Simply beautiful Japanese scenes, Osaka Castle garden pond reflection

After the death of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga, the first great unifier of Japan, his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted for himself a new castle, a symbol of his power and wealth, built not only for military purposes but also to impress potential rivals.

He did so inspired by Oda Nobunaga, whose Azuchi Castle was designed as a lavish residence, but he also wanted to surpass Nobunaga's castle in every aspect. As a result, the Osaka Castle, a truly impressive, five stories tall construction was finished in 1585, and since Hideyoshi was fascinated by gold, large gold leaf decorations were applied on the main tower.

Today, the decorations are reproduced on the reconstructed castle, and the entire scene is fascinating when seen from the nearby garden...