Historical Places

In Osaka there are several historic sites that can be

visited like museum International Peace Cente , Osaka
Castle ( Osakajo ) , and many more places we can visit .

Osaka Castle (sakaj)

The construction of Osaka Castle
( , sakaj) started
in1583on the former site of the
IshiyamaHonganji Temple, which
had been destroyed byOda
Nobunagathirteen years
earlier.Toyotomi
Hideyoshiintended thecastleto
become the center of a new,
unified Japan under Toyotomi
rule. It was the largest castle at
the time.

Osaka Castle (sakaj)

During the war it miraculously
survived the city wide air raids.
Major repair works gave the
castle new glamor in 1997.
Thecastle toweris now entirely
modern on the inside and even
features an elevator for easier
accessibility. It houses an
informative museum about the
castle's history and Toyotomi
Hideyoshi.

Osaka Castle (sakaj)

The entire Osaka Castle Park
covers about two square
kilometers with lots of green
space, sport facilities, a multipurpose arena (Osakajo Hall) and
a shrine dedicated toToyotomi
Hideyoshi. The park is one of
Osaka's most popular hanami
spot during thecherry blossom
season, which usually takes
place in early April.

Sumiyoshi taisha( )
also known as Sumiyoshi Grand
Shrine, is
aShintoshrineinSumiyoshiward in
the city ofOsaka,Japan. It is the main
shrine of all the Sumiyoshi shrines in
Japan. However, the oldest shrine
that enshrines theSumiyoshi sanjin,
the three Sumiyoshikami, is the
Sumiyoshi shrine inHakata.

Sumiyoshi taisha( )
Although Sumiyoshi taisha is
currently completely landlocked, until
theEdo period, the shrine riding
grounds (currentlySumiyoshi Park)
faced the sea and were considered
the representative of the beautiful
"hakushaseishou" (white sand and
green pines) landscape. So much so
that this type of scenery in designs
and art is known as the Sumiyoshi
In the folktale "Issun-bshi", an old
design.
couple who had no children prayed
at Sumiyoshi taisha. Their prayers
were granted. When their child went
on a voyage, he departed at
Sumiyoshi harbor, sailed down
Hosoe-gawa toOsaka Bay, sailed up
theYodo River, and enteredKyoto.

National Museum of Art, Osaka

TheNational Museum of
Art(
Kokuritsu Kokusai
Bijutsukan)is a
subterraneanJapaneseart
museumlocated on the
island of Nakanoshima,
located between
theDjima Riverand
theTosabori River, about 5
minutes west ofHigobashi
Stationin centralOsaka.

Designed by architect Arata Isozaki.

The museum originates from the
Expo Art Gallery which was built as
part ofExpo '70, held inSuitain the
outskirts of Osaka. Due to the aging
of the building as well as growing
space limitations, the museum was
temporarily closed in January 2004.
The old museum was demolished and
turned into a car park, while the
exhibits were transferred to its more
central, current location in
Nakanoshima, which opened in
November 2004.

Osaka International Peace

Center
TheOsaka International Peace
Center( sakakokusai-heiwa-sent?), also known
asPeace Osaka( Psusaka), is amuseumestablished in
August 1991 based in the city
ofOsaka,Japan. It focuses on the
destruction of the city duringWorld War
IIand the broader themes of the
tragedy of war and the importance of
peace. It is funded byOsaka
cityandOsaka Prefecture.

Osaka International Peace

Center
on several floors of the museum we can
see the few remaining remnants of
World War 2 in Osaka , Japan .
Zone A (2nd floor): The appearance of
Osaka in 1945 and now
Zone B (2nd floor) Explains why Japan
waged war with the US
Zone C (2nd floor): Life in Osaka during
the war
Zone D (1st floor): Osaka reduced to ashes
Zone E (3rd floor): Osaka after the war
Zone F (3rd floor): What all of us can do to
maintain peace[14]