Osaka Castle

One of Japan's most famous castles, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi beginning in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple. The five-story main keep, adorned with gold leaf, and massive stone walls reaching 20 meters high exemplified the pinnacle of Japanese castle design. The castle fell to Tokugawa forces during the Siege of Osaka (1614-1615), was rebuilt by the Tokugawa in 1620, then lost its tower to lightning in 1665. The current concrete reconstruction dates from 1931 and serves as a museum documenting the castle's role in Japan's unification.