Today, we visited Osaka Castle... it is magnificent looking from the outside, but from the inside, they have changed it into a museum, so I have no idea how it looked like a few hundred years back, other than telling us it used to house their gold and silver, so sounds like a central bank of old? The museum itself was okay. Now the area around it is also nice and very accessible and family friendly. Their main elevator was out of service, so I'm not sure what people with a disability or prams did as the place have at least a million steps you need to climb! The view from all the way at the top is very nice, with a small gift shop up there and another larger one downstairs. I won't spoil the story, but check out the story of the Lord who built the original castle, it has a twist in it that I didn't see coming! But the only hint I'll mention is that he was 57 when it happened. Buy tickets online as the line was huge, at least a 30-minute wait, even though at the end of the line, you find 3 ticket vending machines! I think they could have easily doubled the number of those machines! Online tickets have a line of their own, and you get in within a minute. Worth the trip...
Osaka castle was one of the places that I was most excited about seeing on our two week tour of Japan and it didn’t disappoint! My wife and I took a guided bus tour there and we were dropped off. It’s a bit of a walk through the grounds of the park, but it’s lovely and you get an idea of the scope and size of the castle grounds.
The outpost castle is first, where the gun ports would open if you were unfriendly. Check out the gun port on the wall overlooking the only road in. The walls and moat are very impressive, as are the giant stones that they used to build the walls. It crazy to think how these massive stones were moved and placed.
Next is the castle and there are lots of amazing photos to be taken. There are many flights of stairs to the top, but I would suggest climbing to the top for the view first, but there is lots to see and read on every level. The view is spectacular from the top and you can see that the castle is strategically built in the best location. There are sliding doors if you want to go in or out.
Just be aware that the interior is more modern and more of a museum than I expected. There was very little of the interior left, other than a small part of the tea room. It can be busy, so expect crowds. A gorgeous, historic sight to see that should not be missed! There is also a very affordable gift shop and table where they sell books on Osaka castle that you should check out. Buy a chocolate and cream stuffed coin cookie on the way back from a local vendor!
Osaka Castle is a must-see if you’re in the city. The castle itself is stunning, with its towering structure and beautiful grounds. Inside, there’s a museum that walks you through the history of the castle and Osaka. The views from the top are amazing, giving you a great look at the city. The surrounding park is a lovely spot for a peaceful walk or a picnic. It’s well-maintained and easy to navigate. Overall, it’s a fantastic mix of history and nature, worth visiting!
The site is a classic, must visit of the municipality of Osaka. The castle is a museum in itself. There's 8 floors filled with history where you can learn about history of Japan and Osaka. You have a few shop were you can buy souvenirs, a restaurant and close from the castle you have an other museum which was free the Monday we visited. Side notes you'll have to be either patient or in good shape. There's an elevator that can bring you to the top floor, or you can take the steps all the way to the top (second option is better if you want to learn about all the history Osaka castle has to offer).
Spectacular site and architecture that you shall not miss when visiting Osaka. Such an amazing experience to see the Osaka city from the observation deck and we may also catch the sunset as well. If you stay til around 5pm, you’ll see the castle turns blue.
