It’s astounding to think that one of the oldest castles ever built could withstand fierce wars and harsh weather and still be standing and fully functioning today. Today my group had the opportunity to tour Osaka-jo castle, one of the oldest and most famous castles in Japan, now modified into a 5 floor museum! As we climbed over moats and made our way to the entrance, we got to witness the castle’s beautiful white walls and feudal-styled decorations. Inside the castle were interactive videos and many figurines depicting the battles that took place in ancient Japan. It was interesting to learn about the battle of Sekigahara and how the castle managed to stay standing even though their forces were outnumbered 2 to 1. That just adds to the Osaka-jo’s prestige!
The impregnable fortress!
Field trip time!
Another interesting aspect we took notice of was that the majority of visitors to the castle were all elementary schoolers and very young children. One thing I’ve noticed from touring Japan is the emphasis they put on knowing and valuing historical events. I think it’s wonderful that they have the chance to tour Osaka-jo and learn about its history because it’s one of the most important landmarks that unified Japan. I now have much more respect for Japan’s building architecture and am happy to see that this castle is still in great shape today!
Adventures in Japan (日本の冒険) 