Osaka Castle Park

This article is about public urban park. For the castle, see Osaka Castle.

Osaka Castle Park
Type	Urban park
Location	Chūō, Osaka
Coordinates	34°41′15″N 135°31′33″E / 34.687378°N 135.525844°E / 34.687378; 135.525844Coordinates: 34°41′15″N 135°31′33″E / 34.687378°N 135.525844°E / 34.687378; 135.525844
Area	105.6ha (1.056 km2)
Created	06 November 1931
Operated by	Osaka city
Status	Open all year

Osaka Castle Park from west

Osaka Castle Hall and OBP

Plum garden

Road Train

Osaka Castle Park (大阪城公園, Osaka-Jō-Kōen^?) 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 (Kyū-Yodo River) and occupies a large area in the center of the city of Osaka. This park is second largest park in the city.

The park was constructed on a site with a long history. In the 15th 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 Imperial Arsenal used a large area and it was destroyed at end of the 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's 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, we can see from Osaka Bay to Mount Ikoma which surround the Osaka Plain. Every weekend, some busking groups perform in the park. In spring, cherry blossom and plum blossom viewing is popular at this park.

Facilities

Historical Monuments

• Osaka Castle (大坂城 Osaka-Jō)
  • Keep Tower (天守閣 Tenshu-kaku)
  • Gold Storehouse (金蔵 Kinzō)
  • Sakura Gate (桜門 Sakura-Mon)
  • Tamon Gate (多聞櫓 Tamon-Yagura)
  • Ōte Gate (大手門 Ōte-Mon)
  • Aoya Gate (青屋門 Aoya-Mon)
  • Inui Turret (乾櫓 Inui-Yagura)
  • Sengan Turret (千貫櫓 Sengan-Yagura)
  • 6th Turret (六番櫓 Rokuban-Yagura)
  • 1st Turret (一番櫓 Ichiban-Yagura)
  • Inner Moat (内濠 Naigō)
  • Outer Moat (外濠 Gaigō)
• Ishiyama Hongan-ji monument (石山本願寺推定地碑)
• The pine tree where the priest Rennyo hung his surplice (蓮如上人袈裟懸の松 Rennyo-Shōnin Kesakake-no-Matsu)
• Monument where Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo-dono committed suicide(豊臣秀頼 淀殿ら自刃の碑)

Shrines and temples

• Hōkoku Shrine (豊國神社 also Toyokuni-jinja)
  • Stone Garden (秀石庭 Syuseki-Tei)
• Ikukunitama Shrine branch (生國魂神社お旅所 Ikukunitama-jinja Otabi-Sho)
• 無縁仏回向供養塔

Cultural and sports facilities

• Osaka Castle Hall (大阪城ホール Osaka-jō Hall)
• Osaka Castle open air concert hall (大阪城音楽堂 Osaka-jō Ongakudō)
• Martial art training centre (修道館 Shudo-Kan)
• Baseball field and Athletic field (太陽の広場 Taiyō-no-Hiroba)
• Japanese archery Kyudo training field (弓道場 Kyudō-Jō)
• Osaka International Peace Center (大阪国際平和センター Osaka Kokusai Heiwa Centre)

Public park facilities

• Nishi-no-Maru Garden (西ノ丸庭園 Nishi-no-Maru Teien)
  • Osaka Government Guest House (大阪迎賓館 Osaka Geihin-Kan)
  • Japanese Tea Room (豊松庵 Toyomatsu-An)
• Japanese Garden (日本庭園 Nihon-Teien)
• Plum Garden (梅林 Bairin)
• Peach garden (桃園 Momoen)
• Citizen's Forest (市民の森 Shimin-no-Mori)
• Memorial Forest (記念樹の森 Kinenju-no-Mori)
• Waseda Forest (早稲田の森 Waseda-no-Mori)
• Forest of Recollections (思い出の森 Omoide-no-Mori)
• Marked Stone Place (刻印石広場 Kokuin-Seki-Hiroba)
• Fountain

National Geological Survey facilities

• 2nd grade triangulation surveying point (二等三角点 大阪城)

Government facilities

• City Government, Eastern Area Park Facilities Maintenance Office
• City Water Company, Ōte-Mae Water Supply Facilities (大手前配水池,大手前配水場 高地区ポンプ場)

Imperial Japanese Army facilities

• Former Headquarters of 4th Division of Imperial Japanese Army
• Former Chemical laboratory building of Osaka Imperial Arsenal

Other

• Education Tower (教育塔 Kyoiku-Tou)
• 大阪社会運動顕彰塔
• Osaka Castle Port (大阪城港) for Osaka Suijō Bus

Parking

• Morinomiya Parking (森ノ宮駐車場)
• Jōnan Bus Parking (城南バス駐車場)

Activities in the park

• plum blossom viewing : January - March
• peach blossom viewing : March
• cherry blossom viewing : April

Access

Temmabashi Station, Tanimachi Yonchōme Station, Morinomiya Station and Ōsakajōkōen Station are near to the park.

Photographs

• 

  Keep Tower

• 

  Osaka Castle Hall

• 

  Athletic field

• 

  Former Head Quarter of 4th Division

Media related to Osaka Castle at Wikimedia Commons

See also

• Osaka Castle

External links

• Official page