History & heritage
Historic sites in Osaka
Osaka has been a port and a power center for 1,500 years: ancient rulers built huge burial mounds here, Toyotomi Hideyoshi made it his capital, and in 1970 it hosted Asia's first World Expo.
35 places · 18 nationally protected
Osaka Castle is the landmark. Toyotomi Hideyoshi began it in 1583 on the site of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, a fortified temple that had held out against Oda Nobunaga for ten years. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt more than once; today's keep dates from 1931 and is a museum of Hideyoshi's life, but the huge stone walls and moats are from the 1600s.
Older still are Shitenno-ji, founded in 593, and Sumiyoshi Taisha. Out in the suburbs, keyhole-shaped burial mounds such as Imashirozuka, with its replica clay figures, show how powerful the region's early rulers were. And in Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Taro Okamoto's Tower of the Sun still stands where Asia's first World Expo was held.
Good to know
- Walk around Osaka Castle's outer moat and the Otemon gate for the best views of the stone walls; the keep's museum takes about an hour.
- Book the inside of the Tower of the Sun online ahead of time; walk-in slots are limited.
- Shitenno-ji and Sumiyoshi Taisha are linked by the Hankai tram from Tennoji.
Start with these
The ones worth planning a day around.
- Chuo Ward, Osaka
Osaka Castle
大坂城Hideyoshi's castle: giant stone walls and moats from the 1600s around a 1931 keep that holds a history museum, with city views from the top.
Shitenno-ji Temple
四天王寺One of Japan's oldest temples, founded by Prince Shotoku in 593, with gate, pagoda and hall still on the original straight-line plan.
Sumiyoshi Taisha
住吉大社An ancient shrine to the gods of the sea, whose main halls keep one of the oldest Shinto building styles.
- Suita
Tower of the Sun
太陽の塔Taro Okamoto's 70-meter figure from Expo '70, with three faces. You can go inside to see the 'Tree of Life' with an advance booking.
- Takatsuki
Imashirozuka Kofun
今城塚古墳A 6th-century keyhole tomb in Takatsuki, turned into a park with rows of replica clay haniwa figures and a museum next door.
- Kita Ward, Osaka
Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
大阪市立東洋陶磁美術館One of the world's finest collections of Chinese and Korean ceramics, on Nakanoshima island in central Osaka.
More History & heritage in Osaka
Every place shows its Japanese name, so you can search it on a map or show it to a taxi driver.
Tezukayama Kofun
帝塚山古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
Tanabe Haiji
田辺廃寺跡A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
- Suita
Nanao Tile Kiln Site
七尾瓦窯跡A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
- Sakai Ward, Sakai
Sago Palm of Myokoku-ji
妙国寺のソテツA notable old tree in Osaka, Japan.
Futagozuka Kofun
二子塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
Gosha Shrine
五社神社 (池田市)A Shinto shrine in Osaka, Japan.
Katano Tenjinsha Shrine
交野天神社A Shinto shrine in Osaka, Japan.
Sumiyoshi Angu
住吉行宮A Shinto shrine in Osaka, Japan.
- Suita
Kishibe Shrine
吉志部神社A Shinto shrine in Osaka, Japan.
- Takatsuki
Ama Site
安満遺跡A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
- Takatsuki
Akutagawayama Castle
芥川山城A castle in Osaka, Japan.
- Habikino
Tsuho-ji Temple Ruins
通法寺A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
Show all 29 places
- Habikino
Nonoue Hachiman Shrine
野々上八幡神社A Shinto shrine in Osaka, Japan.
- Chuo Ward, Osaka
Ishiyama Hongan-ji Site
石山本願寺A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
- Takatsuki
Takatsuki Castle Park
高槻城公園A castle in Osaka, Japan.
- Ibaraki
Oda Haiji
太田廃寺跡A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
- Sakai Ward, Sakai
Guwashobo Kofun
グワショウ坊古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Sakai Ward, Sakai
Maruhoyama Kofun
丸保山古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Sakai Ward, Sakai
Chinooka Kofun
乳岡古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Sakai Ward, Sakai
Osamezuka Kofun
収塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Sakai Ward, Sakai
Tsukamawari Kofun
塚廻古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Habikino
Tsukaana Kofun
塚穴古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Habikino
Hakayama Kofun
墓山古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Chuo Ward, Osaka
Osaka-jo Ongakudo
大阪城音楽堂A historic site in Osaka, Japan.
- Ibaraki
Oda Chausuyama Kofun
太田茶臼山古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Takatsuki
Amamiyama Kofun
安満宮山古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Habikino
Minegazuka Kofun
峯ヶ塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Habikino
Shimaizumi Maruyama Kofun
島泉丸山古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
- Habikino
Niwatorizuka Kofun
庭鳥塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Osaka, Japan.
History & heritage in Osaka on the map
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Questions
Is Osaka Castle original?
The stone walls and moats date from the 1600s, but the keep is a 1931 reconstruction in concrete with an elevator and a museum inside. Several gates and turrets on the grounds are older originals.
Who built Osaka Castle?
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who unified Japan, began it in 1583. After his family fell in 1615, the Tokugawa shoguns rebuilt it on the same site.
Can I go inside the Tower of the Sun?
Yes, with a reservation. Inside is the 'Tree of Life', a sculpture showing the evolution of life, restored and reopened in 2018.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- www.osakacastle.netOsaka Castle Museum, official site (opens in a new tab)
- www.shitennoji.or.jpShitenno-ji, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- www.sumiyoshitaisha.netSumiyoshi Taisha, official site (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- taiyounotou-expo70.jpTower of the Sun, official site (opens in a new tab)
- www.moco.or.jpMuseum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, official site (opens in a new tab)
- www.osaka-info.jpOsaka official travel guide (opens in a new tab)