Osaka Castle (Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)

Though I’ve visited Osaka many times, I’d never made time to explore the castle.

Traveling on a weekday in Kansai isn’t as bad as it is in Tokyo’s daily traffic. Once we arrived at Osaka Castle, we found a parking lot on the side, which wasn’t the most expensive and great for a walk to start the morning. Arriving a bit early does have some benefits with parking, but as a warning, the crowds of tourists may already be there.

There are two ways to enter, with an online ticket to skip the line or old-school like me buying tickets at the kiosk. I personally wanted to have a ticket stub as a souvenir fan even the online ticket line had many people waiting, so it didn’t really matter what way you choose to go in.

The castle was cool in some ways but not the best in my opinion. The number of tourists really does put a damper on my mood. It would have been a great experience, but the narrow stairs and overcrowded rooms did take a toll.

Overtourism really can make or break an area. It was difficult to enjoy one spot without crowds of people bumping or walking in front of me to also get the same view.

The third floor of the castle was my favorite, as it displays most of the historical artifacts. The top floor viewing deck is also must-see. Due to the crowds, however, I couldn’t enjoy the displays on the other floors.

After stepping out of the castle, we went for a walk to breathe in some fresh air and go somewhere less crowded around the area.

Visitors can take a boat ride on the castle moat. Tickets are 1,800 yen for adults and 900 yen for kids and can be purchased on the south side of the castle connected to a Lawson building.

As you may have guessed, there was a long line to do this when we visited. So, we skipped.

On the west side of the castle, we checked out Nishinomaru Garden. Online, this sprawling garden with a pond seemed picturesque. In person, it was a disappointing, empty field with some sort of construction underway.

Osaka Castle is very busy, so not my favorite place to visit. Don’t let my mood deter you, I was just ready to leave the big city and explore the road less traveled.

(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)

(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)

Osaka Castle