Osaka Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Osaka.
Osaka Castle is visited by many tourists from Japan and abroad every year.
The area surrounding Osaka Castle is a park rich in nature, with playground equipment for children and restaurants, making it an ideal spot for sightseeing.
In this article, I, an Osaka resident, will tell you how much is the admission fee to Osaka Castle and whether it is worth visiting.
Over 2.4 million visitors! Osaka Castle boasts the No. 1 spot in terms of number of visitors
In the summer of 2024, the news that “the number of visitors to Osaka Castle Tower is the highest in Japan” made headlines.
Although the number of visitors to Osaka Castle had been declining due to COVID-19, the number of visitors to Osaka Castle in fiscal year 2023 exceeded 2 million for the first time in four years, and the final number of visitors to the castle topped 2.4 million.
It was proudly ranked "No. 1" in the number of visitors to castles throughout Japan in 2023.
Osaka Castle is also home to a variety of historical materials related to the castle, as well as a museum dedicated to “Hideyoshi Toyotomi,” who is known to have risen from a peasant to a ruler during Japan's Warring States Period (1467 - 1615), and other items related to him are on display.
The museum also holds various exhibitions and events from time to time, so no matter how many times you visit, you are sure to find something new and fascinating about Osaka Castle.
＜Basic information about Osaka Castle＞
| Address | 1-1, Osaka Castle, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0002, Japan |
| TEL | 06-6941-3044 |
| Usual Hours | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (admission until 4:30 pm) *Scheduled to change from 2025 |
| Closed days | December 28 to January 1 |
It is not just the number of visitors that makes it No. 1! Osaka Castle is worth a visit!
Osaka Castle is No. 1 not only in terms of the number of visitors.
The interior of Osaka Castle is a museum facility that houses and exhibits valuable materials and cultural assets.
The “stone wall” on the east face of the Honmaru is the tallest in Japan at approximately 32 meters. In particular, the stone in front of the Honmaru's main gate is the largest stone in Japan and is also a sight to behold.
History buffs and those who love Japanese castles, as well as those who do not, will be overwhelmed by its height and size.
If you are not sure whether or not to visit Osaka Castle, please take this opportunity to visit.
Is admission to Osaka Castle free?
Admission to Osaka Castle is 600 yen for adults and free for children.
High school students and older are charged as adults, and junior high school students and younger are charged as children.
＜Admission fees for Osaka Castle＞
| Adults | Junior high school students and younger | |
| Admission Fee | ¥600 | Free (Students require IDs) |
If you are visiting with 15 or more people, group rates apply, so if you are visiting as a group, be sure to purchase tickets together instead of buying tickets individually.
In addition to cash (Japanese yen), credit card, electronic money, and QR code transfers are also accepted as payment methods for those without cash.
Admission fees and opening hours of Osaka Castle will change from April 1, 2025
As mentioned earlier, admission to Osaka Castle has been 600 yen for adults and free for children, but this will be partially changed from April 2025.
Please note that the fee structure will change to 1,200 yen for adults, 600 yen for high school and university students, and free for junior high school students and younger.
＜Admission Fees for Osaka Castle (from April 2025)＞
| Adults | High school and university students | Junior high school students and younger | |
| Admission Fee | ¥1,200 | 600 yen (ID required) | Free (Students require IDs) |
The price increase is due to the opening of a new facility, the “Osaka Castle Toyotomi Ishigaki-kan,” which exhibits the stone walls of the first castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
According to the Osaka City Tourism Division, “There are few castles other than Osaka Castle where visitors can experience the overlap of history from Toyotomi to Tokugawa,” and it is expected to be worth the 1,200 yen fee.
Please note that from April 2025, the opening hours will be extended by one hour to 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (admission until 5:30 pm).
Worth a visit when sightseeing in Osaka! Osaka Castle Keep, the largest in Japan
As you can see, Osaka Castle is so popular and full of attractions that it boasts the highest number of visitors in Japan.
In addition to special exhibitions held in the castle tower and various events in Osaka Castle Park, visitors can also enjoy the four seasons in Japan by getting in touch with nature in Osaka Castle Park.
It will be fun to see with your own eyes and take pictures of the beautiful Japanese four seasons and the castle tower, such as cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall.
Junior high school students and younger are admitted free of charge, making it a great place for family trips.
We hope you will visit Osaka Castle when you are sightseeing in Osaka!
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