Osaka Castle (大阪 城) is a district of the city of Osaka.
To know
This area made up of numerous buildings surrounded by water is home to Osaka Castle, the Osaka-jo Hall, classical music halls, theaters as well as hotels, shops and sports facilities.
How to orient yourself
Osaka Castle: full screen map.How to get
The eastern section of the JR Osaka Loop Line runs through this district. From Kansai International Airport, you can take a quick JR Haruka or Kansai Airport service to Tennoji and change to the Osaka circular line in the direction of Kyobashi. For standard JR trains, the journey takes approximately 75 minutes to Kyobashi and costs ¥ 1190.
From Shin-Osaka Train Station, take any regular JR train one stop to Osaka Station and switch to the Osaka Loop Line in the direction of Kyobashi (15-20 minutes, ¥ 180).
From Kyoto, an alternative method of reaching the area is to use the Keihan private railway. The railway departs from the eastern part of the city of Kyoto and passes through Kyobashi before ending in the Yodoyabashi business district. From Shichijo Station (a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station) it takes about 40 minutes to reach Kyobashi (¥ 400). Taking the Kintetsu Railway from Kyoto Station to Tambabashi and changing to the Keihan Railway takes about an hour and ¥ 600 for Kyobashi, versus about 40 minutes and ¥ 800 for JR.
- 1 Osakajō-kōen station. On the JR Osaka Loop Line
- 2 Kyōbashi Station (Line
). Important hub of both JR lines including the circular one and Keihan.
). Important hub of both JR lines including the circular one and Keihan.| Streets passing by Osaka Castle |
| Nakanoshima ← | OR  No. | → Kadomashi → Hirakatashi → Demachiyanagi |
| end ← | OR No. | → Chushoijma → towards the Uji line → Uji |
| Dainichi ← Taishibashi Imaichi ← Higashi Umeda ← | No.  S. | → Tennoji → Hirano → Yao Minami |
| Port of Osaka ← Honmachi ← | OR  IS | → Midoribasi → Nagata → verse  → Ikoma |
| Taisho ← Shinsaibashi ← Tamatsukuri ← | OR  IS | → Tsurumi Ryokuchi → Kadoma Minami |
to  ← | OR  IS | → Higashi Osaka → in to  → Nara |
How to get around
What see
- 1 Osaka Castle (大阪 城 Osaka-jō) (The park can be accessed from a number of subway lines, but the castle is closer to Osaka-jō Koen station on the JR circular line).
The gardens are free, while the castle costs ¥ 600 for adults, free for children. 
Mon-Sun 9: 00-17: 00. The best known site in Osaka, although it is a concrete reconstruction that pales compared to the castle of Himeji. Think of it as a museum built in the shape of a castle rather than a real historical castle. Still, it's pretty cool from the outside, especially in cherry blossom season when Osakans flock to the castle grounds to picnic and party. The Naniwa Palace Site Park or Naniwanomiya is also located south of Osaka Castle Park (although it is one of the oldest buildings and palaces in Japan, today it is little more than an empty grass field where the foundation lines of the palace of Naniwa dating back to 643 AD recreated in concrete). The castle is considered one of the Top 3 of Japan. - 2 Osaka Museum of History (大阪 歴 史 博物館, Ōsaka Rekishi Hakubutsukan), 1-32 Otemae 4-Chome Chuo-ku (5 minutes walk from Tanimachi 4-chome subway station; also accessible via Osaka Castle or JR Osaka-jō Station). ¥ 600. Mon-Thu 9: 30-17: 00, Fri 9: 30-20: 00. A great place to learn all about Osaka's history. Pleasant view of Osaka Castle and OBP skyscrapers.
- 3 Osaka International Peace Center (大阪 国際 平和 セ ン タ ー), ☎ 81 66 947-7208. Tue-Sun 9: 30-17: 00. A museum dedicated to promoting peace through war exhibitions. The museum shows the effects of the bombing of Osaka in World War II. What is of some interest are the descriptions of the atrocities committed by Japan against China, Korea and Southeast Asia. There is also an exhibit with displays relating to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The exhibits have explanations in English.
The gardens are free, while the castle costs ¥ 600 for adults, free for children. 
Mon-Sun 9: 00-17: 00. The best known site in Osaka, although it is a concrete reconstruction that pales compared to the castle of What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 CarpeDiem Inn (カ ル ペ デ ィ エ ム), 3 Chome-2-14 Nakahama, Joto Ward, ☎ 81 6-6961-0444, @[email protected]. Dorm ¥ 3500, private rooms ¥ 10000 for 2.. Traditional style house and garden within walking distance of Shiroyama Temple.
- 2 Super Hotel Osaka Tanimachi 4 Chome, 2 Chome-2-２９ Tokiwamachi, Chūō-ku, ☎ 81 6-6942-9000. between ¥ 5,000 and ¥ 10,000 per night. Check in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. Half-price chain hotel, around the corner from Tanimachi 4-chome subway station and a 7-Eleven store with ATMs that accepts foreign cards. Modern and clean but compact rooms with free Japanese breakfast and free WiFi included with all stays.
How to keep in touch
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Osaka Castle
Commons contains images or other files on Osaka Castle
