Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is located in the city of Osaka, in the Osaka Prefecture in Japan. It is one of the most famous castles in Japan and played an important role in the unification of Japan in the 16th century.

The castle has an area of ​​approximately one square kilometer. It is built on two raised platforms, each surrounded by a moat. The central building has five floors that can be seen from the outside, and three floors that are invisible, without windows. It stands on a high stone plinth, designed to protect the base, and was built almost entirely of wood, as was typical of Japanese buildings in the past. However, during the restoration at the beginning of the 20th century, the destroyed castle was almost completely rebuilt with concrete, and since the renovation in 1997 it even has an elevator.

The first castle buildings were built on the site of the Ikkō-ikki Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple ruins on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and were completed in 1583. The castle was originally built based on plans for Azuchi Castle near Kyoto , but I surpass it in dimensions and architectural beauty. The castle, which was considered impregnable, was taken and destroyed by Tokugawa Ieyasu's troops in 1615. Reconstruction by the Tokugawa began in 1620 and lasted 10 years. The main tower burned to the ground after a lightning strike in 1665, but the castle continued to play an important role in the Tokugawa shoguns' control of western Japan.

Only in 1843, almost 200 years later, the castle was partially rebuilt with donations. But already in 1868 the castle was destroyed again during the Meiji Restoration wars. The remains of the castle were converted into barracks by the Meiji government in the following years. In 1928, the castle's main tower was rebuilt after a very successful fundraiser by the mayor. After the main tower was badly damaged by World War II bombing in 1945, several decades passed before the castle was rebuilt in 1997, after three years of work on its restructuring. In 1953, the original castle complex was declared a Special Historic Site (tokubetsu shiseki).

Inside the castle there is now a museum, which is mainly devoted to the history of the castle and the work of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The eighth floor houses an observation deck.

In 1496 a high-ranking monk of the Joudoshinshu sect founded a monastery, and residence, built near the site of today's Osaka Castle. This eventually became a large temple known as Ishiyama (Osaka) Honganji.

In 1583, Hideyoshi Toyotomi (1537-1598), a powerful feudal lord and warrior during the Sengoku period, built Osaka Castle during a period of turmoil in Japan. For decades the country waged several internal wars. Obsessed with gold, Hideyoshi insisted that gold be applied to much of the castle's interior furnishings, and this motif also appears on the exterior awnings to this day. Once completed, Hideyoshi kept the castle as a fortress.

Osaka Castle was destroyed and rebuilt many times, and not always because of war: in 1665, the castle's main tower was destroyed by fire as a result of a thunderstorm. After this period, the castle stood for another 200 years, before being destroyed again during the Boshin War. Osaka Castle was rebuilt in 1928, and although it suffered some minor damage during World War II, the main structure survived, and after being recognized as a "Historic Site" by the Japanese government in the 1950s, the castle it was renewed again.

In 1931, at the proposal of the mayor of Osaka, Hajime Seki, the Main Tower was rebuilt thanks to donations from citizens. Due to air raids during World War II, several structures burned down and the Main Tower was damaged in several places. After the war the entire area was converted into a park and the towers, warehouses and other structures were restored between 1958 and 1966.

Today's Osaka Castle is a beautiful testament to traditional Japanese architecture, from the subtle balance of color to the delicate patterns and shapes that adorn each level.