Osaka｜Osaka Castle, a witness to the history of the Warring States Period, reconstructing history from the three generations of Ishiyama Honganji

Osaka Castle was originally the Ishiyama Honganji Temple. Toyotomi Hideyoshi originally wanted to use it as a base to unify the world, so he spent three years building the castle, which was completed in 1585. However, in the desire for power struggle in the Warring States Period, in 1615 the shogunate launched the Summer Campaign of Osaka in order to destroy the Toyotomi family, and the original Osaka Castle was captured and destroyed. More than a decade later, the Tokugawa shogunate ordered the reconstruction of the second generation of Osaka Castle. Unexpectedly, 35 years later, a natural disaster occurred and lightning struck the main tower. The building was burned down in a fire, and it became a castle without a tower. During the Meiji Restoration, fierce fighting between the shogunate and the new government army caused Osaka Castle to become a severely damaged area again. It was not until 1931 that private donations were initiated to rebuild it, and combined with major renovations during the Heisei era, that Osaka Castle has its current appearance. I like the history of the Warring States period very much. Whenever I go to Osaka, I always take half a day to visit here. Not only the castle tower and Otemon Gate are worth seeing, but the moat and Senkan Turret also give you a glimpse of the craftsmanship and strategic considerations of the time. The Senkan Turret to the north of Otemon Gate has lattice windows to defend against the enemy. It is said that Oda Nobuyuki once lamented that he would love to take it even if he had a thousand kan, hence the name. I personally think that the most beautiful season is autumn, when the ginkgo and red leaves are reflected, just like the sufferings in the long river of history; at the end of the month when the spring cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the "Nishinomaru Garden" must not be missed, it is also a famous place for cherry blossom viewing in Japan. Finally, it is worth mentioning that Osaka Castle Park extends into the "castle town", which is now combined with commercial facilities, restaurants, and cafes to integrate the historical sites with the lives of citizens, making Osaka Castle no longer just a cold history, but an important memory in the lives of every citizen. 📍Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002 Japan #2月好去2025