Osaka-Jo Gozabune

Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a feudal lord of the 16th century. The castle is characterized by its splendid fortifications befitting a base for unifying the country and is now surrounded by a park centering on the restored castle tower.

The "Osaka-Jo Gozabune," a sightseeing boat recreated in the park's inner moat using illustrations and other materials from the past, is in operation almost every day, except during the year-end and New Year holidays. The 20-minute mini-cruise departs from the Gokurakubashi Bridge on the north side of Osaka Castle. It is well known for its elegant atmosphere while looking up at the majestic castle tower from the water. The privilege of this cruise is to see up close the stone walls built by order of the Tokugawa- Shogunate after Lord Hideyoshi. The stone structures, consisting of approximately one million giant kakogan stones, are unparalleled worldwide.

The stonewalls have many points of interest. See the marks of the feudal lords involved in their construction engraved on them and the human face-rock embedded in them to ward off evil spirits.