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Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Stripes Japan: Visiting Osaka Castle

Above, Osaka Castle in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Godzilla fans, when Osaka Castle gets mentioned, they immediately think of Godzilla Raids Again (1955) (Gojira no Gyakushū, lit. 'Godzilla's Counterattack'). For it was at Osaka Castle in the movie that Godzilla vanquishes Anguirus.

Today, Osaka Castle is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Osaka, Japan. I have visited it twice.

Above, yours truly with samurai swords at Osaka Castle in 2015.

Stripes Japan - Stars and Stripes posted an article on visiting Osaka Castle, calling it the "symbol of Japan's third largest city."

They begin with:

It only took me ten minutes of walking from JR Osakajokoen until I finally saw the tip of the castle from Osaka Park. Yet it was enough to amaze me. Even from afar I could see that the castle boasted impressive gold ornaments and intrinsic detail, making it aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

The symbol of Osaka was built in 1583 on the former site of Ishiyama Honganji Temple, as ordered by Hideyoshi Toyotomi during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. He was a famous warlord who successfully brought all provinces in Japan under his rule, unifying the nation in 1590.  

Every building in the complex remains in their original construction, except the main tower. It was reconstructed in 1931, following the original exterior design from the Toyotomi era. This building consists of 8 floors in total and acts as the centerpiece of the complex.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan features a spotlight on Osaka Castle.

To read more, go here

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