Osaka Castle Park & Museum

After we left the Ramen Museum and finished lunch (just some random store nearby where I had a yummy don with egg and pork cutlet ~ more on our food adventures on a later post), it was close to 4 pm. Most attractions in Japan close by 4 during autumn and winter, but we decided to try our luck at Osaka Castle. Even if we didn't make it to the museum or the park tram tour, we could still roam around the park. Here are some photos that we took that day.

The impressive moat surrounding castle grounds. It doesn't look like much in photos but in reality, the moat is really a vast expanse of water that seems to go on. Can't help but wonder at how much effort (and blood) went into constructing this architecture marvel.

The castle is peeking out from the top of the walls. Can you see it?

Us at the park before entering the castle grounds :)

It being the Osaka Castle Chrysanthemum Festival, there were hundreds of potted chrysanthemums in varying types under several tentages. According to the Osaka Visitor's Guide, the displays include varieties like the ogiku and single-stemmed plants. I was kind of hoping that the displays would be more impressive than just pots of plants, like a garden (Aside - we're intending to pop by the Orchid Conference at MBS tomorrow!), but realistically, it probably is easier to maintain when the pots are behind a sort of-barricade.

This photo was taken around 5 pm and it was fast approaching dusk. The castle looks magnificent in this photo, and even more so in reality.

The Osaka Castle was regarded as an emblem of Hideyoshi Toyotomi's power and fortune. While Hideyoshi never achieved the title of a shogun, he was nevertheless a powerful general who unified the political factions of Japan. The castle that stands today is the third generation structure, as the first two were burnt down (first was destroyed by fire during war while the second after lightning struck). How do I know? Well, other than researching the place beforehand from its website, we were in luck and managed to get into the museum because of extended hours! Woohoo! The luck continued as we were able to view the exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the castle too :) With our Kansai Rail Pass, we managed to get a discount again so our tickets cost 500 yen each. More on the rail pass in a later post. We parked our stroller at the entrance as instructed, although the castle has a lift from the exterior for the disabled and the website states that "prams are usually allowed". It was a good thing we didn't insist on bringing the stroller as the lift within only stopped on the 5th floor and we had to take another 3 flights of stairs up! More reason to hug Heidi I say :)

Unfortunately, we mis-read the instructions in the castle and thought that we were unable to take photos of all the exhibits so we have only a few pictures but plenty of memories.

Up close before heading up to the 8th storey of the castle

What a touristy shot, eh?

View from the top. You get an amazing aerial view of the surroundings from here, with pictorial representations to guide you as to the buildings around. It was pretty cold around the corner as the strong gusts of wind howled past. Heidi evidently couldn't wait to get back in.

Here's one of the photo points towards the end of the exhibition.

We were kinda shoo-ed from the shop as they really really wanted to pack up and head home. So we made our way back to the park and subway. Seeing as it was super cold, I did what any Singaporean would do - eat ice cream!

And we decided to let Heidi have her first nibble too! :D

As expected, she recoiled at the taste (and cold!) but very quickly after wanted some more ;)

It was my first time in the castle museum and I was really glad that we managed to get in. Castles and palaces fascinate me, because we don't have that rich history back here. Every castle brings a different story and their own little bit of history. Next time, I wanna go on the park tram tour!

WBW

Black lightweight parka from Uniqlo, black cardigan from Cotton On, dress and belt from hello hansel Flyaway Donkey collection, sand coloured knit beret from g.u., light brown knee socks from River Island, brown boots from a kiosk in Toa Payoh

WHW
(Read previous post here) + Blue parka with red hearts and red fleece pants from Mothercare, Strawberry woolen gloves from Wintertime (A couple of Japanese ladies were so taken with Heidi and her 'ichigo' gloves that they kept playing with her. Hee.)