When was osaka built

The name Naniwa itself, although written with different characters over the ages, has always been rendered with characters that bring to mind an area of fast-flowing water beside the sea. The ancient Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine still brings to mind the maritime roots of the city.

The sacred space hosts a line of three halls that face westward to the sea like a fleet of ships, their respective deities either masters of the water or patrons of sailors. From the fifteenth century, Naniwa came to be known as Osaka. It grew in significance both militarily and as a transportation center, and leaders through the ages strove to control the area.

In , the Buddhist priest Rennyo established the fortified temple town of Ishiyama Honganji there. After the complex was destroyed in battle half a century later, powerful warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle on the site in In , the recently established Tokugawa shogunate snuffed out the remaining power of the Toyotomi clan with victory at the Siege of Osaka Castle before taking the city under its direct control. It then set out to excavate a network of waterways, establishing Osaka as a full-fledged castle town.

Engineers strengthened the soft, damp soil, turning trenches dug for water drainage into canals for transportation. Merchants and craftsmen moved to the city in droves, laying the foundations for the prosperity that continues to this day. Osaka was also connected to the imperial capital Kyoto along the Yodo River and was a major stop along the newly built network of roads. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements.

To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Things to Do. A Brief History of Osaka Castle.

John Asano. About Osaka Castle. The History of Osaka Castle. Give us feedback. For much of the 14th century, wars ravaged Osaka. But the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, built in and constructed as a fortress, served to keep the warlords at bay.

Nearly a century later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi succeeded in unifying Japan, constructing Osaka Castle in and making it his power base. The entire town burnt to a cinder in , but things calmed down after that and, though no longer the capital, Osaka began to prosper, sending rice and other foodstuffs to the rest of Japan.

The city became renowned as a hub for culture and education, and by the 19th century, it had transformed into a modern, industrial powerhouse. Post-war Osaka saw meticulous city planning and a return to prosperity.

Osaka has become the economic centre of western Japan, attracting multinational companies. Did you know? With its excellent location just outside JR Osaka Station, the Hilton Osaka offers convenience as well as luxury to its guests. There are four restaurants serving a variety of international cuisines, including Windows on the World, which boasts great views of the city from the 35th floor and live music every evening.

The Osaka City flowers are the cherry blossom and the pansy. They were selected by the citizens in Osaka was given city status on April 1st However, at that time, the governor of Osaka Prefecture also served as the Mayor of Osaka City: this exceptional system was also in place in Tokyo and Kyoto.

Osaka developed around the mouths of the Yodo River and Yamato River, with many rivers and canals running through the city.