View from the top of the Osaka Castle

With its main tower rising more than 50 meters above ground, the Osaka Castle is a surprisingly good observation tower. Actually, its top floor is equipped now as an observation deck, offering a nice view of the surrounding city.

Here's a view towards South, where you can see a part of the Osaka Castle Park, with several landmarks: the red building on the left of the photo is the Former Osaka City Museum, then moving towards right, where you see the small green roofs, there's a glimpse of the Hōkoku Jinja, a Shinto shrine part of the Osaka Castle, built to honor Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Right in the middle of the photo you can see the castle's Sakuramon Gate and to the right, the building with the large green roof is the Shudokan Martial Art Training Hall. Finally, on the right of the photo you can see the Tsutenkaku Tower.

And of course, you cannot ignore the castle's huge golden shachi...