Exploring Osaka Castle – History, Cherry Blossom & Park Walkthrough

Exploring Osaka Castle – History, Cherry Blossom & Park Walkthrough

This is Osaka Castle, one of the most iconic and unforgettable landmarks in Japan. And believe me, it’s not for the lack of competition. Japan has so much to offer. From breathtaking temples unlike anything else in the world. Full of history and color, visiting Shinto shrines often feels as if stepping back in time to an age when tradition and legend were a part of everyday life. And then there are the incredible natural landscapes. Lush forest, stunning national parks, and towering volcanoes, just like the famous Mount Fuji. And of course, Japan is home to the unforgettable seasonal spectacles of the cherry blossoms in spring and the fiery autumn colors in the fall. Altogether, it’s a culture that shows deep respect for tradition while blending the old with the new, a harmony driven way of life. And of course, they have castles. Lots and lots of castles. At its  peak, Japan had over 5,000 castles. Today, only about a hundred remain. Today, we will explore Osaka Castle and its beautiful park and take you along with us while we experience one of Japan’s most magical events, the cherry blossom season. So, get comfortable, hit subscribe, give the video a like, and let’s begin our journey. Osaka is a vast and beautiful city. If we take a look at the map, you’ll see Osaka Castle positioned just a little to the west of the city center. To put things into perspective, Osaka Station, the heart of downtown, is about a 30 minutes train ride to the east, while the lively Dotonbori district lies roughly 35 minutes to the south. Together, these three landmarks form a triangle that surrounds many of Osaka’s most popular attractions. Stretching across more than one square kilometer or 260 acres, this is one of the largest parks in Osaka. And at its center, you’ll find the castle keep encircled by a series of walls and moats. Although it might be tempting to think of the park as just a backdrop to the castle, you’d be making a big mistake. According to Japanese tourism figures, 2.5 million people bought tickets to visit Osaka Castle during 2024. Yet, as impressive as that is, that number pales in comparison to the incredible 12 million people that visited the park during the same year when you combine tourists and locals alike. Osaka Castle Park is not only a vast green space, it’s alive with cultural landmarks, sports facilities, event venues, and is ranked among Japan’s best destinations to witness the cherry blossoms every spring. As a matter of fact, during the months of April and May, the Bloom draws an average of 20,000 visitors per day from all across the globe. The autumn season with its fiery red and yellow colors, during the months of October and November, is another highlight and in my personal view the most magical time to visit the park. I really love fall.  It’s my favorite season of the year. But what about you? Share in the comments below and let us know which season you like the most. But Osaka Castle Park offers far more than cherry blossoms and autumn colors. Scattered across its grounds are cultural treasures that enrich your visit. And one of the most significant is the Hōkoku Shrine. Completed in 1879, the shrine is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the legendary warlord who rose from humble beginnings to unify Japan. Passing through the stone Torii gates, we are greeted by a bronze statue of Hideyoshi himself, standing proudly in full armor. The traditional Shinto worshiping hall is built of wood with green tiled rooftops and a spacious front area for ceremonies. This is where visitors gather to pray and make their offerings. A beloved tradition here involved the Omikuji, traditional paper fortunes that predict your future luck in areas like love, health, and career. After making a small offering, visitors draw a paper slip that might bring you good or bad fortune. If unlucky, it’s customary to tie the paper to a designated tree or wire, leaving the misfortune behind. Many also leave behind Ema, small wooden plaques inscribed with wishes for success and happiness, a fitting tribute to a man remembered for his ambition and rise to power. The shrine radiates peace and beauty. Especially during autumn when maple and ginkgo trees blazed in red and gold. Beyond the shrine lies a quiet stone garden where carefully placed rocks and raked gravel invitees not walking but contemplation. A space where simplicity and silence inspire reflection. Another notable stop within the park is the education tower or Kyōikutō. Completed in 1936,  it was built to honor the hundreds of school children and teachers who tragically perished during the Muroto typhoon in 1934, one of the most devastating storms ever to strike Japan. The tall stone monument rises above the treetops. Its carved inscription reading education tower. During autumn, golden ginkgo leaves blanket the surrounding ground, softening the monument’s imposing presence and transforming the site into a solemn yet strikingly beautiful scene. Approaching the castle, you quickly notice that there are several routes to reach it. Entering from the southwest and through the Tamatsukurimon Gate is probably the longest, but in my view the most scenic path, with plenty of spots to pause and take in the scenery. The most popular entrance, however, and the one suggested in most guides , is through the Otemon Gate from the east. A wide bridge crosses the moat and after a few turns, you join with the earlier path at the Sakuramon Gate which then leads upwards to the highest level where the castle stands. Osaka Castle Park is designed as a series of defensive rings built around the central keep. With moats, towering stone walls, and multiple courtyards that rise step by step towards the top. Two different moats protect the grounds. The outer moat which encircles the whole park and the inner moat surrounding the Honmaru courtyard where the keep stands. Together, these moats divide the grounds into three consecutive levels. It is probably easier to visualize it looking at this 3D model displayed inside the castle museum. We are now on what will be, I guess, the third level. When you come in from the street, right on the outside is a nice, beautiful park that covers several miles around the whole complex. Then you have the outer moat. Then an inner park. I guess that will be where the residences were back in memorial times when this was actually used as a castle. Then the inner moat which is right over here and then one level up is where we are right now where behind us is the castle. Well behind this building here is the castle. But from up here, you can look down and you get amazing views of all three levels and the mountains at the very very distance. It’s beautiful out here. The innermost and most fortified section of the castle grounds known as the Honmaru or main bailey, is centered on the iconic main keep or Tenshukaku Behind us right there is the Osaka Castle here in Osaka, obviously in Japan. Today it’s around 3:00 and it’s Sunday and if you can see it’s very busy but if you can see behind me the sky is like perfectly blue right on top of the castle and all around us is gray and cloudy which makes the fall colors look amazing all around us. The trees look so beautiful. I think this is the perfect moment of the year to come and visit this place with these colors. It’s really, really cool. This is easily the busiest part of the park with hundreds of visitors moving in every direction. Some taking photos, others admiring the beautiful trees and gardens, and many pausing to take in the stunning views of the park. The Honmaru itself is a large and rectangular open area decorated with beautiful lawns and gardens with the castle tower rising at its center surrounded by elevated viewpoints and scenic corners. Here you also encounter one of the most fascinating modern landmarks, the Expo70 time capsule. Created to preserve a snapshot of human civilization for millennia. Two capsules were sealed inside the vault holding everyday items like a rice cooker or a pair of jeans alongside cultural treasures such as artworks and musical recordings. They are to remain unopen for 5,000 years until the year 6,970. A message to the future about life in Japan and the world in 1970. Before heading up to the keep, another highlight is the Miraiza Osaka-Jo building. Constructed in 1931 during the last of the castle’s renovations, this western style structure sits beside the tower and contains many restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and small local exhibits. I think it’s worth mentioning that up to this point, the entire park is free to enter. The only ticketed area is the keep itself, priced at 600 yen or about $4 per person. The nearest metro station is the Morinomiya Station. And while the keep is open daily from 9 to 5, the park itself remains open 24 hours. In fact, if you have the time, I recommend visiting after 4 or 5:00 p.m. when the crowds thin out and the sunset cast a beautiful glow over the walls. During the six months that we lived in Osaka, we probably visited the park at least 50 times, often in the afternoons, simply strolling around and enjoying the beautiful and peaceful settings. But let’s return to the keep. Originally constructed in 1583, the Tenshukaku Tower stands as the centerpiece of the Honmaru. It rises from a 40 m high stone base built from massive granite blocks fitted together without mortar. The stone foundation is one of the most striking features with some of the individual blocks weighing over 100 tons. Above it, the walls are coated with a brilliant white plaster, offering a vivid contrast against the green roof tiles and the sky. The tower itself is crowned by a succession of tiered roofs clad in green copper tiles. Each decorated with golden Shachihokos, a mythical Japanese creature often depicted with a tiger’s head and a fish’s body believed to protect buildings against fire. Today, the interior of the eight story building primarily functions as a museum and observation tower. Let’s go inside and explore it. Floors 1 through 7 house exhibits on the aforementioned legendary samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Recounting his life and different campaigns. The eighth floor is reserved as an observation deck offering panoramic views of Osaka city, the moats and the surrounding park. So, this is the view from the top of the Osaka Castle. It’s so pretty. Yes, you get 360° cuz you can go around the actual tower or castle and you get the view from side to side. And now, let’s turn to one of Japan’s most breathtaking spectacles, the cherry blossoms of spring. We are back in Japan. We came all the way here just to see the cherry blossoms. Well, we’re actually going to be here for more than cherry blossoms. We’re here for the next three months. But this is one of the main reasons why we came. Right now, we’re in Osaka Castle,  which you could just make out back in the distance. And as you can see all around us, just starting to bloom. Now, we picked the perfect place to stay because we’re about a 10-minute bicycle ride from Osaka Castle and the park. So, we’re able to come here every day and, I guess, kind of monitor how the blooming is going. But what’s interesting is that I was doing some research and it turns out there are four main places to see the cherry blossoms in Japan. One is all the way up north near Sapporo. Another one is obviously Tokyo, but the other two very famous ones are Osaka and Kyoto, which is where we are, and are right next to each other. So, what we plan to do is actually go see all the really cool places in Kyoto and in Osaka where you can see the blooms, document all of them, select the best, and bring it all to you. So, let’s go look at it. Yeah. Known locally as Sakura season, the bloom season is extremely short, lasting only 3 to 4 weeks from around March 25 to about April 20th with the exception of Hokkaido Island in northern Japan where it is much colder and the blossoms might linger into early May. However, each year the timings shift with the weather. So, in some seasons, blooms might appear as early as March 20, while in others, they might not even arrive until after April 1st. This unpredictability sadly makes planning the trip to Japan and timing the blooms very difficult for most visitors. If you’re only visiting for a few days, I recommend to play it safe and aim for April 4th to 10th when peak blossoms are most likely. Here you can see the projected bloom dates for 2026. Now it’s been what? 6 days, literally almost a week. And look at the difference. Look behind us. There’s cherry blossoms everywhere. I mean, the trees were here last week. It’s just the difference in color. Last week, it was mostly gray with a little bit of white and pink. Today is mostly white and pink with a tiny bit of gray. I think there’s  probably maybe another week or two until it’s completely completely bloomed. Today is what, April 2nd, and you can already tell spring is here. It’s warm. It’s about 65° and there are so many people. Hundreds, thousands of picnics. Yes, people here take it very serious. The picnics. So, we’re going to go all the way up to the castle to see what it looks like over there. I haven’t seen it yet. I don’t know if it’s going to be just like down here, completely white or different, but let’s go. It’s very beautiful during fall. So, let’s go see. Osaka Castle Park ranks among Japan’s most beloved cherry blossom sites and is central to the tradition of Hanami. Hanami is the Japanese tradition of appreciating the transient beauty of flowers. In the west we will call that a picnic. And believe me when I tell you that Japanese people love picnics. As soon as the weather breaks and spring warms arrives, hundreds, thousands of people flock to the parks, occupying virtually every patch of grass. This is also the time of the year when food stalls line the castle grounds offering all types of snacks. My personal favorite Japanese snack are the cheese coins found almost everywhere. They are delicious. It’s like a coin and it has the Osaka castle on the back of it. Let’s see. Hot. Really good. Very hot though. Cherry blossoms bloom in many shades. soft pink, pure white, deep pink, and pale yellow with the color depending on the variety of cherry tree. At Osaka Castle Park, the pure white or Somei Yoshino variety is by far the most common. With entire rows of beautiful white blossom trees lining the modes and walkways. Everywhere you look, you see people taking pictures and posing for the cameras. The soft pink or Shidare Zakura trees are also quite common and every now and again you see one of these known as rose blooms, deep pink that have around 30 to 50 petals per flower. I think these are my favorite. Up here, you don’t really have as many of the cherry blossoms as you do, I guess, well be below the castle level. I personally find it that when we came here during fall time, it was up here was more beautiful. Now, cuz it’s more trees versus spring blooms up here. And once you’re below, I guess it’s a matter of opinion whether you like the cherry blossoms or the fall colors. I still prefer the fall colors down there. Leave us a comment down below and let us know in your opinion what looks better, the reds and yellows and I guess browns of fall that you can see over here or the cherry blossom colors that you can see on this side. I don’t know. I enjoy fall more. Yeah, for me fall is better, but it’s still really beautiful today. Now,  in the upper part where the castle is, since there aren’t many cherry blossoms trees, is definitely for me better to come here in fall time. Less people, better weather, and also more beautiful. We actually had the opportunity to visit and explore many of the best cherry blossom sites across Kyoto and Osaka and we’re preparing a video highlighting the very best in the coming weeks. So, if you enjoy this type of content, go ahead and subscribe to our channel now so you be the first one to see that video when it comes out. In any case, I’m glad you enjoyed the video and I’ll see you next time.

Explore Osaka Castle, one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks, in this full tour of the castle and Osaka Castle Park. We’ll walk through its rich history, defensive walls, moats, shrines, and scenic viewpoints, before experiencing the beauty of the cherry blossom season 🌸.
#travelguide #travel #osaka #vlog
This video covers:

A detailed walkthrough of Osaka Castle and its park

Historical insights into Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the castle keep

Seasonal highlights including sakura (cherry blossoms) and hanami traditions

Travel tips for visiting Osaka Castle, park entrances, and nearby attractions

Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, searching for the best things to do in Osaka, or just want to enjoy the sights of spring, this guide will give you a complete look at one of Japan’s most unforgettable destinations.

📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more Japan travel videos, hit the like button if you enjoyed the tour, and share your favorite season to visit Osaka Castle in the comments below!

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00:00 Introduction
02:09 Osaka Castle Park
05:02 Hōkoku Shrine
07:31 Education Tower
10:31 Honmaru
15:40 Castle Keep
18:34 Cherry Blossoms