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Osaka Castle burned in the "Summer War" in the early 1600s. [You can see the burn marks on the foundation.] The son of the Shogun who built it was defeated by another powerful samuri family. They rebuilt the Castle, but it was struck by lightning and partly burned again about 200 years later. It was reconstructed using the Shogun's revised plans at the request of Osaka citizens in the early 1930s, using steel-reinforced concrete. It survived massive bombing during WW2, although most of the out-buildings were destroyed.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Despite the off-and-on rain showers, lots of families spread blankets to picnic in the park and enjoy the cherry blossoms. |
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This old cherry tree hugs the castle's foundation near the stairs (and the ticket booth). |
 An elderly Japanese man told me the history of this chiseled rock in the castle's base, as if his grandpa had been there. They tried to cut this rock into smaller pieces at the quarry, but the granite was too tough. They were able to cut the square hole to put an iron bar in it to help lift the stone onto a sledge. That's how they carried it to the castle. Oxen pulled the sledge. |
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 One of the dolphin roof ornaments, covered with gold-leaf. Yup, the safety net is reinforced chicken-wire. |
 The moat and cherry trees from the look-out deck just under the top floor. |
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 Heading toward the outer walls and the main gate. |
 The largest stones in the fortress. Can you imagine dragging these on a sledge? |
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 The main gate to the castle. It had started to rain a little. |
 Cherry petals showering down into the dry part of the moat. |