Osaka Castle Park
| Osaka Castle Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Chūō ward, Osaka City |
| Coordinates | 34°41′15″N 135°31′33″E / 34.687378°N 135.525844°E |
| Opened | 06 November 1931 |
| Operated by | Osaka city |
| Status | Open all year |
Osaka Castle Park (大阪城公園, Osaka-Jō-Kōen) is a public urban park and historical site situated at Osaka-Jō in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. It lies on the south of the Ōkawa (Kyū-Yodo River) and occupies large area at central Osaka City. This park is second largest park in Osaka City.
The park was constructed at the site which has long history. At 15th century, Ishiyama Hongan-ji (temple) was build here. At 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi destroyed Ishiyama Hongan-ji and build Osaka Castle here. From 1870 to 1945 Osaka Imperial Arsenal used large area and it was destroyed at end of the World War II. At 1931, Osaka Castle Park was opened to public, but most area was used by Imperial Japanese Army. After the World War II, most of military complex was removed and build public urban park.
In the park, there's Osaka Castle Hall, large athletic field, baseball field, football field, open air music theatre, open air concert hall and Osaka Castle Keep Tower. At the top of keep tower, we can see from Osaka Bay to Mount Ikoma which surround Osaka Plain. Every weekends, some busking groups perform in the park. At spring, cherry blossom and plum blossom viewing is popular at this park.
Facilities
Historical Monuments
- Osaka Castle (大坂城 Osaka-Jō)
- Keep Tower (天守閣 Tensyu-kaku)
- Gold Storehouse (金蔵 Kinzo)
- Sakura Gate (桜門 Sakura-Mon)
- Tamon Gate (多聞櫓 Tamon-Yagura)
- Ōte Gate (大手門 Ōte-Mon)
- Aoya Gate (青屋門 Aoya-Mon)
- Inui Turret (乾櫓 Inui-Yagura)
- Sengan Turret (千貫櫓 Sengan-Yagura)
- 6th Turret (六番櫓 Rokuban-Yagura)
- 1st Turret (一番櫓 Ichiban-Yagura)
- Inner Moat (内濠 Naigou)
- Outer Moat (外濠 Gaigou)
- Ishiyama Hongan-ji (temple) monument (石山本願寺推定地碑)
- Priest Rennyo surplice hanged pine tree (蓮如上人袈裟懸の松 Rennyo-Syounin Kesakake-no-Matsu)
- Toyotomi Hideyori and Yodo suicide place monument (豊臣秀頼 淀殿ら自刃の碑)
Shrine and Temple
- Houkoku Shrine (豊國神社 Toyokuni-Jinjya)
- Stone Garden (秀石庭 Syuseki-Tei)
- Ikukunitama Shrine branch (生國魂神社お旅所 Ikukunitama-Jinjya Otabi-Syo)
- 無縁仏回向供養塔
Cultural and Sports Facilities
- Osaka Castle Hall (大阪城ホール Osaka-jō Hall)
- Osaka Castle open air concert hall (大阪城音楽堂 Osaka-jō Ongakudō)
- Martial art training centre (修道館 Syudo-Kan)
- Baseball field and Athletic field (太陽の広場 Taiyō-no-Hiroba)
- Japanese archery Kyudo training field (弓道場 Kyudō-Jō)
- Osaka International Peace Center (大阪国際平和センター Osaka Kokusai Heiwa Centre)
Public Park Facilities
- Nishi-no-Maru Garden (西ノ丸庭園 Nishi-no-Maru Teien)
- Osaka Government Guest House (大阪迎賓館 Osaka Geihin-Kan)
- Japanese Tea Room (豊松庵 Toyomatsu-An)
- Japanese Garden (日本庭園 Nihon-Teien)
- Plum Garden (梅林 Bairin)
- Peach garden (桃園 Momoen)
- Citizen's Forest (市民の森 Shimin-no-Mori)
- Memorial Forest (記念樹の森 Kinenjyu-no-Mori)
- Waseda Forest (早稲田の森 Waseda-no-Mori)
- Recollections Forest (思い出の森 Omoide-no-Mori)
- Marked Stone Place (刻印石広場 Kokuin-Seki-Hiroba)
- Fountain
National Geological Survey Facilities
- 2nd grade triangular surveying point (二等三角点 大阪城)
Government Facilities
- City Government, Eastern Area Park Facilities Maintenance Office
- City Water Company, Ōte-Mae Water Supplying Facilities (大手前配水池,大手前配水場 高地区ポンプ場)
Imperial Japanese Army Facilities
- Former Head Quarter of 4th Division of Imperial Japanese Army
- Former Chemical laboratory building of Osaka Imperial Arsenal
Other
- Education Tower (教育塔 Kyoiku-Tou)
- 大阪社会運動顕彰塔
- Osaka Castle Port (大阪城港) for Osaka Suijō Bus
Parking
- Morinomiya Parking (森ノ宮駐車場)
- Jōnan Bus Parking (城南バス駐車場)
Activities in the park
- plum blossom viewing : January - March
- peach blossom viewing : March
- cherry blossom viewing : April
Access
Temmabashi Station, Tanimachi Yonchōme Station, Morinomiya Station and Ōsakajōkōen Station is near to the park.
Photographs
-
Keep Tower -
-
Athletic field -
Former Head Quarter of 4th Division
Media related to Osaka Castle at Wikimedia Commons