The first stop on the tour is the Otemon Gate, the main gate of Osaka Castle. Since it was built at the same time as the present Osaka Castle was constructed, it has a history of more than 400 years. The gate itself is a highlight, with tiles in the shape of “peaches” installed on the roof to ward off evil spirits, but the area around the gate is also impressive, with several huge stones used in the stone walls to symbolize the power of the Tokugawa Shoguns who built the castle.

The next shrine we will visit, Toyokuni Shrine, is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man who first built Osaka Castle here before the current Osaka Castle was built, and who first unified the samurai world. In Japan, it is customary to enshrine as gods those who have made great achievements during their lifetime, even if they are human beings. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who unified a turbulent world and laid the foundation for the development of the city of Osaka, is revered as a god.