Osaka

Ultimate Guide to Osaka Castle: 03

From Gokurakubashi to the last place of Hideyori & Yodo

Takako Sakamoto Jul 03, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>Marked Stones Square in Osaka Castle</p>

<p>Stone monument indicating the place where Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo committed suicide</p>

<p>Gokurakubashi Bridge viewed from inside the grounds of Osaka Castle</p>

<p>Stone monument indicating the place where Toyotomi Hideyori, the only son and heir of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and his mother Yodo were forced to kill themselves in the summer of 1615</p>

<p>The sign explaining how Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo committed suicide in this place. In 1997, 382 years after their death, the city of Osaka finally built the monument to commemorate the event</p>

<p>The sign and the stone monument are standing in the corner of the Yamazato-maru Bailey</p>

<p>According to the inscription, Toyotomi Hideyori, his mother Yodo and their subjects, 30 people in total, were cornered hiding in the turret located here just after the main tower was burnt down by the Tokugawa Army. In the end, they chose to kill themselves rather than being captured by their enemy</p>

<p>They died in a sad place like this...</p>

<p>Even the moss-covered stone walls look sad</p>

<p>Close-up of moss on the stone wall</p>

<p>Trees are standing sadly as though feeling sorry for the short life of Toyotomi Hideyori, the heir to Japan's king, Toyotomi Hideyoshi</p>

<p>Since only a few tourists pay attention to this monument, the flowers were dry and withered...</p>

<p>...as though withered flowers were reflecting the mother and son's sad fate</p>

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore the Osaka Castle and the Osaka Castle Park. The third leg of the journey begins at the Gokurakubashi Bridge. When you cross the bridge, you'll be inside the place called 'Yamazato-maru Bailey'. On the right side there are some stones displayed, but first, there is one place you shouldn't miss before exploring the stones. The place where Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother Yodo committed suicide. After his father, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of Japan at the time, died, Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the powerful subjects of Hideyoshi, attacked Osaka Castle and destroyed the Toyotomi Clan in 1615. When I visited, the place was totally deserted, probably because most people don't notice it or even if they do they just go straight to see the castle. I thought it important to not forget to drop by to pay homage to them for a short while, Osaka Castle once belonged to them after all! For further guidance, please refer to the links below.

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Find out more about Osaka Castle.

Ultimate Guide: Osaka Castle

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...