Osaka Castle Park
Osaka Castle Park is a public urban park and historical site situated at Osaka-Jō in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. It lies on the south of the Ōkawa and occupies a large area in the center of the city of Osaka. This park is the second largest park in the city.
The park was constructed on a site with a long history. In the fifteenth century, a militant temple, Ishiyama Hongan-ji, was built here. In 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi destroyed Ishiyama Hongan-ji and built Osaka Castle here. From 1870 to 1945 the Osaka Arsenal used a large area, and it was destroyed at end of World War II. In 1931, Osaka Castle Park was opened to the public, but most of the area was used by the Imperial Japanese Army. After World War II, most of the military complex was removed and replaced by the public urban park.
In the park, there is Osaka Castle Hall, a large athletic field, baseball field, football field, open-air music theatre, open-air concert hall, and Osaka Castle Keep Tower. From the top of keep tower, the vista includes Osaka Bay to Mount Ikoma, which surround the Osaka Plain. Many busking groups perform in the park. In spring, cherry blossom and plum blossom viewing is popular at this park.
Facilities
Historical Monuments
- Osaka Castle
- *Keep Tower
- *Gold Storehouse
- *Sakura Gate
- *Tamon Gate
- *Ōte Gate
- *Aoya Gate
- *Inui Turret
- *Sengan Turret
- *6th Turret
- *1st Turret
- *Inner Moat
- *Outer Moat
- Ishiyama Hongan-ji monument
- The pine tree where the priest Rennyo hung his surplice
- Monument where Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo-dono committed suicide
Shrines and temples
- Hōkoku Shrine
- *Stone Garden
- Ikukunitama Shrine branch
- 無縁仏回向供養塔
Cultural and sports facilities
- Osaka Castle Hall
- Osaka Castle open-air concert hall
- Martial art training centre
- Baseball field and Athletic field
- Japanese archery Kyudo training field
- Osaka International Peace Center
- There is a large and robust musical presence in the park, with many bands, buskers and musicians performing or practicing.
Public park facilities
- Nishi-no-Maru Garden
- *Osaka Government Guest House
- *Japanese Tea Room
- Japanese Garden
- Plum Garden
- Peach garden
- Citizen's Forest
- Memorial Forest
- Waseda Forest
- Forest of Recollections
- Marked Stone Place
- Fountain
National Geological Survey facilities
- 2nd grade triangulation surveying point
Government facilities
- City Government, Eastern Area Park Facilities Maintenance Office
- City Water Company, Ōte-Mae Water Supply Facilities
Imperial Japanese Army facilities
- Former Headquarters of 4th Division of Imperial Japanese Army
- Former Chemical laboratory building of Osaka Arsenal
Other
- Education Tower
- 大阪社会運動顕彰塔
- Osaka Castle Port for Osaka Suijō Bus
Parking
- Morinomiya Parking
- Jōnan Bus Parking
Activities in the park
- plum blossom viewing : January–March
- peach blossom viewing : March
- cherry blossom viewing : April