Osaka Castle was built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a samurai warrior who rose from humble origins in a farming family to unify Japan after a long period of civil war in the 16th century. As a symbol of his unprecedented success, he is widely respected in Japan.
In the late 16th century, he constructed Osaka Castle as a monument to his power and authority. It was considered the finest castle of its time, renowned for its impenetrable stone walls and a gorgeous main keep.
However, after his death, the Tokugawa clan, led by Ieyasu Tokugawa, seized power. Viewing the Toyotomi clan as a threat, Ieyasu attacked and laid siege to the castle in the Osaka Winter and Summer Campaigns (1614-1615), ultimately destroying the Toyotomi lineage. The victorious Tokugawa shogunate then repaired and rebuilt the damaged castle, and the stone walls seen today largely date from this reconstruction.
Over the following 250 years of Tokugawa rule, the castle suffered from fires and conflicts, losing all its original structures. The current main tower is a 1931 reconstruction made of reinforced concrete. It was damaged during World War II air raids but later repaired. A major renovation from 1995 to 1997 ensured its preservation, resulting in the iconic castle we see today.
Things to See in Osaka Castle
- The Main Tower: It functions as a museum. The exterior appears to have five stories, but it actually has eight. From the top floor, you can have a spectacular overview of Osaka city.
- Nishinomaru (the second enclosure) Garden: This garden is associated with Hideyoshi Toyotomi. In spring, about 300 cherry trees are in full bloom.
- The Tower Gate (Tenshukaku-mon): This gate leads to the Honmaru (the main enclosure).
- Sengan Turret: It is one of the important cultural assets that retains its original form. It served as a crucial defense point during the Osaka Battles.
- Takoishi (Octopus Rock): Located just behind the tower gate, this is the heaviest wall stone, weighing 108 tons.
- East Stone Wall of Honmaru: At about 34 meters high, this is the tallest stone wall of any castle in Japan.
- Money Storage (Kura): This building was used as a treasury and storehouse during the Edo period.
- Kinmeisui Well Frame: This well frame survived a lightning-induced fire that destroyed the main tower.
- Sanada Hidden Tunnel (Sanada Yagura): This tunnel, which is shrouded in mystery, is associated with the famous feudal lord Sanada Yukimura.
The mucilaginous (slimy) component of kombu seaweed was used to lubricate the sleds and paths for sliding and transporting the massive stones used to build the castle walls. This efficient method required such vast quantities of kombu that it is often cited as a key reason for the establishment of Osaka’s distinctive kombu-dashi (seaweed stock) based food culture.
豊臣秀吉は、16世紀の戦国時代の武将で、内乱状態の日本を統一しました。農家の出で、の日本の最高位に上り詰めたことで、出世のシンボルとして、日本人に尊敬されています。
その権力を示すために、1584年に当時一番の城を大阪に築城しました。堅牢な石垣と豪華絢爛な天守閣がある城でした。
しかし、彼の死後、徳川家康が権力を握り、大阪城を攻めて、豊臣家を滅ぼしました。その後、江戸幕府が戦いで焼失した城を復活させて、城を統治しました。その時に造り直した石垣が現在の石垣です。
それから、ほぼ300年の間、火災、戦火、空襲で、建物は全てなくなりました。1931年に鉄筋コンクリート製で復元されました。
見るべきところ
天守閣:博物館になっており、5階建ての外観とは異なり8階建てです。最上階の展望台からは大阪の街並みを一望できます。
西の丸庭園:豊臣秀吉ゆかりの庭園で、春には約300本の桜が咲き乱れます。
桜門:本丸へ通じる正門です。
千貫櫓:秀吉の時代のまま残る重要文化財のひとつで、大阪城を戦いから守り抜きました。
蛸石:桜門を入ってすぐにある、重さ108トンにもなる巨大な石で、大阪城内で最大の石です。
本丸東石垣:高さは約34メートルあり、日本一の高さを誇る石垣です。
金蔵:江戸時代の金庫として使われていた建物です。
金明水井戸屋形:落雷で天守閣が焼失した際にも焼け残った井戸です。真田の抜け穴:今も謎が多く残る、真田信繁にまつわる抜け穴です
＊石垣の運搬:巨大な石垣を運ぶ際に、昆布のぬめり成分であるアルギン酸が潤滑剤として利用されました。「昆布出汁」文化:大量に使われた昆布が、大阪に「昆布出汁」文化を定着させたという説があります。