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Osaka Castle Park

Osaka Castle Park is a large, historic urban park in central Osaka, the city's second largest. It occupies the site where the Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple stood in the 15th century and where Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle in 1583. It opened to the public in 1931. It contains Osaka Castle and its keep, from the top of which visitors can see Osaka Bay and Mount Ikoma. It includes numerous historic features: gates such as Sakura, Tamon, Ōte and Aoya; turrets such as Inui, Sengan, the 6th and the 1st; the inner and outer moats; monuments such as the one to Ishiyama Hongan-ji, the pine tree on which the priest Rennyo hung his surplice, and the monument marking where Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo-dono took their own lives. It also has gardens (Nishi-no-Maru, a Japanese garden, a plum garden, a peach garden), groves (Citizens', Memorial, Waseda, Memories), a rock garden, Hōkoku Shrine, a branch of Ikukunitama Shrine, the Tower of Education, and Osaka Castle Port for the water bus. Its cultural and sports facilities include a large auditorium (Osaka Castle Hall), an open-air auditorium, a martial arts centre (Shudo-Kan), baseball and athletics grounds, and a Japanese archery range. Bands and musicians can often be seen performing or practising there. In spring it is popular for viewing plum blossoms (January–March), peach blossoms (March) and cherry blossoms (April). It can be reached from Temmabashi, Tanimachi Yonchōme, Morinomiya and Ōsakajōkōen stations.

Things to do at Osaka Castle Park: 29 missions

• Visit the Japanese Tea RoomDiscover the Japanese Tea Room, also called Toyomatsu-An, in Osaka Castle Park.
• Explore the Main Tower (Tenshu)Visit the Main Tower (Tenshu) inside Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Japanese GardenWalk through the Japanese Garden, also called Nihon-Teien, in Osaka Castle Park.
• Visit the Ishiyama Hongan-ji MonumentVisit the monument marking the estimated site of Ishiyama Hongan-ji.
• View the 1st TurretView the 1st Turret, a historic tower in Osaka Castle Park.
• See the Inner MoatSee the inner moat in Osaka Castle Park.
• Enjoy cherry blossom viewingEnjoy cherry blossom viewing during your visit to Osaka Castle Park.
• See the second-order triangulation pointVisit the second-order triangulation point in Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Citizens' ForestWalk through the Citizens' Forest inside Osaka Castle Park.
• Visit the kyudo training ground, Japanese archeryDiscover the kyudo training ground, Japanese archery, also called Kyudō-Jō, in Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Stone GardenWalk through the stone garden in Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Forest of MemoriesWalk through the Forest of Memories inside Osaka Castle Park.
• View the Tamon GateView the Tamon Gate, a historic gate in Osaka Castle Park.
• See the Education TowerSee the Education Tower in Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Plum GardenWalk through the Plum Garden, also called Bairin, in Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Memorial ForestWalk through the Memorial Forest inside Osaka Castle Park.
• Enjoy peach blossom viewingEnjoy peach blossom viewing during your visit to Osaka Castle Park.
• Visit the monument where Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo-dono took their own livesVisit the monument dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo-dono.
• Walk through the Waseda ForestWalk through the Waseda Forest inside Osaka Castle Park.
• View the 6th TurretView the 6th Turret, a historic tower in Osaka Castle Park.
• View the Inui TurretView the Inui Turret, a historic tower in Osaka Castle Park.
• View the Aoya GateView the Aoya Gate, a historic gate in Osaka Castle Park.
• View the Sengan TurretView the Sengan Turret, a historic tower in Osaka Castle Park.
• See the Outer MoatSee the outer moat in Osaka Castle Park.
• Walk through the Peach GardenWalk through the Peach Garden, also called Momoen, in Osaka Castle Park.
• Visit the martial arts training centreDiscover the martial arts training centre, also called Shudo-Kan, in Osaka Castle Park.
• View the plum blossom viewingSee the plum blossoms in Osaka Castle Park.
• See the pine tree where the priest Rennyo hung his surpliceSee the pine tree associated with the priest Rennyo in Osaka Castle Park.
• View the Sakura GateView the Sakura Gate, a historic gate in Osaka Castle Park.

Near Osaka Castle Park

Source: osakacastlepark.jp