Osaka Castle — Concrete Reconstruction with Museum

Osaka Castle (大阪城) was built by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583 as headquarters for his unification of Japan. The current main keep is a 1931 concrete reconstruction (the original burned in 1665), but the massive stone walls and moats survive from the 16th century. The keep houses an 8-floor museum chronicling Toyotomi's rise, Osaka's role in Japanese history, and castle architecture.

The surrounding Osaka Castle Park (106 hectares) is Osaka's premier hanami (cherry blossom) destination with 3,000+ cherry trees. The Western Outer Moat's tree-lined path creates a tunnel of pink blooms in early April, attracting massive crowds.