Magnificent moat

I was really, really impressed by Osaka Castle, particularly the surrounding water and wall, or what is called the moat.

While Osaka Castle belonged to, and was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who almost ruled all of Japan in the 16th century (Osaka may have become the capital), the castle was ironically taken over and further strengthened by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the samurai lord who conquered Toyotomi and effectively moved the center of politics from the west to the east of Japan (in Tokyo) in 1603.

Tokugawa ordered the western lords to complete the construction of the castle in order to financially weaken them and strengthen the Osaka Castle as a fortress to ward off any attacks from the south (Kyushu).

Tenshukaku is the main castle where the lord may or may not have lived. It was built to show off the power of the samurai lord but had less practical use. Accordingly with the map of Osaka Castle, invaders will have a tough time reaching the main castle as the whole area looks like a great maze with 90 degree angles everywhere so that the invaders cannot speed up (a little comical).