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Osaka Castle stands on the site of the fortress built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The present Main Tower is the third, rebuilt in 1931 with citizens’ donations, and its eight floors are a museum.
Admission
Official Osaka Castle Main Tower prices. High school and college students and younger children need proof of status or age; overseas students can show an ISIC card.
Hours
| Place | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Main Tower | 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:30 | Dec 28–Jan 1 |
| Nishinomaru Garden | Mar–Oct 9:00–17:00 / Nov–Feb 9:00–16:30 | Mondays, Dec 28–Jan 4 |
| Gozabune boat | 10:00–16:30 last departure | Dec 28–Jan 3 |
Ticket sales at the Main Tower can stop before 17:30 when it is crowded. Last entry to Nishinomaru Garden is 30 minutes before closing, and when a Monday is a public holiday the garden closes the next day instead. Garden hours and prices differ during cherry blossom season.
Getting there
Walking distance to the Main Tower along OpenStreetMap paths, converted at 80 m per minute; actual times can differ. The official guide lists exit 3 at Temmabashi and exit 1 at Osaka Business Park.
JR Osaka Loop LineWalking route Castle gate
Sketch map of stations and routes from OpenStreetMap data. © OpenStreetMap contributors
| Station | Lines |
|---|---|
| Morinomiya | JR Osaka Loop Line, Chuo Line, Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line |
| Tanimachi 4-chome | Tanimachi Line, Chuo Line |
| Osaka Business Park | Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line |
| Osakajokoen | JR Osaka Loop Line |
| Temmabashi | Tanimachi Line, Keihan Railway |
| Osakajo Kitazume | JR Tozai Line |
Main Tower floor by floor
Elevator Stairs No entry
- 8F Observation deck, 50 m
- 7F Hideyoshi in dioramas
- 6F Corridor, no entry
- 5F Summer Siege miniatures
- 4F Sengoku-era materials
- 3F Golden Tea Room
- 2F Armor try-on ¥500
- 1F Entrance, theater, shop
Official Osaka Castle Main Tower guide. The way down from 8F to 1F is by stairs; wheelchair users and people who have difficulty walking can use the elevator on all floors with staff guidance. Displays on 3F and 4F change about every two months.
More inside the castle grounds
| Place | Adult price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Nishinomaru Garden | ¥300 | About 6.4 ha west of the Main Tower, about 300 cherry trees |
| Gozabune boat | ¥1,800 | Golden boat circling the inner moat in about 20 minutes |
| Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum | Main Tower ticket | Toyotomi-era stone wall found in a 1984 excavation, viewed underground |
Nishinomaru Garden is free for junior high students and younger. The Gozabune boat is ¥900 for elementary and junior high students, ¥1,200 for ages 65 and over and free for preschoolers. Tickets go on sale at 9:30 at the booth just west of Gokurakubashi Bridge, for the same day only. In busy periods they can sell out through the last boat around 15:00, and strong wind or bad weather can reduce or stop sailings.
The Main Tower and Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum, Nishinomaru Garden and the Gozabune boat are included in the Osaka Amazing Pass.
Where to stay
Sources
- Osaka Castle Main Tower: visitor guide (Japanese)
- Osaka Castle Main Tower: exhibitions (Japanese)
- Osaka Castle Main Tower: Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum (Japanese)
- Osaka Castle Park: access by train (Japanese)
- Osaka Castle Park: Nishinomaru Garden (Japanese)
- Osaka-jo Gozabune operator (Japanese)
- OSAKA-INFO: Gozabune boat
- Osaka Amazing Pass: participating attractions
- OpenStreetMap