Osaka Castle: From the Main Keep to Hokoku-jinja Shrine and the Ruins of Naniwa Palace

Enter Osaka Castle Park from Osakajokoen Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line, visit Hokoku-jinja Shrine which enshrines Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and climb the Osaka Castle main keep standing in the honmaru (main bailey). Afterwards, trace the history of Osaka at the Osaka Museum of History to the southwest, and finish at the site of Naniwa Palace, the imperial palace of the Asuka and Nara periods.

History and Local Charm

Osaka Castle and the area to its south are layered with history from various eras. During the Asuka period, the relocation of the capital to Naniwa following the Taika Reforms that began in 645 led to the construction of Japan's first full-scale palace, the Early Naniwa Palace. In the Nara period, Emperor Shomu constructed the Late Naniwa Palace at almost the exact same location.

Later in history, on the formidable grounds where Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple resisted Oda Nobunaga for 11 years, Toyotomi Hideyoshi began building Osaka Castle in 1583. That castle burned down during the Summer Siege of Osaka in 1615, and the Tokugawa shogunate rebuilt it completely from a new design. The magnificent stone walls and moats seen today date from this Tokugawa period. The entire area is designated as a National Special Historic Site as the "Osaka Castle Site."

The main keep built by the Tokugawa shogunate also burned down after a lightning strike in 1665, and only the stone base (tenshudai) remained after that, but in 1931, the third-generation main keep following the Toyotomi and Tokugawa eras was reconstructed through donations from citizens. Regarding this main keep, in October 2026, the Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a recommendation that it be designated as an Important Cultural Property. Walking south from the castle leads to the park preserving the ancient imperial capital's remains, while the neighboring history museum presents Osaka's long history all in one place.

Key Highlights

• ​Osaka Castle Park​​: A park spanning over 100 hectares. It retains 13 National Important Cultural Properties, including the Otemon Gate (the main gate of Osaka Castle), the Sengan-yagura Turret, and the Tamon-yagura Turret. At the Sakuramon Gate at the entrance to the main bailey stands the Takoishi (octopus stone), a giant rock estimated at 130 tons. In spring, around 3,000 cherry trees bloom, and from late January to early March, plum blossoms can be enjoyed in the plum grove on the east side.
• ​Hokoku-jinja Shrine​​: A shrine enshrining Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Hideyori, and Hidenaga, which moved to its current location inside Osaka Castle in 1961. At the entrance stands a statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi measuring 5.2 meters including its pedestal. The Shuseki-tei Garden, designed by Shigemori Mirei, features a ground layout patterned after sennari-hyotan (gourd cluster) motifs, using giant stones to depict "Ishiyama."
• ​Osaka Castle Main Keep​​: Appearing as 5 tiers from the outside and 8 stories on the inside, it shines with golden decorations such as shachihoko (mythical carp) and fusetora (crouching tigers) on the roof. The interior serves as a museum displaying rotated items related to Hideyoshi, with a full-scale replica of the "Golden Tea Room" on the 3rd floor. The 5th floor introduces the world of the "Summer Siege of Osaka Folding Screen" through video and miniatures, while the 8th floor is an observation deck 50 meters above ground.
• ​Osaka Museum of History​​: A museum introducing the journey of the city of Osaka, built on the site of the ancient Naniwa-no-Nagara-no-Toyosaki Palace. The 10th floor features a full-scale replica of the Daigokuden Hall of the Nara-period Naniwa Palace, and the 9th floor reproduces the townscape of Senba in the mid-18th century on a 1/20 scale.
• ​Naniwa Palace​​: The palace site where Yamane Tokutaro and others discovered the remains of the Daigokuden Hall in 1961, now maintained as the Naniwa Palace Site Park. The foundation platform of the Daigokuden Hall from the Late Naniwa Palace has been restored, and the pillar locations of the Early Naniwa Palace are marked with red granite stones.

Recommended Route and Duration

The estimated time required is about 5 hours. Upon exiting Osakajokoen Station, the park is right before you. Walk about 270 meters south into the park to pay respects at Hokoku-jinja Shrine, then head about 350 meters north to gaze up at the Takoishi at the Sakuramon Gate entering the main bailey before proceeding to the main keep. Exploring the keep takes around 60 minutes; visiting the Osaka Castle Toyotomi Stone Wall Gallery underground to view stone walls from the Toyotomi period requires the castle keep's admission fee.

After leaving the castle keep, walk about 700 meters southwest to the Osaka Museum of History. Take the elevator up to the 10th floor and descend to the 7th floor, tracing Osaka from ancient to modern and contemporary times. From the 10th floor windows, you can look out over the historic Naniwa Palace site ahead, as well as Osaka Castle where you just walked. Finally, walk about 310 meters southeast to Naniwa Palace. Ascending the foundation platform of the Daigokuden Hall and looking back toward Osaka Castle allows you to take in the day's entire journey at a single glance. For the return trip, nearby Tanimachi 4-chome Station is convenient.

Summary of the Experience

From the ancient palace site of the Asuka period to Hideyoshi's castle, Tokugawa's stone walls, and the main keep rebuilt by the citizens. Walking through Osaka Castle and its surroundings reveals how roughly 1,400 years of history have layered upon this land. Compare the town looking down from the keep's observation deck with the view looking up at the keep from the foundation platform of Naniwa Palace.