Upon its completion, Osaka Castle captivated the people who regarded it as the greatest castle in Japan. The magnificent structure’s elaborate gold ornamentation and shachihoko figurines, a mythical animal with a tiger head and the body of a fish certainly impressed. Following Toyotomi’s death, the castle was destroyed by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1615 during the Summer War of Osaka.
After the castle’s destruction, it underwent reconstruction from 1620 to 1629. At that time it remained under the control of the Tokugawa shogunate until 1868. Unfortunately, disaster struck Osaka Castle once more in 1665 when the main tower was hit by lightning. The devastating strike caused a fire that destroyed the castle.
Another battle also broke out in 1868 between the New Government Army and Tokugawa Shogunate Army. Once again, the castle caught fire and turned to ashes. After the Tokugawa shogun fled the castle, the site was requisitioned by the Meiji government, which brought Japan into the modern era.
The castle’s main tower finally rose again in 1931. This third tower is the one that remains today. Some additional damage was caused to other structures and turrets within the castle grounds during World War II. However, it was restored once again. Osaka Castle was recognized as a special historic site by the Japanese government during the 1950s.