At the time of its construction in the late 1500s by shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Osaka Castle was the largest and most magnificent castle that Japan had ever seen. A turbulent history of siege and destruction led to a 1930s reconstruction that recaptures all of the castle’s original glory which, very luckily, managed to escape damage during World War II. The castle is still wonderfully formidable, with a moat and towering ramparts, all set in a lovely park. Five stories from the outside but 8 stories within, the interior of the castle is now a museum dedicated to the original founder, Toyotomi Hideyoshi with artefacts including art and armour.

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