Osaka Castle (castle interior and museum)

The interior of Osaka Castle is a modern eight-storey museum that combines panoramic views from the top with an exhibition on the city's feudal history. Floors 2 to 7 house replicas of armour, swords, historical documents and interactive screens that narrate the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the feudal lord who built the original castle in 1583, and the wars that marked the Sengoku period. There are battle models, full-scale reproductions of period costumes and audiovisual materials in several languages including Spanish. Floor 8 is the observatory: from its glass windows you have a 360-degree view over the park, the moats and the Osaka skyline. The full visit to the interior lasts between an hour and an hour and a half. Admission costs 600 yen for adults; junior-high students enter free. The castle opens from 9:00 to 17:00 every day, with last entry at 16:30. In special seasons such as spring and summer the hours may be extended. To get there, take the subway to Tanimachi 4-chome or Osakajokoen (JR Loop Line). Combine the interior visit with the outdoor walk through the park, which is free.