Osaka

Ultimate Guide to Osaka Castle: 11

Sakura-mon Gate, huge stones, well curb, and empty moat

Takako Sakamoto Jul 10, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>The Sakuramon Gate in the late afternoon...</p>

<p>The Sakuramon Gate, an important cultural property of Japan</p>

<p>The Sakuramon Gate, viewed from a different angle</p>

<p>The sign explaining all about the Sakuramon Gate. According to it, it was originally built in 1626 by the Tokugawa Shogunate (after Tokugawa's army burnt down Osaka Castle in 1615), then it was burnt down by fire during the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and was re-built by the Imperial Army in 1887</p>

<p>There are some huge stones inside the Sakuramon Gate...</p>

<p>Inside the Sakuramon Gate, the Masugata Square, which was surrounded by a stone wall, was created to protect the castle from enemies in 1624. In the stone wall, the largest stone in the entire Osaka Castle grounds was used, which is called Takoishi, literally, Octopus Stone. It measures 59.43 ㎡ and weighs 108 tons. The stone on the left is the third largest, known as Furisodeishi, meaning 'Long-sleeved Kimono Stone'</p>

<p>This is 'Takoishi', the Octopus Stone, the largest on the premises!</p>

<p>This 'Well curb' was originally used for the Gimmeisui Well, which was located behind the Hommaru palace kitchen and used as a source of drinking water. When the former Army's Fourth Division building was constructed here, the well curb was moved to the present location and the water was piped to the new building</p>

<p>Close-up of the Well curb of the Gimmeisui Well</p>

<p>The Sakuramon Gate seen from a street between the Inner Moat and the Outer Moat</p>

<p>...only a few people were entering the gate now</p>

<p>The 'Empty moat' is really empty and it turns into a weed heaven!</p>

<p>The 'Empty moat', Sakuramon Gate and the stone walls  </p>

<p>The Sakuramon Gate viewed from the street</p>

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore the Osaka Castle and the Osaka Castle Park. The eleventh leg of the journey begins at the Sakuramon Gate, which is an important cultural property of Japan, to the huge stones inside the gate and the empty moat outside the gate. One of the stones used for the stone walls inside the gate is called 'Takoishi', literally, the octopus stone and it measures 59.43 ㎡ on the surface and weighs 108 tons. You can also see the third largest stone next to it, which is called 'Furisodeishi', meaning long-sleeved kimono stone. And don't miss the old well curb which was constructed in the early Tokugawa Period (1603 to 1867)!

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Ultimate Guide: Osaka Castle

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...