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Osaka Castle

Name: Osaka Castle
Address: 1-1 Ōsakajō, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002, Japan
Rating: 4.4

4.4 (200)・Tourist Attraction・Historical Place・Museum・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Osaka Castle, built in 1583 by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, is a historic marvel in the heart of Osaka. This grand structure played a crucial role in Japan's unification during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Its strategic importance and architectural beauty make it a key cultural landmark.

The main tower, reconstructed in 1931 after being destroyed multiple times, stands 55 meters tall. Inside, visitors find a museum that offers a deep dive into the castle's history, with samurai armor, weapons, and artifacts. The top floor provides a stunning 360-degree view of Osaka, blending the ancient with the contemporary.

The castle grounds span 15 acres, featuring beautiful gardens, moats, and stone walls. The Nishinomaru Garden, with over 600 cherry trees, is especially popular during the cherry blossom season. This garden also houses traditional tea houses and offers a tranquil escape from the city's bustle.

Throughout the year, Osaka Castle hosts various cultural events and festivals, such as the Osaka Castle Festival and Taiko Drum Festival, adding vibrant cultural experiences for visitors. The winter illumination event, with thousands of lights, transforms the castle into a fairy-tale scene.

The impressive main gate, Otemon Gate, leads to the inner grounds, where visitors can explore the turrets and secondary gates, each telling a story of the past. The castle's robust defense mechanisms, like its steep stone walls and double moats, reflect its strategic military design.

Hours:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

*Admission till 4:30 PM

Closed:

December 28th - January 1st

Available:

All year (except December 28th - January 1st)

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Admission Fee:

600 yen (Adult)

Free (Junior high school students and younger)

Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 6-6941-3044

Website

www.osakacastle.net

The area

Address

1-1 Ōsakajō, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002, Japan

Top ways to experience Osaka Castle

4hrs

Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Osaka Castle

From $135 /person

8hrs

Full-Day Private Guided Tour to Osaka Castle

From $220 /person

4hrs

4-Hour Osaka Bike Tour to the Neighborhood of Osaka Castle

From $63 /person

What other travelers are saying about Osaka Castle

Osaka castle is a must visit place in Osaka as it offers a lot such as the gondola ride, museum inside th castle and the wonderful view of Osaka. It is best to bring water and use comfortable clothes and shoes when visiting the place as it involves a lot of walking especially when doing the tour by yourself. If you are into history, you will definitely enjoy the history of the place. The place is clean and relaxing to visit with the beautiful nature surrounding it. It is best to visit the place first thing in the morning to prevent the large crowd.

Hillary C

Mar 4, 2025

Beautiful façade and fun to walk around the grounds. Entry fee for the keep is very reasonable but not really worth it for me to see a reconstructed castle with texts and illustrations of battles inside. If you want a nice leg workout take the stairs if you want to use your legs for the rest of the day I'd suggest the elevator. Get there early to avoid the lines.

Carl O'Neil

Feb 27, 2025

Osaka Castle Osaka Castle was definitely on our must-visit list. We walked from 谷町四丁目駅 station, passing the Osaka Museum of History along the way. The weather was perfect, making the walk really pleasant. The castle grounds are huge, and the views along the route were enjoyable. There are plenty of public seating areas if you need a short break, and many great spots to snap some memorable photos. Public toilet facilities are also available throughout the area. While we didn’t buy tickets to enter the castle itself, we still had a wonderful time exploring the surroundings.

Muh Fuei

Jan 16, 2025

I visited Osaka Castle on a weekday morning, and it was such a peaceful experience since it wasn’t crowded. The grounds are massive, and everything was clean and well-maintained. It felt like stepping into history as I admired the beautiful architecture of the castle—a sight I’d only ever seen on postcards my aunt brought me back in high school. There was a huge tree in the middle of the grounds with vibrant yellow leaves, which added to the charm of the place. The garden surrounding the castle was stunning, and I can only imagine how breathtaking it must look in full autumn colors. It seemed like there was an event planned for the evening, which would have been fun to attend. I highly recommend walking around the castle grounds in the fall—such a memorable experience!

angelie alisen

Dec 5, 2024

Beautiful but very touristy. Also most of the fun stuff was not in the original state or couldn’t be taken pictures of. It missed the authentic feeling I was hoping for because of many giftshops and rebuild parts. Osaka day pass made entry super quick.