Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583 on the site of the Osaka (Ishiyama) Honganji Temple, and the castle tower was completed two years later.

However, only two years later, in 1615, the Toyotomi clan was destroyed in the Osaka Summer Battle, and the castle tower was destroyed by fire.

The castle was rebuilt during the Tokugawa period, but was again destroyed by lightning in 1665, leaving it without a keep.

The present keep was built in 1931 as a museum, the “Keep Local History Museum,” with donations from citizens. The construction cost was about 1.5 million yen, equivalent to about 75 billion yen in today’s value.

The castle tower, which has been restored after 266 years, is 55 meters above the ground, with five stories and eight floors, and is decorated with golden ornaments such as shachi on the roof and fushitora under the kagaran railings.

Although the castle was severely damaged in the Osaka Air Raid of 1945, full-scale repairs were made to the damaged turrets and stone walls that collapsed during the air raid in 1953, and the Osaka Castle Site was designated as a national historic site.

Currently registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, the building has undergone major renovations, and the 8th floor observation deck offers a panoramic view of Osaka.

It is a popular spot visited by more than 1 million people a year, with a cumulative total of more than 100 million visitors, the highest number of visitors among all castles in Japan.

The interior of Osaka Castle ranges from the first to the eighth floors of the keep, with elevators usually located exclusively for ascending to the fifth floor.

Eighth Floor - Observation Deck
The 8th floor is a viewing platform where visitors can step outside to enjoy the view. It is wheelchair accessible. There is also a museum store.

7th Floor - The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
On the 7th floor, visitors can learn about the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

6th Floor - Corridor
The 6th floor is a corridor and is not accessible to visitors.

5th floor - The World of the Osaka Natsu no Jin Screens
On the 5th floor, there is an exhibition of the Osaka Summer Campaign.

4th floor - Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his time
The 4th floor is the venue for special and temporary exhibitions.

3rd floor - Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his time
The 3rd floor is also the venue for special and temporary exhibitions. Other exhibits include a full-scale replica of the Toyotomi Osaka Castle, a replica of the Tokugawa Osaka Castle, and a full-scale replica of the Golden Tea House. There is also a shop selling catalogues.

2nd Floor - Castle Information Corner
On the second floor, there are panel displays, replica displays, and a corner where visitors can try on helmets and battle helmets. There are also offices and restrooms.

1st floor - Entrance to the castle tower
On the first floor, there is an information counter, a museum store, and a theater room.

Also known as “Taikohan’s Castle,” the remains of Toyotomi Osaka Castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi are actually almost completely buried today, and the remains of Osaka Castle that can be seen today were repaired by Tokugawa Hidetada, which was the equivalent of a substantial new construction.

A comprehensive academic survey of Osaka Castle has confirmed that all of the turrets and stonewalls existing at the castle site were built by the Tokugawa clan and the Edo shogunate.