14 Castles in Osaka worth your time

Kishiwada Castle is a reconstructed Edo-period castle with a famous garden and festival.

What it is

• A reconstructed castle in Osaka Prefecture.
• Also known as Chikiri Castle.
• Served as an administrative center during the Edo period.
• Rebuilt in 1954 after the original burned down.

What to see

• The current main keep.
• The main keep garden, a national scenic spot.
• Chikiri Park, covering the main keep and second bailey.
• Castle ruins, a historic site of Osaka Prefecture.

When to go

• Known for the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival.

Read more about Kishiwada Castle

Explore a significant medieval mountaintop castle, a National Historic Site with extensive ruins.

What it is

• A Japanese castle (yamashiro) on Mount Iimori.
• Designated a National Historic Site on October 11, 2021.
• Selected as one of the Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan in 2017.
• Built by Hatakeyama Yoshitaka in the Tenbun era.

What to see

• Remains of a large and strong fortress.
• Evidence of over 70 kuruwa (baileys) at its peak.
• Excavated large-scale stone walls.
• Site of Miyoshi Nagayoshi's residence from 1560.

Official site

www.city.shijonawate.lg.jp

Read more about Iimoriyama Castle

Explore the ruins of a medieval mountain castle, a National Historic Site with a rich samurai history.

What it is

• A Japanese castle from the late Kamakura to Nanboku-cho period.
• One of the Kusunoki Shichijo (Seven Castles).
• A base for the Southern Court during the Nanboku-cho period.
• Designated a National Historic Site on March 13, 1934.

What to see

• The castle site, 185.7 meters above sea level.
• Remains of a castle of Kusunoki Masashige.
• A main stage of the Genko War.

Read more about Shimo-Akasaka Castle

Explore Chihaya Castle, a mountain fortress built by Kusunoki Masashige, significant for its history and strategic design.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Osaka Prefecture.
• Built by Kusunoki Masashige in the late Kamakura period.
• A designated National Historic Site.
• One of the Kusunoki Nanajo (Seven Castles of Kusunoki).

What to see

• A renkaku-shiki yamashiro (ridge-style mountain castle).
• Castle ruins with five kuruwa (enclosures).
• The castle's highest point is 673m above sea level.

Official site

www.chihayaakasaka.org

Read more about Chihaya Castle

Explore Osaka Castle, a reconstruction of a historic fortress and one of Japan's Three Great Castles.

What it is

• A castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi from 1583 to 1598.
• Rebuilt in the Edo period by Tokugawa Hidetada.
• Known as Kinjo, it is a National Special Historic Site.
• One of Japan's Three Great Castles.

What to see

• The castle grounds are Osaka Castle Park.
• The donjon rebuilt in 1931 is a museum.
• Thirteen buildings and inner and outer moats still exist.

Official site

www.osakacastle.net

Read more about Osaka Castle

Explore historic castle ruins on a mountaintop, once a strategic base for powerful samurai.

What it is

• Ruins of a castle built by Kusunoki Masashige.
• A branch castle of Kami-Akasaka Castle.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 2012.
• Part of Japan Heritage 'Towns where you can meet the Middle Ages'.

What to see

• The castle ruins on Mount Eboshigata.
• Eboshigata Park, located on the castle site.
• Views from the 182m summit of Mount Eboshigata.

Read more about Eboshigata Castle

Explore the ruins of a medieval mountain castle, a National Historic Site with historical significance.

What it is

• A medieval Japanese mountain castle, also called Kusunoki Castle.
• One of the Kusunoki Shichijo (Seven Castles of Kusunoki).
• Main castle of Kusunoki Masashige, from late Kamakura period.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1934.

What to see

• View the remains of contour-aligned horikiri.
• See the remnants of kuruwa (castle enclosures).

Read more about Kami-Akasaka Castle

Explore a significant Sengoku period mountain castle, offering historical insights and scenic views.

What it is

• A designated National Historic Site.
• A typical Sengoku period mountain castle.
• Built by Hosokawa Takakuni between 1515 and 1516.
• Abandoned around 1573.

What to see

• Castle built on Mount Miyoshi, 182.6 meters above sea level.
• Surrounded by the Akutagawa River on three sides.
• Excavated palace-like facility on the main keep site.

Read more about Akutagawayama Castle

Explore a historic castle ruin park, once a key fortress and domain center.

What it is

• A former castle, also known as Irie Castle.
• Designated as an Osaka Prefecture historic site.
• Served as the administrative center for the Takatsuki Domain.
• A full-scale fortress was built from 1573.

What to see

• Part of the castle area is now a castle ruins park.
• See a reconstructed stone wall.
• View a statue of Ukon Takayama.

Read more about Takatsuki Castle

Ai Castle was a 16th-century mountain castle, with a few remnants to explore.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture.
• Possibly built by Ai Yashiro in the early 16th century.
• Abandoned around 1586.

What to see

• Small earthwork remains in the northeast.
• 150-meter earthwork in the northeast.
• Circular castle well in the southeast still used for water.

Read more about Ai Castle

Explore the remains of a 15th-century flatland castle, a strategic base during a pivotal siege.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle, first mentioned in 1460.
• It was a base for the Hatakeyama clan.
• Served as a front-line base during the siege of Osaka Hongan-ji.

What to see

• Excavated remains of an inner moat.
• Excavated remains of the main enclosure.

Read more about Wakae Castle

Noda Castle was a 16th-century flatland castle, significant in Osaka's samurai history.

What it is

• A Japanese flatland castle.
• Its original form was a fort built in 1531.
• Expanded in 1570 by the Miyoshi Three.
• Completely abandoned after 1615.

What to see

• Two monuments mark the former location.
• The site is now urbanized.

Read more about Noda Castle

Fukui Castle is a ruined medieval fortress with remnants of stone walls on a plateau.

What it is

• A ruined medieval Japanese castle.
• Possibly built to control two roads.
• Abandoned in 1528.

What to see

• Agricultural fields where the castle once stood.
• Stone walls on a 5-meter high plateau.
• The site of the main bailey.

Read more about Fukui Castle

Explore the historical site of Dakeyama Castle, a 14th-century fortress in Osaka Prefecture.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Osaka Prefecture.
• Also called Ryusenji Castle.
• Built by Kusunoki Masashige in 1332.
• One of the Kusunoki Nanajo castles.

What to see

• Kame no I Hotel Tondabayashi is on the castle site.

Read more about Dakeyama Castle