Osaka
Among the recommended sightseeing spots in Osaka are Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan.
The Osaka Castle Donjon
Osaka Castle has a great symbolic presence is Osaka. It is counted as one of the three great castles of Japan, along with Himeji and Kumamoto castles. Built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1583, Osaka Castle has suffered repeated attacks of fire, burning to the ground twice. The donjon standing today was constructed in 1931 using donations from the citizens of Osaka. After retrofitting work in 1997, the castle can now withstand an earthquake of magnitude 7. Additionally, the elevator service was extended and automatic doors installed to provide wheelchair access to the observation area on the top floor. The inside of the castle has historical objects exhibited. Some of the many other things to see include a diorama depicting Toyotomi's life and a golden tearoom.
During the Edo period, Osaka Castle was rebuilt by the Tokugawa government. The stone walls from that time remain as structural sections. Some of the stones in the walls were engraved to indicate possession (by daimyo) or the purpose of the stonework, and those engravings can be seen today. Most of the stones were quarried as close as the Seto Inland Sea or as far away as Fukuoka Prefecture, and how they transported such mammoth stones with only their pre-modern conveyance technology and hard labor can only be imagined.
| Open hours: |
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time. (Closed from December 28 to January 1) |
|---|---|
| Admission: |
Adults: 600 yen, Children (junior high-age and younger): free |
| Address: | 1-1 Osaka-jo, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture |
| URL: | http://www.osakacastle.net/english/ |
| Phone: | +81-(0)6-6941-3044 |
| Access: |
• Take Keihan Electric Railway to Temmabashi or Kyobashi Station. It is a 20-minute walk. • Take the Osaka Municipal Subway Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line to Osaka Business Park Station. It is a 15-minute walk. • Take the JR Osaka Loop Line to Osakajokoen Station or the JR Tozai Line to Osakajo-kitazume Station. It is a 15-minute walk. • Take the Osaka Loop Line to Morinomiya Station. It is a 20-minute walk. • Take the Osaka Municipal Subway Tanimachi Line to Tanimachi Yonchome Station, or the Chuo or Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line to Morinomiya Station. It is a 20-minute walk. |
Attractions along the Keihan line
Discount Tickets
When using Keihan Electric Railway, passes for visitors to Japan are a convenient way to get around. Not only do you get unlimited rides on Kyoto and Osaka lines, the passes come with a number of other benefits. For travel in Osaka and Kyoto, these passes are indispensable!