Kishiwada Castle

Kishiwada Castle is a Japanese castle in Kishiwada, Japan, located along Osaka Bay between Osaka and Wakayama, featuring a three-story tower with white walls. The castle grounds also include the Hachijin Garden, designated as a national Place of Scenic Beauty, which displays traditional pond arrangements with stone bridges.

The original fortification was built in 1334 about 500 meters from the current site by the local warlord Kishiwada Osamu. The structure survived a two-month siege by Saiga Ikki armies in 1585 during conflicts under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The name comes from the city of Kishiwada, which has served as an important center in southern Osaka region for centuries. Visitors today can walk through the Hachijin Garden, where carefully arranged ponds and stone formations reflect Japanese garden design from the Edo period.

The castle museum opens from 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, with entry for adults costing 300 yen while children through junior high school enter at no charge. The climb to the tower involves several steep staircases, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

The three-story tower was reconstructed in concrete in 1954 after lightning destroyed the wooden structure in 1827. From the top floor, visitors can see across Osaka Bay and the surrounding mountains on clear days.