Hi there!

 

So the first thing to know about going to Osaka Castle during cherry blossom season…

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - tourist crowds - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

CROWDS!

But that’s okay.

Because there are a ton of tourists and locals that visit here for a reason.

There are LOTS of cherry blossoms to be seen around Osaka Castle!

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. sakura hanami. march, april. Backpacking Osaka Japan travel blog

 

First, the quick list of a couple of the best cherry blossom photo spots for Osaka Castle.

Then, a bit about the area immediately surrounding Osaka Castle. (That’s the park.)

And then, more about how to get to the photo spots.

 

 

So…

Where to go for the picture perfect Osaka Castle + cherry blossom photos?!

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

In short…

 

1. Near Gokuraku-bashi Bridge

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

 

2.  Near the Osaka Castle entry

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

Maybe you’ll find more spots! These are the places I went.

 

 

Day trip to Osaka from Kyoto

You can choose to spend a night or more in Osaka, or it’s reasonable to make it a day trip to Osaka from Kyoto too.

Kyoto can be a good place to base your stay, and there are plenty of things to do in Kyoto to occupy your time for several days. See how to spend 5 days in Kyoto.

Also have a look at this cherry blossom itinerary in Kyoto!

 

 

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More info/pictures below, but... SIDE NOTE!
Where to go from Kyoto?! You can go to to Nachi Falls to see one of Japan's most famous views: Kyoto to Nachi Falls! Then you can loop back around to Osaka or Kyoto, making a stop at Ise along the way!

Here are more ideas for your Japan trip planning!

 

 

Cherry blossoms at Osaka Castle Park

Now the next thing to know is that a visit to Osaka Castle means a visit to Osaka Castle Park.

This park is a rather wide and expansive area, and it encompasses the castle.

 

Basically, there is the castle…

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

And then there’s a moat surrounding the castle…

 

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - boat ride - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

And then there’s a large park area surrounding the castle and moat!

 

Osaka castle park with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle park with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle park picnic spots with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle park with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle park with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, you’ll find loads of people who visit the area for a picnic in the park.

So if you want to make a day of it, then buy some snacks, a meal, and/or some drinks at a convenience store before you arrive.

And then you can make it a picnic at the park too!

Also you may consider putting a pocket blanket on your list of what to pack for Japan so you can use that at the park!

 

 

Osaka Castle cherry blossom boat ride

It’s also possible to take a boat ride around the moat of Osaka Castle.

 

Osaka castle gozabune boat ride with cherry blossoms. things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle gozabune boat ride along osaka castle park with cherry blossoms - cost how much - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

How much does the Osaka Castle gozabune boat ride cost?

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - how to get there - osaka castle moat boat ride tickets - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

You can expect it to be around 1,500 yen (US$14) per person.

This will be about a 20 minute ride.

 

Osaka castle gozabune boat ride with cherry blossoms - cost how much - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Photo taken April 2019

 

 

Okay, so now…

How to get to the Osaka Castle cherry blossom photos spots!

 

There is a fee to enter Osaka Castle, but both of these photo spots are free to access.

In short, you’ll be making your way to near the Osaka Castle entry.

 

There are 2 ways to get to the Osaka Castle grounds:

  • Gokuraku-bashi Bridge
  • Sakura-mon Gate

 

Gokuraku-bashi Bridge

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - how to get there gokurakubashi bridge - near jr station osakajyokoen station osaka loop line - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

Sakura-mon Gate

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - how to get there - sakuramon gate near jr station morinomiya osaka loop line - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

While either of these can eventually get you to the photo spots, the quicker way would be to go to the Gokuraku-bashi Bridge.

 

 

Photo spot #1: Between Gokuraku-bashi Bridge and Gozabune boat launch

The first photo spot will be right between the bridge and the boat launch.

Once you locate the area to buy the castle boat ride, the photo spot will basically be in front of the place to buy tickets.

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - how to get there - osaka castle moat boat ride where to buy tickets - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Where to buy tickets for the boat ride

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - how to get there near bridge - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

View towards the bridge

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - how to get there near bridge - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

View towards the photo spot!

 

Then…

Walk on over that way!

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

 

Photo spot #2: Head towards Osaka Castle entry

Then once you’re ready to move on, you can walk across the bridge and make your way closer to Osaka Castle.

Then you’ll come across a square plaza area.

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - castle square plaza osaka city views - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

And that’s where you’ll find…

Cherry blossom tree!

 

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom photo spots in osaka, instagram - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

Osaka castle with cherry blossoms - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

Once you’re done taking pictures, you can go for a tour of Osaka Castle.

Or the plaza is another place where you can sit and rest and take in the views.

Or you can continue to walk around to find more views of Osaka Castle Park with city views!

 

Osaka castle moat with cherry blossoms - boat ride - best cherry blossom spots in osaka - things to do in osaka to see cherry blossoms. Backpacking Osaka Japan

 

 

And that’s a bit of what you might see with a trip to Osaka Castle Park during cherry blossom season!

 

For top spots to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, consider visiting the Meguro River cherry blossom promenade, the Yasukuni Shrine, or the Sensoji Temple!

And have a look at the one day Kyoto cherry blossom photo walk!

 

HAPPY OSAKA CASTLE CHERRY BLOSSOM VIEWING!

 

 

Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!









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