Osaka Castle (大阪城, Osaka-jo)
I decided to visit Osaka Castle.
Although I had heard a lot about it while in Korea, this was my first time visiting in person.
It’s also a place that cannot be left out of South Korea’s long history.
If you take the Tanimachi Line or Chuo Line to Tanimachi Yonchome Station,
you can easily find it by exiting from Exit 9.
On the way to Osaka Castle, there is Osaka NHK Broadcasting Station.
Next to the broadcasting station is the Osaka Museum of History, which had outdoor exhibits like traditional Korean houses.
It seemed like they had recreated traditional Korean architecture.
NHK is Japan’s largest public broadcasting station.
I occasionally saw NHK broadcasts on cable channels in Korea, although I couldn’t understand the content.
It was fascinating to think that I was watching Japanese public broadcasting in Korea.
Osaka Castle’s massive stone walls
Osaka Castle was built in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. At the time of construction, it was incredibly large,
but most of it has been lost, and only a few castle buildings reconstructed in the 1950s remain(about 20% restored).
After building this castle, Hideyoshi invaded Joseon, the former country of South Korea, in 1592.
Osaka Castle is often referred to as “Nanban,” meaning “impregnable fortress.”
Just looking at the massive stone walls that greet you when you first arrive makes it seem difficult to conquer this castle.
Osaka Castle Park Guide
Around Osaka Castle, there is a park, a history museum, and a concert hall.
Additionally, there are broadcasting stations, newspapers, and financial institutions, making it the central hub of Osaka in terms of history, economy, and politics.
Perhaps due to the high number of Korean visitors, I could occasionally see information in Korean.
Entrance to the main castle, Tenshukaku
One notable difference between Osaka Castle and Korean palaces is that the path to the main castle, Tenshukaku, is not a straight line.
At Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, you can move in a straight line from Gwanghwamun Gate to Geunjeongjeon Hall,
but at Osaka Castle, you must pass through one gate, follow the castle wall to the next gate, and continue this pattern.
A castle within a castle
The path was beautifully landscaped in the Japanese style.
Moving from one gate to another, it felt like there was another castle within the castle.
Built for defense
While passing through the gates, I noticed various defensive mechanisms.
To conquer Osaka Castle, one would need to navigate not only the massive stone walls but also deep moats, even if they managed to pass the formidable stone walls.
It’s truly a formidable fortress.
Main castle, Tenshukaku
I arrived at the main castle, Tenshukaku.
Even getting here was no easy feat.
If you visit Osaka Castle in the summer, you’ll definitely need sunscreen and sunglasses to shield yourself from the sun.
You might even get tired before reaching the top.
Compared to the vastness and scale of the castle grounds, Tenshukaku felt a bit small.
To protect Tenshukaku, they built a wide area with layered stone walls and moats, but the main castle itself was not very large.
It was like the tail wagging the dog.
Entrance fee for Tenshukaku, 500 yen(円); I received a discount with the Kansai Pass.
If you have the Kansai Pass, you can get a 100 yen discount.
With the Osaka One-Day Pass, you can use it for free once, but it doesn’t cover all of the Kansai area.
Originally, Tenshukaku was a wooden structure, and the thought of building such a large building out of wood was impressive.
However, it was reconstructed with concrete in the 1950s.
Entrance to Tenshukaku
It was early Monday morning, and Japanese students were on a field trip. Walking into Tenshukaku felt different.
There was no doubt that this place had immense historical significance in the relationship between Japan and Korea 400 years ago.
No photography allowed on the 3rd and 4th floors
Unfortunately, I couldn’t take photos on all the floors inside the castle, and photography was not allowed on the 3rd and 4th floors.
It was clearly stated in Korean, so I couldn’t claim ignorance.
Still, I could take photos in some areas.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s portrait at the entrance
At the entrance, there was a portrait of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the owner of the castle.
Osaka Castle sculptures
Seeing the sculptures of Osaka Castle, I could grasp their size at a glance.
Although it’s a Japanese castle, I thought it was very well constructed.
Japanese army
In 1592, Hideyoshi invaded Joseon. At that time, he might have been extremely confident, having just unified Japan.
He probably never imagined that there was Admiral Yi Sun-sin in the waters of Joseon, and he used the pretext of defeating the Ming Dynasty to step on Joseon soil.
City view spot, Osaka Castle Tenshukaku
Tenshukaku had a slender and tall building, and the stairs were quite steep.
However, by climbing the building, you could experience an observation deck with a panoramic view of the city.
Back in the day, when there were no tall buildings in the city, you could probably see all of Osaka from Tenshukaku.
NHK Broadcasting Station
On the opposite side, I could see the NHK Broadcasting Station, which I had walked past a little while ago.
Inside Osaka Castle
Even on the rooftops of Osaka Castle, you could see decorative elements similar to those in Korean palaces.
Decorative elements: Toh on top of a ceramic-tiled roof; a decorative ornament on the ridge of the roof.
I thought I would be disappointed because I couldn’t take many photos inside Tenshukaku, but after finishing the tour, I wasn’t disappointed at all.
In fact, there wasn’t much to see.
While Japan might have tried to highlight Hideyoshi’s achievements highly, from the perspective of a foreigner like me, there wasn’t much to see.
If you dislike stairs, taking a commemorative photo at the entrance might be enough.
(Map)
Dec. 14. 2009