- Join for free
- Sign In
Latest Osaka hotel reviews
Helpfulness
Imabari Castle is in the city of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture on the Island of Shokaku. It is a beautiful medieval castle. It is unique in that it is situated in flat land on the beach (sort of) and not on a hill. Most Japanese castles (and, indeed, most European castles) were built on hilltops for defensive purposes. Imabari castle's moat is sea water redirected from the Seto Inland sea. The inside of the castle holds a good museum, and the top of the castle gives an incredible view of the islands and bridges of the Seto Inland Sea.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Downtown Imabari
The castle has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous time since 1586 but the parts that can be visited are beautiful. The main donjon dates from 1931 and the walls around the castle gives an idea of how big the domain was.
The interior of the castle has multiple levels with different showcase explaining the history of the Hideyoshi.
See my travelogue for more pictures of the castle (outside and inside)
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Helpfulness
The castles history began in 1496. There were several rulers, and it changed shape many times. In 1868 most of the buildings were burnt down. In 1931 the castle was reconstructed and in 1948 it became a historical sites park.
Inside the castle is a museum, where you can see the history of Osaka castle.
Opening times: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
( Last admission is at 4:30pm.)
Adults 600Yen , Children Free
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: 1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Phone: (06) 6941-3044
Helpfulness
This castle in the middle of the city is one of Japan's top spots for visitors from within Japan. Full of history, architecture, landscape & museum attributes, in the middle of a population of over 3 million, it's amazing to visit & feel as though you're walking through a mediaeval countryside.
(For more details, see my travelogue on OsakaJo).
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Helpfulness
Osaka Castle is deep-rooted in the minds of citizens of Osaka as the symbol of Osaka. 400 years have passed since the foundation of Osaka Castle by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The existing Osaka Castle, however, was reconstructed by the Tokugawa Shogunate. There remains no single piece of stone wall from the Toyotomi period.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Osaka castle was a bit of a letdown...
Looks great from the outside, and the surrounding park is beautiful in the spring when all the blossoms are going off, but... the castle interior is completely rebuilt and modernized/unoriginal.
Ok to visit to see the museum, I guess.
Or to take pictures outside during spring.
Written Aug 29, 2010
Address: 1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku
Phone: (06) 6941-3044
Website: http://www.osakacastle.net/
Helpfulness
Osaka Castle was originally commissioned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1684 but was later destroyed by the Tokugawa. The current reconstruction was built in the 1930s and updated in 1997. Although it is a reconstruction, the castle walls and moat are well-preserved and the inside contains a lot of information about Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as some artifacts. It also has an excellent view from the top of the surrounding park and city. The castle is also nice to look at from the outside with its unique green tiles.
Entrance is 600 yen, but it is free to roam around the park.
Written Jul 17, 2010
Address: 1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku
Phone: 066-941-3044
Website: http://www.osakacastle.net/castle_en/index.htm
Helpfulness
The Osaka Castle which I understand is about 500 years old is probably the most interesting land mark in Osaka and probably the most visited place by the tourists here. It is a large facility by the water and content museum and other interested site within.
Written Dec 1, 2009
Address: 1-1 OsakaJo,Chuo-ku
Website: www.osakacastle.net
Helpfulness
Osaka Castle was originally built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It was renovated in 1620 by Tokugawa who had won the castle in a battle. In 1665 the castle was burned to the ground when it was struck by lightening and wasn't rebuilt until modern times.
I wasn't very impressed by Osaka Castle itself but I enjoyed walking in the large castle grounds. The castle is quite small in comparison to many other Japanese Castles. If you are planning a trip to Kansai region and like castles then I recommend that you also visit Himeji Castle in Himeji City about 1 hour from Osaka by train.
See my Himeji Page for details!
Updated Jun 21, 2004
Helpfulness
On the castle grounds a time capsule is buried. The capsule was made during the 1970 EXPO. The thought is that the top part of this capsule will be opened every century, but the bottom must not be opened in 5000 years, which makes it 6970. We will not be around by then so we searched the internet for info, what is in there?
Here is what we found:
There are 2098 cultural assests of the 20th century in there.
Everything from the sacred to the profane is represented in the 2,008 objects (pictured left) enclosed: a silk condom, false teeth, a glass eye, insects encased in resin, an origami instruction book, pamphlets on how to brew sake, handcuffs, counterfeit money, a string of fake pearls, and that essential part of 20th Century life—a "micro-mini" television set.
If you want to read more about it, here is where we found it: http://www.retrofuture.com/timecapsule.html
Updated Aug 13, 2003
Sponsored Links
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka Osaka
1 Review and 351 Opinions
Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka Osaka
1 Review and 290 Opinions Travelling with my two senior citizen parents, this is the perfect hotel if you are going to move...
Hotel Hankyu International Osaka
1 Review and 125 Opinions US$190-500 SKY GARDEN WITH FANCY BAR
1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku
castle tips and photos posted by real travelers and Osaka locals.
Write a ReviewOn the castle grounds a time capsule is buried. The capsule was made during the 1970 EXPO. The thought is that the top part of this capsule will be opened every...
144 members live in Osaka
Q: Hi, I'll be in Osaka for 7 days. What would be the best ticket to get to travel around? I surfed the web but get rather confusing...
A: Depends on where you want to go. If you are wondering about day passes and other regional passes, I doubt it is very useful. If you are wondering about a rechargeable...
Read 8 Replies
1
Where does one begin with Osaka? It's the heart of one of the biggest urban agglomerations on earth, yet not many people outside of Japan know much about it. I've been here for more than seven years....
2
In Osaka you will find some interesting architecture made by the austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
3
Osaka is a big modern city in Japan. The first time we visited Osaka was in 1992. We were going to a motorcycle GP at Suzuka and had a few days to see something of a country we didn´t know anything...
4
Yes, it was my first visit to Japan and Osaka in particular. I find the city modern and business-like. I enjoyed the city for sure. Most of the local people are very nice. From the hotel where I...
5
Osaka - my home for three and a half years
Osaka may not be the prettiest city in the world, but it's a lively and exciting place, with fantastic connections to some of the most historic cities in Japan. And if you want to get away from it...
Build your own Osaka page
Sponsored Links
