Thursday, 10 September 2015
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| Osaka Castle as Landmark of Osaka |
Osaka Castle is also known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi Castle because it was built for the first time by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585. The Osaka Castle had been restored by Tokugawa Hideteda and was dominated by the Tokugawa government during the Edo era until the Meiji restoration. Throughout history, the Osaka Castle has suffered some severe damage caused by various reasons such as wars and lightning. The last damaged occured in Osaka Castle was in the war world 2 because it was known to have arms factories and became the target of a bomb attack. The Osaka casttle has undergone several expansion so that the area reached 60,000 square meters. Today, the Osaka Castle has been changed functioning from the central government into a museum. Basically, the Osaka Castle is a complex which consist of Otemon gate, Sakuramon Stone Square, Honmaru, Ninomaru, Yagura Ichiban, Rokuban Yagura, wells Kinmeisui, Gokurakubashi bridge, Nishinomaru park, and the inside of the castle.
The Otemon gate is the main gate to enter the complex of the Osaka Castle. Sakuramon Stone Square is a stone wall with a former flame as an evidence that the Sakuramon stone square ever burning during the civil war in 1868. Honmaru and Ninomaru seems name of the main castle. There is a bridge over Karahori (dry moat) in front of the Sakuramon stone square that connects the Honmaru and Ninomaru. Actually, there are 7 Yagura (watchtower) in the Ninomaru during the Tokugawa government. Now, there are only two remaining watchtowers namely Yagura Ichiban (first watchtower) and Rokuban Yagura (sixth watchtower). Kinmeisui is an name of old well that has a depth of 33 meters. This well has clean water and has yet never dried up now. Gokurakubashi bridge became a favorite place for visitors to take the pictures. Gokurakubashi bridge connecting Yamazatomaru (region located on the west Honmaru) with Ninomaru, built on Uchibori (similar to name of trench). In the Past, Nishinomaru is a region of residence for the castle employees. Inside of the castle, visitors can enjoy diorama which depicts of circumstances and events that occurred in the past in the Osaka Castle. Visitors also can see the relics such as robes, samurai, and katana sword.
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| The Osaka Castle from near |
Park around the Osaka castle can be used as a place to enjoy
Hanami which has become a tradition for the people of Japan in each year. There is a yacht which is often called as Osaka Aqua bus. The Osaka Aqua buses will take visitors down the river around the Osaka castle as long as Sakuranomiya park. The Osaka castle becomes an icon for the Osaka, thus it is a must to visit this tourism during holiday in Osaka. There is also a snack shop, restaurant and café in the complex of Osaka castle. Visitors can enjoy a variety of Japanese food such as udon, sashimi, ramen, takoyaki, donburi and sushi. There are also souvenir shop that sells a variety of souvenirs such as key chains, t-shirts, wall hangings, dolls, etc. Visitors can reach the Osaka Castle with use the train for Osakakanjo line from JR Osaka station toward Osakajokoen, then by on foot to the westward from Osakajokoen toward the Osaka Castle. Admission tickets for entry the Osaka castle complex is JPY 600 for adults and free for visitors under the age of 15 years old.
