Osaka Castle Park: What's so great about it? A comprehensive guide to the castle tower, lunch spots, access, and more

＜From history to food and entertainment! That's what Osaka Castle Park is all about＞ Osaka Castle Park is a vast park that has been developed using the inner and outer moats of Osaka Castle. Its area is about 100 hectares, which is about 23 times the size of the Tokyo Dome! The grounds are dotted with various facilities that make use of the area, including existing historical remains. The Osaka Castle Tower is located almost in the center of the park. In the northeast area, there is the Osaka Castle Hall, where concerts by famous artists are held, and the Sun Square, where food festivals and other events are held. Both are about a 10-minute walk from the tower. There are also complexes such as JO-TERRACE OSAKA near Osakajokoen Station and Miraiza Osaka Castle near the tower. ＜Also popular as a famous spot for plum and cherry blossom viewing＞ Osaka Castle Park, which has a lot of greenery despite being in an urban area, is also attractive for its rich nature that allows you to feel the change of seasons. In particular, the plum grove that spreads across the inner moat from the castle tower to the east is famous, and since it opened in 1974, it has long been loved as a seasonal feature of early spring that represents the castle. The approximately 1.7 hectare site is lined with more than 1,200 plum trees of about 100 varieties, and from January to March, you can enjoy a variety of plums, from early to late blooming. From late March to early April, it is also a popular cherry blossom spot, attracting many visitors. The entire park is decorated with about 3,000 cherry trees, and the combination with the castle tower, turrets, and stone walls is photogenic no matter where you look. Be sure to visit Nishinomaru Garden (paid), which has about 300 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino. It is lit up at night every year, making it one of Osaka's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots. ＜The highlight is Osaka Castle Tower! Feel like a feudal lord with a spectacular view overlooking the park＞ The symbol of Osaka Castle Park is, of course, Osaka Castle Tower! Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Taiko, began construction of the castle in 1583, and the first castle tower was completed after two years of construction. The current castle tower is the third, built in 1931, and is a registered national cultural property. The interior is open to the public as a historical museum. First, head to the observation deck on the 8th floor, where you can get a 360-degree view of the park. The view from the castle tower, located on high ground, is refreshing! You can see the park and the surrounding Osaka cityscape. Valuable materials are exhibited on each floor of the museum. In addition to the "Osaka Summer Battle Screen," which depicts the final battle of the Sengoku period between Toyotomi and Tokugawa, you can see actual helmets and armor, calligraphy, paintings, and drawings. Some of the exhibits are replaced approximately every two months, so you can experience new Sengoku romance no matter how many times you visit. In addition to the documents, the museum also offers a detailed diorama and a large panoramic vision with a powerful video commentary, making it easy to understand the history. There are also gorgeous and luxurious documents unique to the Taiko period, such as the full-scale model of the prefabricated teahouse "Golden Teahouse" that Hideyoshi used! On the first floor, there is also a shop with original Osaka Castle goods, Sengoku goods, and Osaka souvenirs. The photo shows the latest collaboration item with Osaka-based Sakura Cray-Pas, a crayon pencil set that brings together the "Japanese colors" seen around Osaka Castle. You can complete the included Osaka Castle coloring book with your own original colors! ■Osaka Castle Keep Address: 1-1 Osaka Castle, Chuo-ku, Osaka TEL: 06-6941-3044 Admission fee: 600 yen Opening hours: 9am-5pm (entrance until 30 minutes before closing) *Opening hours may be extended depending on the season Closed: December 28th-January 1st Of course, there are many historical remains within the park. It will take 1-2 hours to go around them all, so if you want to see them properly, make sure you have enough time. Many of the stone walls and turrets that can be seen in the inner and outer moats still exist, and it is impressive to see how they have remained unchanged since then. The "Octopus Stone" at the end of the Sakuramon Gate on the south side of the keep is the largest stone in the castle, measuring 5.5m in height and 11.7m in width. I wonder how it was transported there...? It's a mysterious spot of the Warring States period that will make your imagination run wild. Inside the castle is Hokoku Shrine, which enshrines Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Hideyori, and Hidenaga. In honor of Hideyoshi, who rose from a farmer to become the most powerful man in Japan, the shrine is worshipped as the god of success. Next to the torii gate stands a 5.2m tall statue of Hideyoshi in a jinbaori robe. ■Hokoku Shrine Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka TEL: 06-6941-0229 Fee: Free to enter Opening hours: 9:00-16:50 Closed: No holidays We also recommend a cruise around the inner moat on the Osaka Castle Gozabune, which departs every 15-30 minutes from Gokurakubashi Bridge on the north side of the castle tower. The castle tower seen from the water has a different feel. You'll feel like you've traveled back in time. ■Osaka Castle Gozabune Address: Departure and arrival are on the west side of Gokurakubashi (north side of the castle tower) TEL: 080-3764-3773 (Ticket office on-site/accepted only during operation period) Fee: 1,500 yen for boarding fee Opening hours: Operates every 15-30 minutes between 10:00 and 16:30 (last departure) Days off: Year-end and New Year holidays, and may be changed or canceled due to bad weather or equipment adjustments Introducing two complexes in Osaka Castle Park. Both are popular spots with a wide range of gourmet restaurants and cafes, allowing you to eat within Osaka Castle Park. "Miraiza Osaka Castle" is a complex that was renovated from the "4th Division Headquarters Building," which was built in 1931, the same year as the current castle tower. It is a symmetrical building with a strong presence, and the luxurious and elegant decorations unique to Western-style architecture create a great atmosphere. In addition to the terrace cafe "BLUE BIRDS ROOF TOP TERRACE" with a spectacular view of the castle tower nearby, there are also Italian restaurants, a takoyaki bar, and shops selling ninja and Sengoku goods. ■MIRAIZA OSAKA Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture TEL: 06-6755-4320 (main) Business hours: Varies by store Closed days: Varies by store This is "JO-TERRACE OSAKA", which is directly connected to the northeast entrance of Osaka Castle Park and JR Osakajo Koen Station by a bridge. This is an open complex that includes a variety of cafes and restaurants, including specialty shops selling Osaka gourmet food, as well as convenience stores and runner support facilities. Among them, we recommend the meat restaurant and cafe "good spoon Joe Terrace Store," where you can enjoy BBQ on the terrace overlooking Osaka Castle Park! ■JO-TERRACE OSAKA Address: 3-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka TEL: 06-6314-6444 (main) Business hours: Varies by store Closed days: Varies by store There are several stations close to Osaka Castle Park, so check the station closest to your destination and visit. ⚫︎Access to "Osaka Castle Keep" ① Osaka Metro Chuo Line "Tanimachi 4-chome Station" ➡ About 10 minutes walk. This is the station closest to the keep. Recommended if you are going to Osaka Castle from the Namba area. ② JR Osaka Loop Line "Osakajokoen Station" northeast of the park ➡ About 15 minutes walk. You can stop by JO-TERRACE OSAKA right away. Convenient if you are coming from Osaka Station or Umeda. ③ JR Osaka Loop Line and Osaka Metro Chuo Line Morinomiya Station, southeast of the park ➡About 20 minutes on foot. Although it is the furthest, the southwest side of the park has a playground, a fountain plaza, a cafe, and more, so you can play and relax until the time is up. ⚫︎Access to Osaka Castle Hall ① Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi Ryokuchi Line Osaka Castle Business Park, north of the park ➡About 5 minutes on foot. Exit 1 is the closest. ② JR Osaka Loop Line Osakajokoen Station, northeast of the park ➡About 5 minutes on foot. If you are coming from Osaka Station or Umeda, this is the smoothest route. ⚫︎Road trains are also convenient for moving around the park. There is also a road train that connects Morinomiya Station to JO-TERRACE OSAKA to Gokurakubashi as a means of transportation within the park. Make good use of it and enjoy moving around the vast park! ■Road train Address: Morinomiya Station (Fountain Square), in front of Joe Terrace Osaka Information, in front of Osaka Castle Park Station Parking Lot, Gokurakubashi TEL: 06-6755-4178 (Osaka Castle Park Transportation System Sales Office) Fee: 400 yen one way for adults, 200 yen for children and seniors Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm *Operates approximately every 30 minutes Closed: First Thursday of every month (the following week if it is a public holiday), occasionally suspended due to events *Check the official website for details