#osaka

12 Sept 20252 min readJapan

Osaka: merchant city and the nation's kitchen

Osaka grew up around trade rather than a court. Its castle, its canals and its famous appetite for street food all come from that merchant past. A profile of Japan's most down-to-earth big city.

Osaka Castle's main tower against a blue sky

29 Aug 20251 min readPlaces

Osaka Castle and the white towers of Japan

Stone walls, white plaster and curved roofs: how Japanese castles are built to be seen from below.

27 Aug 20252 min readTravel

Osaka Castle, and how to read a Japanese castle

Osaka Castle is one of Japan's best-known landmarks. A little history helps you see what is original, what is rebuilt, and why the stone walls matter most.