Osaka

Ultimate Guide to Osaka Castle: 05

Yamazato-maru Bailey to Hidden Bailey

Takako Sakamoto Jul 05, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>Beautiful gold decoration on the castle roof</p>

<p>Stone steps connecting the 'Yamazato-maru Bailey' to the 'Inner Bailey'. The Yamazato-maru is the lowered section on the north side of the main tower, and Yamazato means literary, 'Mountain village'</p>

<p>The sign explaining the 'Yamazato-maru Bailey'. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the king of Japan who built Osaka Castle, planted various kinds of trees to create a landscape which looked just like a mountain village. He also had several tea houses built inside the 'Yamazato-maru (Moutain village)' to further satisfy his artistic taste</p>

<p>The sign explaining the 'Yamazato-guchi-demasugata', which is the square section surrounded by stone walls as a protection from enemies</p>

<p>When you climb up the stone steps and go through the square section surrounded by stone walls, you can finally see the main tower of Osaka Castle up close  </p>

<p>The stone base of the main tower looks distorted. It is said that the castle was bombed severely during WWII and the stone base was damaged...</p>

<p>...yet the castle didn't collapse. Great!  </p>

<p>The main tower of Osaka Castle viewed from a different angle</p>

<p>View from the top of the stone walls</p>

<p>The sign explaining the 'Kakushi-kuruwa Bailey'. This is the secret place used to 'hide' soldiers inside. The sign also says you can locate on some stones the family crests of Kato Family and Koide Family who were assigned to reconstruct the stone walls here</p>

<p>Can you see the mark on the stone? This is the family crest of Kato Family (from present day Ehime prefecture)  </p>

<p>It surely looks like a 'hidden' place!</p>

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore the Osaka Castle and the Osaka Castle Park. The fifth leg of the journey begins at the 'Yamazato-maru Bailey', which literary means, 'Mountain Village'. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the king of Japan who built Osaka Castle in the 16th century, loved art and architecture. He planted many kinds of trees in an effort to create his own 'mountain village' on the castle grounds, and had several tea houses built on his own artificial mountain in order to enjoy the art of tea and the beauty of nature. When you pass the Yamazato-maru Bailey you can finally see the main tower of Osaka Castle up-close. It's HUGE! and gorgeous. The stone base of the main tower is a little bit distorted and tilted due to bombings during WWII, but the castle still stands strong. This distorted stone base is also something you would probably miss if you didn't know about it. Now you know, so don't miss it! For further guidance, please refer to the links below.

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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...