Tracing the Legacy of Toyotomi Hideyoshi – Toward the Heart of Japan’s Unification
Osaka Castle stands as one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks—originally constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to symbolize the unification of the nation, and later expanded and fortified by the Tokugawa Shogunate. In this guide, we explore its enduring legacy through three key areas: the Otemon Gate district, the Nishinomaru Garden, and the central Honmaru precinct. Discover how the spirit of Osaka Castle, born in the Sengoku period, has been preserved and reimagined across centuries of Japanese history.
Otemon Gate Area
Tamon Yagura Northern Moat
Otemon Gate
South wall of Otemon Gate
North wall of Otemon Gate
Tamon Yagura
Nishinomaru Garden Area
Remains of the Taiko Tower
Sengan Yagura
Nishinomaru Garden
Hitsujisaru Yagura Remains
Inui Yagura
Enshōgura (Gunpowder Storehouse)
Sixth Tower
Toyokuni Shrine
Ichiban Yagura (First Turret)
Honmaru Area
Sakuramon Gate
Ginmeisui Well
Giant Stones of Sakuramon Masugata
The Camphor Tree Allegedly Planted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Kinzo (Gold Storehouse)
Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Ishigaki-kan (Stone Wall Exhibition Hall at Osaka Castle)
Zannen-ishi: The Stones That Fell Short: Untold Stories Beneath Osaka Castle
Kinmeisui Well House
Osaka Castle Main Tower
The Northern Stronghold Area
Hidden Bailey (Kakushi Kuruwa)
Inscribed Stone Square (Kokuinseki Hiroba)
Site of Seppuku of Toyotomi Hideyori and Lady Yodo
Gokurakubashi Bridge
Remains of the North Partition Gate
Higo Stone
Aoya Gate
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