Osaka Castle

The Osaka Castle is one of the famous castles located in Japan and it was built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The tower at Osaka’s castle is used as storeroom. The castle is constructed on a platform standing on the walls supported on a rock. The castle at the center is of five stories from outside and eight stories from inside and it was constructed on a high stone in order to safeguard from enemies.

Size and Construction Plans

Osaka Castle covers an area of about 15 acres, among them, the Japanese government has declared thirteen structures as ancient cultural property which also includes Toyokuni Shrine. In the year 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi started the construction at Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple site. Toyotami first thought of constructing castle that mirrored Oda’s, but it never happened. The idea of the building was changed later to construct a five stories and three more stories below it, and a gold leaf was placed on the top of the tower. In the year 1585, the inner tower was constructed and later the castle was expanded making it stronger to withstand attack over it. In the year 1598, Hideyoshi died, at the same time, the construction of the castle was completed and later on, the castle was handed over to Hideyoshi’s son, Toyotomi Hideyori.

Floors Plan

In the castle, the main entrance makes a way unto ground floor. The building is a eight floored Museum which is held in reverse mode i.e., starts at last floor and ends at 2nd floor. There is also a mini theater in 1st floor. As per Osaka’s castle, the 8th floor comes first. This floor consists of some colored paints and also Naniwa port can be viewed from this floor. In the 7th floor during the rule of Toyotami Hideyoshi, history at that time of the Osaka castle can be seen. At the walls in the 7th floor, Hideyoshor, the display pictures of Hideyoshi can be seen. And moreover in this floor, Osaka Castle history is elucidated and also changes happened under the rule of Hideyoshi can also be seen. The next floors i.e.,5, 6th floors shows the ending rule of Toyotami and rise of Tokugawa, and that period was known as transition period. This period shows the battle between the families for gaining power. The last floors i.e.,3rd, 4th floors shows the materials during the reign of Hideyoshi Toyotami and also the stages of Osaka Castle during the time of Toyotami and Tokugawa. There are more than 8000 artifacts displayed here, the life of Hideyoshi Toyotami is also shown here.

Changes Through Time

During the battle by the Toyotami forces, the Osaka castle was damaged heavily and again it was rebuilt by Tokugawa. In the year 1660, the castle was severely burned as the gunpowder exploded causing a severe damage to the tower. Again in 1925, the tower was brought back into existence, and again in 1945 bombings damaged the restored tower, the government restored back in 1995 and in 1997 it was brought back to existence again. The Osaka castle is now a famous tourist attraction and it is open to public.

Osaka Castle