Is Osaka Castle worth a visit?

Hello. Yuka, here.

I meet a lot of people coming to Osaka for their first time and I get this question often–
Is Osaka Castle really worth visiting?

In short, my answer is yes. Here’s why…

It’s a bit of a cliche, but the castle is full of history. Although the main tower you see today is not the original, the site is still of great historic importance. Osaka Castle was first built for the powerful leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the former site of Honganji Temple. Hideyoshi ruled over the whole of Japan from this stronghold at the end of the sixteenth century. After Hideyoshi’s death, the castle was destroyed during war and later rebuilt, only to be struck by lighting a few decades later. The remaining castle buildings were later completely burned to the ground.

However, many of the stone walls you see today are centuries old. The main castle tower was rebuilt in 1931 and the inside is now a museum. You can learn about the castle history and its rulers from the exhibits. Plus there are sweeping views of the city from the very top floor.

The area around the castle is a huge park, great for picnicking, playing frisbee, and jogging. It is also a popular cherry-blossom viewing spot and known for its impressive plum grove.

Plus there are dining and entertainment facilities inside the park too. Take a cruise through the castle moat on the gozabune, styled after the boat Toyotomi Hideyoshi rode over 400 years ago. Visit Osaka-Jo Hall for concerts and performances, shop for gifts at Jo-Terrace, learn about wartime history at the Osaka International Peace Center, or board the aqualiner or aqua mini to cruise the Osaka waterways. There’s really so much to do at Osaka Castle! How could you not visit?