Page 218 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

EXPERIENCE Western Honshu

2 2 "
OSAKA Osaka Castle

⌂ 1-1 Osakajo £ Osakajo-
koen Stn, JR Kanjo line
大阪  Tanimachi-Yonchome
Stn, Chuo or Tanimachi
! D5 ⌂ Osaka Prefecture k Kansai, 22 miles (35 km) S; lines # 9am–5pm daily
Itami, 6 miles (10 km) N £ Sanyo & Tokaido Shinkansen, ∑ osakacastle.net/english
JR, Hankyu, Keihan, Nankai, Hanshin, and Kintetsu lines
n In JR Osaka Stn, Midosuji exit; www.osaka-info.jp The present main donjon,
dating from 1931, is smaller
Toyotomi Hideyoshi encouraged traders from all over than the castle completed
Japan to settle in Osaka in the 16th century, and by the by Hideyoshi in 1586 but still
early 1900s it was an industrial powerhouse. Nowadays, gives some idea of the power
the nondescript skyline is being replaced with galleries, and majesty of the original. 0 kilometers 2 N Floating Garden Nakatsu
The largest castle in the
futuristic living spaces, and exciting Postmodernist country at the time, Osaka-jo’s 0 miles 2 Observatory Umeda Tenma
architecture, while the city’s nightlife and culinary turbulent history began when Himejima HANSHIN E X P WY Yo do River Sakuranomiya
predilections attract fans from far and wide. it was besieged and destroyed Fuku HIMEJIMA-DORI Osaka KITA-KU
by the Tokugawa shogunate in Yodogawa Museum of Matsui
are objects excavated from 1615. The castle was rebuilt Watanabebashi Oriental Ceramics Kyobashi
1 " the 7th-century Naniwa Palace, only to be struck by lightning Nodahanshin National
Osaka Museum which once stood on this site. a few years later, and then the Musuem of Art Naniwabashi Osakajokoen
of History On the 10th floor there is a remains were burned down S h i n Y o d o R i v e r Dempo FUKUSHIMA- Noda Osaka
model of the Daikokuden, the in a fire in 1868. Some ancillary KU KU Castle
⌂ 4-1-32 Otemae HANSHIN EXPWY Osaka Museum
 Tanimachi-Yon- main building of the palace, buildings, including the Tamon KONOHANA- Nishikujo CHUO-ODORI CHUO- HANSHIN EXPWY of History
Chome Stn, Chuo or and excavations in the base- tower and the impressive KU
ment and on the adjacent
Otemon Gate, have survived
Tanimachi lines NISHI- NAGAHORI-DORI Tamatsukuri
# 9:30am–5pm Wed–Mon archaeological site reveal from the Tokugawa period. Universal Ajikawaguchi Osaka KU
∑ mus-his.city.osaka.jp the remains of warehouses The modernized lower floors Studios Bentencho Dome DOTONBORI National Bunraku
Theater
Japan
and palace walls. of the main keep displays Universal City SENNICHMAE-DORI
Nipponbashi
This modern museum uses Of special interest to young a collec tion of armor and Taisho NANIWA- Ushitora
KU
life-size reconstructions, children is the Resource memorabilia con nected with Sakurajima Ajigawa River Japan Folk Namba
miniature models, and video Center on the eighth floor. Hideyoshi. Make sure you ride MINATO- Art Museum Tachinomi Nikou Momodani
presentations to bring alive Here, kids can complete a the elevator up to the eighth Tempozan KU Liberty Osaka Imamiya
the history of Osaka from jigsaw puzzle using ancient floor of the donjon – you’ll be Harbor Village (Osaka Human Shitenno-ji
ancient times to the modern pottery pieces or play with rewarded with great views Rights Museum) Shin-
day. Its most notable exhibits Bunraku puppets. over the city below. Shir inashi River Imamiya Teradacho
Osaka Spa Tennoji
Port TAISHO- NISHINARI- World
218 KU Kitsu River KU
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