Hideyoshi built, which has an overwhelming presence. There is also a corner where you can try on helmets and jinbaori coats. From the observation deck on the eighth floor, you can look down on Osaka Castle Park and see the Osaka Plain. - Highlights of Osaka Castle 2. Sengan-yagura, an Important Cultural Property
- Osaka Castle has 13 buildings, including turrets and gates, that were built during the Edo period and are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. One of these is the Sengan Turret, built in 1620, which, along with the Inui Turret, is the oldest building still standing in Osaka Castle.
The Sengan Turret was built to protect the Otemon Gate from the north, and its name comes from the fact that during the attack on Ishiyama Honganji Temple, Nobunaga's forces were unable to attack the turrets in the vicinity and said, "We want to take it even if it costs 1,000 kanmon." The interior is sometimes open to the public for a limited time, so be sure to check it out. - Osaka Castle's highlights 3. The best stone walls and megaliths in Japan
- Osaka Castle's stone walls are also a major attraction. The stone walls from the Tokugawa period were built by 64 feudal lords, mainly from Western Japan, and engraved stones with the crests of each feudal lord can be seen everywhere. The stone wall on the east side of the main citadel is 32 meters high, making it the tallest single stone wall in Japan. Meanwhile, excavation of the stone walls from the Toyotomi period is currently underway, and plans are underway to open them to the public.
There are many megaliths in the stone walls of Osaka Castle. Once you pass through the Otemon Gate, built in 1628, you will come across three megaliths, each 5m high and 8m to 11m wide, that were cut from a single stone. In front of the main gate of the Honmaru is the "Takoishi," the largest castle stone in Japan, measuring 5.5m high, 11.7m wide, and weighing approximately 108 tons. All the megaliths are from the Setouchi Inland Sea, and are said to have been transported all the way from places like Shodoshima. - Highlights of Osaka Castle #4: Nishinomaru Garden, where approximately 300 cherry trees bloom
- The last place we will introduce is Nishinomaru Garden. It is said to have been the residence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife, Kita no Mandokoro, and opened in 1965. Half of the 6.5 hectare garden is covered in grass. In spring, about 300 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, bloom in full bloom. The Osaka Guest House is located within the garden, and is used for weddings, MICE, and other events.
- Recommended photo spots
- If you want to take a photo of Osaka Castle's main tower from the front, the best place to do so is from the south side of the Osaka Guest House in Nishinomaru Garden. There are also spots in the garden where you can capture the stone walls and tower of the main castle, so try looking for them while you're walking around. Other popular photo spots include the Tamatsukuriguchi entrance to Ninomaru and the area around Gokurakubashi Bridge on the north side of the main castle. Other recommended spots are the cherry blossoms in spring and the night illuminations.
- WriterNaoko Kurimoto(Writer)I am a former travel industry magazine reporter. I have loved history, both Japanese and world history, since I was a child. I usually enjoy visiting temples and shrines, especially shrines, and often do ``pilgrimages to sacred places'' themed around historical figures. My favorite military commander is Ishida Mitsunari, my favorite castle is Kumamoto Castle, and my favorite castle ruins is Hagi Castle. My heart flutters when I see the ruins of battle castles and the stone walls of castle ruins.
Traveler
Introducing travelers photographed at Osaka Castle
HighlightsSightseeing Spots
- Sukedachiya Juhachiban WorkshopOsaka Prefecture
- Even beginners can experience sword fighting
- experience
- SPOONBILL TennojiOsaka Prefecture
- The interior of the store is inspired by the open American West Coast.
- eat
- ChausuyamaOsaka Prefecture
- The place where Yukimura Sanada made his headquarters during the Osaka Natsujin
- look
- Isshinji TempleOsaka Prefecture
- The grave of Tadatomo Honda, who died in the Osaka Summer Siege.
- look
- Yasui ShrineOsaka Prefecture
- The place where Yukimura Sanada died in the Osaka Summer Siege
- look
- Zofukuji TempleOsaka Prefecture
- Erecting the grave of Hayato Usuda
- look
- EnjuanOsaka Prefecture
- Known for praying for victory for Sanada Yukimura
- look
- Shinganji TempleOsaka Prefecture
- Memorial service for Yukimura Sanada and his son Daisuke
- look
- Sanko ShrineOsaka Prefecture
- Erecting Hayato Usuda's grave
- look
- Tamatsukuri Inari ShrineOsaka Prefecture
- Enjoy the stone torii gate donated by Toyotomi Hideyori
- look
- EtsunakaiOsaka Prefecture
- Hosokawa Garasha's final resting place
- look
- DotonboriOsaka Prefecture
- Downtown Osaka Minami with Dotonbori River and Ebisu Bridge
- look
