[Osaka ]10 attractions and places to visit in Morinomiya

Morinomiya, located in Chuo Ward, Osaka City, is an attractive area with a lot of nature and the changing of the seasons, even though it is in the center of the city.
In recent years, development has progressed and the area has evolved into an urban center with commercial facilities such as "Morinomiya Cuse Mall BASE "with over 40 specialty stores, and "Viera Morinomiya "directly connected to JR Morinomiya Station.
"With medical facilities such as Morinomiya Hospital "and "National Hospital Organization Osaka Medical Center ", the area is popular among all generations for convenient living.
Another attraction of Morinomiya is its easy access to major city centers.
The JR Osaka Loop Line, Osaka Metro's Chuo Line and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line provide access to major cities such as Shinsaibashi, Tennoji and Kyobashi without transfers.

Morinomiya is home to a variety of tourist attractions, from historical buildings to commercial facilities.
Here are some popular tourist spots that you should definitely stop by when you visit Morinomiya.

"Osaka Castle Park "is one of the largest historical parks in Osaka, with a total area of 105.6 hectares, or about 23 times the size of Tokyo Dome.
The park was opened in 1931. The park is dotted with 13 important cultural properties, including Tamon Yagura, Otemon Gate, and Sakura-mon Gate, as well as other historical sites and places that tell the history of the area.
In addition, there are various facilities such as "JO-TERRACE OSAKA "where you can enjoy tea and barbecue, "Osaka Castle Hall "where concerts and sports events are held, a wedding hall, and a playground square, where you can enjoy history, food, entertainment and many other areas.
Osaka Castle Park is also known as one of Osaka's most famous flower viewing spots.
The most famous of these are the plum and cherry blossoms. From January to March each year, 1,235 plum trees of 104 varieties bloom in turn, and in late March, approximately 3,000 cherry trees fill the park with pink.
Thereafter, irises, azaleas, dogwoods, and other seasonal flowers will be at their best in turn, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful spectacle of seasonal flowers and Osaka Castle.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒540-0002 Osaka City, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Japan
Phone number: 06-6755-4146

"Osaka Castle "was built by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the Warring States period as a base for unifying the country, and is a symbol of Osaka Castle Park.
The first castle tower was destroyed in the Battle of Osaka, and the second, rebuilt by the Tokugawa Shogunate, was destroyed by fire during the upheavals of the Meiji Restoration.
The interior of the castle tower is open to the public as a historical museum, displaying items related to Hideyoshi Toyotomi and other materials related to Osaka Castle.
Some of the exhibits are changed regularly, so visitors can experience new aspects of the history of the Warring States period no matter how many times they visit the museum.
On the 8th floor, there is an observatory offering a 360-degree view of Osaka Castle Park, including Ninomaru Garden and Osaka Castle Hall. On a clear day, Abeno Harukas and Tsutenkaku Tower can be clearly seen, offering an exhilarating view of Osaka.

"Facility Information "
Address: 1-1 Osaka Castle, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 〒540-0002, Japan
Phone number: 06-6941-3044

"Osaka Castle Toyokoku Shrine "is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, his son Hideyori, and his brother Hidenaga.
Originally built by imperial decree of Emperor Meiji as a separate shrine of Toyokuni Shrine in Kyoto at Nakanoshima Aza Yamazaki no Nana (the current location of the Central Public Hall), it was moved to its current location in 1961 because it was most closely associated with the deity.
The grounds include "the Shuseki Garden "designed by Mirei Shigemori, one of the leading gardeners of the Showa period, and the 5.2 meter high "statue of Lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi ".
The shrine is also known as a shrine that brings good luck for success in life, as Hideyoshi rose from an unknown foot soldier to a powerful figure in just one generation, and amulets featuring the Senjo gourd that was Hideyoshi's horse mark are very popular.
When you visit Osaka Castle Park, be sure to visit Toyokuni Shrine to pray for success in life.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒 540-0002 2-1 Osaka Castle, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
Phone number: 06-6941-0220

If you would like to take a short trip from Morinomiya to enjoy the city of Osaka, we recommend the "Osaka Water Bus Aqua Liner ".
Departing from Osaka-jo Port, a five-minute walk from Osaka-jo Koen Station, passengers take a relaxing cruise along the Okawa River, which flows through Osaka City.
Passing through Shin-Ashigino-bashi, Tenmabashi, Yodoyabashi, Namba-bashi, Tenjin-bashi, and other bridges in Osaka City, the train will return to Osaka Castle Port again.
Three vessels, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5, stand by to run the course. All are glass-walled and open, allowing passengers to enjoy cruising while viewing the scenery of the four seasons, regardless of weather or season.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒540-0002 Osaka City, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Castle 2
Phone number: 0570-03-5551
URL：https://suijo-bus.osaka/

"Miraiza Osaka Castle "is a shopping and dining complex.
Originally built as the headquarters building of the Army's 4th Division, it has since been used as the Osaka City Metropolitan Police Department, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, and Osaka Municipal Museum.
The retro exterior of the building, which retains the appearance of those days, is designed to resemble an old medieval castle in Europe, with stately designs everywhere.
The museum has restaurants and cafes where visitors can enjoy a relaxing meal while gazing at the keep of Osaka Castle.
On the first floor, the 2022 "Kaiyodo Figure Museum Miliza Osaka Castle "opened on the first floor, where visitors can see approximately 3,000 pieces created by Kaiyodo, including special effects and animation characters, creatures, and cultural art.

"Facility Information "
Address: Miriza Osaka-jo, 1-1 Osaka-jo, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0002, Japan
Phone number: 06-6755-4320

"Naniwa Palace Site Park "is a historic site park that stretches across the Hoenzaka area.
Excavations by Tokutaro Yamane and his team, which began in 1954, revealed that the Naniwanomiya Palace once existed in this area. Subsequent investigations have confirmed the existence of two phases of Naniwanomiya Palace from the Asuka to the Nara period.
Today, the 90,667-square-meter area of the Uchiura and Chodoin sections is designated as a National Historic Site, and in the large park area, the Daigoku-den Kidan of the Late Naniwa Palace and the octagonal building of the Early Naniwa Palace have been reconstructed.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒 540-0006 1 Habenzaka, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Phone number: 06-6943-6836

Located next to NHK Osaka Hall, the Osaka Museum of History "has an impressive spindle-shaped exterior. "
This museum introduces 1,400 years of Osaka's history and culture through realistic, full-scale reconstructions, actual documents, and panels.
The ancient floor on the 10th floor features a reproduction of the Daigoku-den Hall of the Naniwanomiya Palace. The vermilion-lacquered columns, each 70 centimeters in diameter, stand in a row, and officials can be seen standing in line.
A visit in combination with the Naniwanomiya Ato Park across the street from the museum will give visitors a better understanding of how things were in those days.
In addition, the ninth through seventh floors introduce Osaka's history from the medieval, early modern, modern, and contemporary periods in an easy-to-understand manner.

"Facility Information "
Address: 4-1-32 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0008, Japan
Phone number: 06-6946-5728

"Morinomiya Q's mall BASE "is a shopping mall created in 2015.
The most distinctive feature is the running track on the rooftop! This is the first attempt of its kind among commercial facilities in Japan, and the track, with a circumference of about 300 meters, connects the rooftops of several buildings.
Multiple sports facilities, including futsal, are located around the track. The space allows users to feel close to a variety of activities.
The facility has more than 40 specialty stores and restaurants, including fashion, food, sundries, beauty, and restaurants, offering a full day of shopping and dining.

"Facility Information "
Address: 2-1-70 Chuo Morinomiya, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0003, Japan
Phone number: 06-6941-1090

"Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine "is a shrine that enshrines four deities, including Uganomitama no Okami as the main deity and Shimoteruhime no Mikoto as the secondary deity.
It is said that the shrine was founded in the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Taruhito and was revered as the guardian deity of Osaka Castle during the Toyotomi period.
It is also famous for the tea ceremonies once held by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Hideyori, Yododono, and others, with Sen no Rikyu serving as the master of ceremonies.
The temple grounds include "Rikyu Well ", "a statue of Lord Toyotomi Hideyori ", and the Namba Tamatsukuri Museum ", which exhibits ancient jade artifacts and the jade-making process ".

"Facility Information "
Address: 2-3-8 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0004, Japan
Phone number: 06-6941-3821

"Sanko Shrine "is a shrine that enshrines three deities: Amaterasu-Omikami, Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto, and Susanoo-no-mikoto.
The shrine is believed by many people to be blessed with the power to ward off midwind, and a seven-day festival to pray for midwind protection is held every year from June 1.
It is said that an underground passage to Osaka Castle, called Sanada's loophole, was once established here, and the area is famous for the traces of the passage that still remain today.
Within the precincts are the remains of Sanada's loophole, sealed off by an iron gate, and nearby is a statue of Yukimura Sanada, erected in 1987.

"Facility Information "
Address: 14-90 Tamatsukuri Honmachi, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0013, Japan
Phone number: 06-6761-0372

The Morinomiya area, with Osaka Castle Park spread out in front of it, is full of not only nature but also facilities, shrines, and glamorous entertainment facilities where you can experience Osaka's history!
There are also a number of less-crowded spots that are perfect for those who want to enjoy a relaxing sightseeing tour.
When you visit Morinomiya, be sure to visit the surrounding tourist spots as well.