Osaka Castle
| The Good | The Not-So Good |
| Historic castle and grounds | Modern, museum interior |
| Great during Cherry Blossom Season | Ugly elevator outside |
Osaka Castle is often considered a must see however there are a few points that should be considered before deciding to spend your time there.
The castle is a modern(ish) reconstruction of the original castle, the main structure being built in the 1930s, years after its functional use. The inside was renovated around 1995 and is not a modern museum with little trace of the original atmosphere. There is also a fairly ugly elevator strapped onto the side of the castle that while clearly beneficial to those unable to use the stairs, feel out of place due to its more modern design.
There are better castles to go see in Japan such as Matsumoto Castle, or Himeji Castle, that have original interiors and maintain their historical atmosphere. Why would you go to a museum nowadays when there is better information online?
The grounds are nice to walk around, especially during the spring and fall seasons.
