Osaka

Jul 10, 2014 - 1 min read

Ultimate Guide to Osaka Castle: 13

Sengan turret through Otemon Gate to South Outer Moat

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Close up of the massive Otemon Gate

The Sengan-yagura Turret, an important cultural property of Japan

The Sengan-yagura Turret served to protect the Ote-guchi Entrance of Osaka Castle. Built during the early Edo period in 1620, this turret is one of the oldest buildings still standing on the premises of Osaka Castle. The name Sengan means a large amount of money. The origin of its name goes back to the Civil War period, when Oda Nobunaga attacked the Hongan-ji Temple located in this place. The Honganji had a powerful turret from which Nobunaga's soldiers were attacked. Their attack was so intense that soldiers murmured among themselves; "That turret is worth Sengan (a large amount of money)'. The turret later built by the Tokugawa Shogunate was named after this episode

The Otemon Gate, an important cultural property, too

The Otemon Gate is located at the front entrance of Osaka Castle, which means I came in from the back and went out from the front! This can be called the official entrance to the castle and was built in 1628; it is designated as an important cultural property of Japan

Under the eaves of the Otemon Gate

View of the Omotemon Gate from the outside

The Masugata is a square construction adjacent to the main gate of Japanese castles and served to prevent the intrusion of enemies. Ote-guchi-masugata, located inside the Otemon Gate, is also made of huge stones. The fourth largest stone in Osaka Castle is used in this Masugata, which was built in 1620 by the feudal load of Kumamoto, Tadahiro Kato. He is the son of Kiyomasa Kato, the famous loyal subject of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. How ironic that he had to obey the order of the Tokugawa Shogunate to re-build the castle! (Tokugawa Shogunate attacked Osaka Castle and destroyed the Toyotomi Clan, who was his father's master!)

This is the fourth largest stone used here

Sign indicating this is the place where another turret called 'Ichitamon Turret' was once located

Smaller gate next to the Otemon Gate

Close-up of the smaller gate

The Otemon Gate and the Sengan Turret viewed from the outside. It looks like something you see in a period drama!

South Outer Moat and one of the turrets

The sign explaining details of the South Outer Moat. According to it, the fourth, fifth and the seventh turret were burnt down by a fire during the civil war during the Meiji Restoration, and the second and third were burnt down by bombings during WWII, so now only the first and the sixth turret remain

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore the Osaka Castle and the Osaka Castle Park. The thirteenth (and last!) leg of the journey begins at the Sengan Turret, then proceeds finally to the Otemon Gate, the official entrance of Osaka Castle! Each historical building has some stories attatched to them, written in detail in the photo captions. You may be thinking this is the end of your journey to explore the Osaka Castle and now you can go home. If so you are completely wrong! There are other delights you can find in this vast vicinity and you'll regret if you go home now! Those who'd like to explore more, please read my other photo stories. Your journey still goes on! For further information about Osaka Castle itself, please see the index here.

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Find out more about Osaka Castle.

Ultimate Guide: Osaka Castle

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Takako Sakamoto

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

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