A fortress of gold and green floating above cyclopean stone walls, in the middle of a park with 3,000 cherry trees. The castle that Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered built in 1583 now holds a museum of the samurai era and a lookout atop its eight floors. Best in spring, among the blossoms.
💡 Getting there: Osakajōkōen Station (JR Loop, 5-min walk) or Tanimachi 4-chōme (Metro). 🕐 9:00–17:00 (closes 17:30). 💴 ¥600 (park free). 🌸 Sakura: ~3,000 cherry trees in the park (late March). Built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, rebuilt in 1931. The interior museum has 8 floors with artifacts from the Sengoku era.