Osaka Castle Main Tower

In short

A symbol of Osaka standing in the honmaru (main bailey) of Osaka Castle. The current main tower is the third generation, following those of the Toyotomi era and the Tokugawa era; it was built through donations collected from citizens as a project commemorating the enthronement of Emperor Showa, and was completed in November 1931. Its exterior is based on the Toyotomi-era main tower depicted on the "Folding Screen of the Summer Siege of Osaka." Recognized as a pioneer in methods of reconstructing castle keeps across Japan, it was recommended by the national Council for Cultural Affairs in October 2026 for designation as an Important Cultural Property.

• ​Exhibits on Hideyoshi and Osaka Castle​​: The interior serves as a museum. Materials including items associated with Hideyoshi are displayed, with exhibits rotating approximately every two months. On the 3rd floor, there is also a full-scale restored model of Hideyoshi's portable "Golden Tea Room"
• ​The World of the Folding Screen of the Summer Siege of Osaka​​: On the 5th floor, scenes depicted on the folding screen are presented using video and miniature models. On the 7th floor, a small figure of Hideyoshi moves through a diorama, tracing his life
• ​Observation Deck 50 Meters Above Ground​​: From the observation deck on the 8th floor, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the expansive Osaka Castle and the city of Osaka. The observation deck is accessible by wheelchair

History and Highlights

​Osaka Castle Main Keep​ stands in the honmaru (main bailey) of Osaka Castle and is a symbol of Osaka. The current main keep is the third generation, following those of the Toyotomi era and the Tokugawa era.

Construction of Osaka Castle was begun by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, and the castle keep was completed around 1585. However, the castle fell during the Summer Siege of Osaka in 1615, and the keep was burned down. The Tokugawa shogunate rebuilt the keep in 1626, but it burned down again due to a lightning strike in 1665, leaving only the stone base of the keep for the remainder of the Edo period.

The current keep was built through donations collected from citizens as a project commemorating the enthronement of Emperor Showa, and was completed in November 1931. Standing atop a 13.3-meter-high stone base, it is a steel-framed reinforced concrete structure that appears to have five stories from the outside and contains eight floors inside. Its exterior is based on the Toyotomi-era keep depicted on the "Folding Screen of the Summer Siege of Osaka," adorned with glittering gold decorations such as the shachi (mythical carp-dragon figures) on the roof and the fusetora (crouching tigers) beneath the railings. Recognized as a pioneer in methods of reconstructing castle keeps across Japan, it was recommended by the Council for Cultural Affairs in October 2026 for designation as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Viewing and Experience Highlights

• ​Exhibits on Hideyoshi and Osaka Castle​​: The interior serves as a museum. On the 3rd and 4th floors, materials from the Sengoku (Warring States) period, including items associated with Hideyoshi, as well as documents relating to Osaka Castle, are displayed with exhibits rotating approximately every two months. On the 3rd floor, there is also a full-scale restored model of Hideyoshi's portable "Golden Tea Room."
• ​The World of the Folding Screen of the Summer Siege of Osaka​​: On the 5th floor, scenes depicted on the folding screen are presented in an easy-to-understand manner using video and miniature models. On the 7th floor, a small figure of Hideyoshi moves through diorama scenes, tracing the story of his life.
• ​Observation Deck 50 Meters Above Ground​​: From the observation deck on the 8th floor, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the expansive Osaka Castle and the city of Osaka. The observation deck is accessible by wheelchair.

Travel Tips

The recommended viewing time is approximately 60 minutes. The "Osaka Castle Toyotomi Ishigaki Museum" is a facility that requires the castle keep admission fee to enter, where visitors can descend underground to see the stone walls of Osaka Castle from the Toyotomi era, which had been buried underground by the Tokugawa shogunate. The museum reveals the stone walls that once protected the center of the honmaru where Hideyoshi, Yodo-dono, and Hideyori resided. The gates, turrets, and cherry blossom spots around the castle keep are featured in Osaka Castle Park and Nishinomaru Garden.