Osaka Castle

Last update

15 Jul 2025

The symbol of Osaka, dearly beloved by its citizens, Osaka Castle and its museum have become even more beautiful and easier for tourists to look around following large-scale repairs in 1997. There is a historical exhibition inside the castle, and the top floor is an observatory. The Osaka Castle Park that spreads across as if to embrace the Main Tower is famous for its seasonal flowers. Nearby is the Japan Mint, famous for its cherry blossoms. You can also enjoy a river cruise on the Aqua Liner waterbus.
Photo provided by Osaka Castle

[Fee] Adults: 1200 yen (discounts for groups of 15 or more); Junior high school students and below: Free
[Access] Approx. 15 min. walk from Morinomiya Station or Osakajokoen Station on the JR Line;
approx. 15 min. walk from Temmabashi Station or Tanimachi 4-chome Station on the Osaka Metro; approx. 15 min. walk from Temmabashi Station on the Keihan Line
[Credit Card Payment] Varies by store (not accepted at ticket machines)

Osaka Castle was formerly Osaka Hongan-ji Temple (Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple) during the Sengoku period, and has always had a deep connection with Japanese history, such as its construction by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, its reconstruction by the Tokugawa Shogunate, its coming under the jurisdiction of the army after the Restoration, and its postwar development into a park. All of the ancient structures that can be seen today, such as the stone walls and moats, the Otemon Gate, Tamon Turret, and Sengan Turret, and the entire area has been designated a special national historic site, and most of the ancient structures are designated Important Cultural Properties.

The castle tower is the third of its kind, dating back to the Toyotomi and Tokugawa periods. It now is designated as a national registered cultural property. It has served as a history museum called "Osaka Castle Tower," housing a wealth of cultural assets related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Sengoku period, and the history of Osaka Castle, which are displayed in an exhibition room inside, with the exhibits rotated from time to time.