Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle founded in 1583 on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Today it is a Special Historic Site and an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and the Main Tower is the part you buy a ticket for.
Getting there is straightforward: the castle is served by stations on two Osaka Metro lines and the JR Osaka Loop Line, so most families will not need the car. For anyone who does, there are two paid car parks by the park stations. A barrier-free map is published in English as well as Japanese, which helps with planning a route through the grounds.
This year the castle runs a digital stamp rally that follows the traces of Toyotomi’s original castle, an easy way to give older children a task while walking around.
The trade-off is entry timing: the Main Tower stops admitting visitors half an hour before it closes. Admission tickets can be bought in advance through a reservation site, though the castle does not say whether advance booking is required.
Family FAQ
What are the opening hours of Osaka Castle?
The Main Tower is open 9:00 to 18:00.
Is there parking at Osaka Castle?
Osakajokoen Ekimae (171 spaces) and Morinomiya (143 spaces) car parks charge 400 JPY per hour on weekdays 8:00-22:00 and 500 JPY on weekends and holidays.
