Osaka Castle is quite something. But I must admit that….. I really don’t like it at all :P I think it was probably because of just how totally overgrown in weeds and poorly maintained it was when I saw it this past November. In addition, the collection of rusting badly painted carnival buildings inside the castle destroy the atmosphere, while the walls themselves were covered in trash upon close inspection, I thought it was just a really sad sight to be honest, It reminded me much of the Battlefield of Marathon in Greece when I went to see it in 2001. It was littered with beer cans, weeds stood as high as your chest, and an old rusted chain link fence surrounded the Athenian burial mound. While Osaka is not as bad, it’s definitely a place I found great from afar but sorely disappointing upon closer examination :(

Wow, sounds like Ōsaka castle was having a bad hair day on your visit. My experiences have been far more positive but I spent most of the time looking at the surviving turrets or at the old gates. I always avoid the crowds, and in all the times I’ve visited, I’ve not once entered the main tower. I think I know I’ll be disappointed.

As for Greece, you’d think the Government would take better care of those truly ancient ruins.

I only visited Osaka Castle once and that was just a rushed visit without any knowledge whatsoever to its history. A little bit of knowledge certainly does wonder in igniting an interest.I want to have a return visit someday. :)

Thank you. I’m really so happy to hear such a comment. I hope you have a lot more fun on your next visit. I’ll be visiting again, that’s for sure.

:)

Thank you. I’m really so happy to hear such a comment. I hope you have a lot more fun on your next visit. I’ll be visiting again, that’s for sure.

:)

Thank you. I’m really so happy to hear such a comment. I hope you have a lot more fun on your next visit. I’ll be visiting again, that’s for sure.

:)

As for me, whenever I hear the term “castle” and then see what it means in Japan, I am always a bit confused. I’ve been so imprinted with the European-style castle imagery. Which I suppose only proves how little I know about Japanese castles. Therefore – thank you for blogging about them.
And as for this post, I am a huge fan of vintage postcards. :-)

Since I haven’t been to Osaka castle, I would like to see in my eyes. But until then I will study the castle in your blog:)

Ohh, this is really interesting! I never really thought about the existence of barracks around the area.
I’ve also been to Osaka (a fair few years back now) and although I really enjoyed it… … … Himeji has my heart. Partially because the surrounding area is so much nicer and also because you get to go in free wearing a yukata during the yukata matsuri. ;)
(Although climbing the “stairs” (ladders!!) in a yukata and tabi isn’t to be recommended…)

Thanks Anna. I’ve never really held much value in postcards, certainly not from a tourist’s perspective. The (really) old ones I think are great however, especially when the view they capture no longer exists.

Thanks Yoshii. I hope you’ll be able to find some interesting things. :)

Haha! They are steep those stairs, aren’t they? And, in a yukata you’d feel like your knees were tied together.

Congrats on the 100+ followers. (I am not a bot, #&%buzz, %”$ click)

Yeah, so I ended up doing the “not done” thing and hitching it up to my knees. ;)
Glad to hear it! ;P