Osaka Castle

The huge castle in Osaka (its area is 1 square kilometer) is one of the most significant historical monuments of the country.

General Toyotomi Hideyoshi founded the castle in 1597 on the site of an old temple. It was built based on the architecture of Azuchi Castle, the headquarters of Oda Nobunaga. The castle in Osaka was planned to be made equally impregnable, but more ambitious in every respect. That is why the building not only rises 5 floors up, but also goes 3 floors into the ground, and the walls of the tower are covered with gold leaf.

During Hideyoshi’s time, Osaka became not only the most important economic center of the country, uniting a divided Japan, but also the center of major strife. Two major battles had to be moved to the castle fortress. In the 17th century, it fell under enemy pressure and was destroyed. In 1620 it was decided to restore and expand it. But this was prevented by natural forces - lightning struck the tower and most of the buildings burned down. Until the 20th century, the castle lay in ruins, until the mayor of Osaka found the funds for its reconstruction. Since 1931, the castle again towers over the city, it houses a museum.

The interior of the castle has been restored to its former form. Of the original buildings, the main gate of Otemon, five towers of the Yagura (tower of a thousand eyes) of the Tokugawa period, moats, several barracks and houses are preserved. The stones of the buildings are laid without mortar, which allowed them to withstand earthquakes. Inaccessible steep cliffs framing the castle, ditches up to 90 meters wide, with a total length of 12 kilometers, general monumentality and proud beauty - the castle in Osaka is an expressive monument to the ambitions and strength of character of the Japanese leaders.