Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden

In Showa 6 (1931) the main keep of Osaka Castle was rebuilt with about 1.5 million yen donated by the citizens of the city. Osaka Castle Park, which spreads around the keep, holds 13 Important Cultural Property buildings including the Otemon gate, the Sengan turret and the Ensho-gura gunpowder store, as well as a plum grove and Nishinomaru Garden. Nishinomaru Garden, taken to be the site of the residence of Kita no Mandokoro, the principal wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, opened in Showa 40 (1965) as a lawn garden of about 6.5 hectares. It is ringed by trees, and the keep and the stone walls of the moat are beautiful from it. In spring about 300 cherry trees, mainly Somei-yoshino, come into flower, and it is known as a place for blossom viewing, with evening openings during the flowering period that draw many visitors. In the northeast corner of the garden stands the tea house Hoshoan, donated by Matsushita Konosuke in Showa 44 (1969).

Translated and shortened from the Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City tourist listings (観光施設一覧, CC BY 4.0).