By: Atty. Marlo T. Cristobal
We visited another tourist spot in Osaka, the historic Osaka Castle, which came into existence sometime in 1583 and was intended to be the center of united, then fractionalized, Japan. The Tokugawa Shogunate troops laid seige to and destroyed this castle which they, however, later rebuilt.
The Osaka Castle sits on a quiet sprawling two-hectare area of well manicured trees and gardens of flowers that can certainly serve as a wonder drug for a distressed soul. It ìs said that these green areas showcase the world famous Japan unique attraction of cherry blossom in the month of April.
The quiet aura of the Castle and its immediate surroundings provoked in me the feelings of awe and eeriness. Being a Castle of Japan’s checkered past, it had a fair share of violent history. While the Castle snugly stands amid an aura of serenity, l mysteriously felt its violent past when l impulsively blurted out to my son, Byron, “some people violently died there,” pointing to a complex structure obviously put up as a defense stronghold, with all its logical trappings, a highly elevated ground fortified by a stonewall and a surrounding body of water to hamper enemy attacks against the castle.
For the wanderlusts who fascinate on nature and on history and its relics, they might find above notes inspiring for further exploration — if they have not done so.
