Hokoku Shrine – Visit the shrine honoring Hideyoshi Toyotomi at Osaka Castle

Osaka’s most famous tourist attraction is Osaka Castle, and Osaka Castle was built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Speaking of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, there is a story that he was favored by Nobunaga Oda, whom he served, because he kept his slippers warm in his pocket.
Ever since I read this in a comic book on Japanese history when I was a child, Hideyoshi has become “the man who makes the elites wear slippers that are warm to the touch” in my mind. Now that I am an adult, I would like to ask Hideyoshi whether he did it naturally or by calculation.

Be that as it may, Hideyoshi was smart and caring, and he kept rising! After Nobunaga’s death, he defeated his enemies and passed through all sorts of obstacles to achieve unification of Japan. He is the one who climbed to the top of the mountain.

But today, we are talking about Hokoku Shrine, located in Osaka Castle Park, which is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi!

1. Depart from Morinomiya Station to reach Osaka Castle

I got off at Morinomiya Station. Now, shortly after the station, you will arrive at the entrance of Osaka Castle Park! The area around the Osaka Castle Keep is a fairly large park, so even if you don’t go up to the keep, you can just take a walk and enjoy the park.

After a short walk, you will come to a plaza with a fountain. There are also cafes and convenience stores, making it a great place to relax and spend time. I was tempted to take it easy here, but I knew it would be wrong to take a break so early in the day to pray for success.

And then…We arrived at a building where we could take a break of some sort.
I was once again tempted to take a break. And just as I whipped myself into a frenzy, I was confronted by ……I stood still for at least 10 seconds. I was so happy to be able to see the straight road, but I was blown away. I was dragging my carry-on case with me at that time.This road was seen instead of the Osaka Castle Keep….
I didn’t know how far to walk, so I just kept going.There’s a castle-like building on the other side of the moat!There were really many tourists on the way. And from overseas. When it comes to sightseeing in Osaka, you can’t miss Osaka Castle, so I’m sure it will be included in the destinations of tours. I think people from abroad would be very excited to see the castle. The moss-covered stone walls are quite Japanese.

Well, we’ve been walking and walking, and now we’re finally here!

2. Osaka Castle’s Hokoku Shrine, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi!

The austere appearance of the torii gate and it reads Hokoku Shrine.
I guess it’s a matter of no need for glamour to get ahead in life.
Now, I will bow under the torii gate and go over.As I entered the shrine, the first thing I saw was a sake barrel. It’s a typical shrine, isn’t it?
But the more I look at it, the more I wonder about the structure ……. The floor looks as if it is slanted, is it the way the picture is taken, is it an illusion, or is it really slanted…? I am too curious.A further inside, a mysterious stone is …… what is this?
Oh, no, it wasn’t. The main tree was the one in the foreground.

3. Lord Hideyoshi, the last cherry blossom viewing, perhaps

A spindly tree that still needs support. It is called “Daigo no sakura” (cherry tree of Daigo) by Taikoh. It was a cherry tree! 420 years ago, Mr. Hideyoshi, you were viewing cherry blossoms. I hope that the person who will win the kingdom will be someone who understands the goodness of flowers. Don’t you think?

However, since Lord Hideyoshi is said to have said, “If it won’t sing, I will make it sing, Hottogisu,” this cherry blossom viewing may have been held with some kind of strategy in mind. It was a kind of entertainment as we know it today.
Even if the times are different, entertainment is essential for success.

I am not a history buff, but when I looked it up, I found that Hideyoshi died a few months after the “Daigo Hanami.
This cherry blossom viewing was held on April 20, 1598, and attracted about 1,300 people. Among them, only Hideyori (Hideyoshi’s third son) and Toshiie Maeda (the man in the historical drama “Toshiie to Matsumatsu”), in addition to Hideyoshi, are known to have participated in the cherry blossom viewing. Incidentally, Matsumatsu was also invited to the event. The rest of the participants seemed to be female relatives (regular and side retainers) and wives and maids of the feudal lords and their subordinates. The lords were in charge of guarding the roadsides and running the teahouses.
This is no longer a too large scale hanami girls’ party. ……

Not only Daigoji Temple, the venue of the festival, but also the mountainside of Daigo Mountain, as many as 700 cherry trees were planted for the occasion.
The women’s dazzling kimonos and dancing cherry blossom petals …… would not have been the same if I had told you how gorgeous they were.

Now, back to the cherry tree at Hokoku Shrine. It was a 160-year-old weeping cherry tree that exists at Daigoji Temple, where this “Daigo Hanami” was held, and it had the DNA of that tree.
Cherry trees that may have inherited the DNA of the cherry trees that Hideyoshi loved.
I hope they will grow up rapidly.Sorry, 2019 is the year of the boar, so I am sure it will be changed to a picture of a cute little boar.

Now, the front of Hokoku Shrine!I feel that the central roof has a gentle curve, which I think is unusual for a shrine…
It kind of looks like a helmet.
Hokoku Shrine was moved here in January 1961. Before that, it was in a different location.
It was Emperor Meiji who originally suggested that Hokoku Shrine be built. He wanted it to honor and enshrine Hideyoshi’s contribution to the nation.
This is already a shrine that should be located near Osaka Castle.

4. Hokoku Shrine is also in Kyoto

Incidentally, Hokoku Shrine, which enshrines Lord Hideyoshi as its deity, is also located in Kyoto, Shiga, and Nagoya.
Originally, this Hokoku Shrine was built in Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, as the Osaka branch of the Hokoku Shrine in Kyoto.
Hokoku Shrine in Kyoto has the Karamon Gate, a national treasure structure. In spring, Hachisuka cherry blossoms bloom in front of the Karamon…must be a wonderful sight.
In addition, the “Hokoku-daimyojin Temporary Festival Map” is said to be on display in the Treasure House, which gives visitors an idea of what Kyoto was like at that time. Also, the sword “Konegui Fujishiro,” now in the Kyoto National Museum but designated as an important cultural property, was once on display. It is said that this sword has an amazing legend that just by imitating the act of cutting, bones are shattered.
If I ever get a chance to visit Kyoto, I’d love to see this one too!This shrine is not very large. However, there are two shrines within the precincts (Shiratama Shrine and Wakanaga Shrine). (Shiratama Shrine and Wakanaga Shrine)
I later learned that there was also a stone garden called “Shuseki Garden. It is fenced off and not freely accessible, but it seems to be quite visible from the outside. I wanted to see it. ……

Hokoku Shrine, perhaps by chance, is not so crowded.
I guess everyone will go straight to Osaka Castle.

I really like the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle and in the silence.
They also hold Shinto weddings, so if you want to have a ceremony that is more solemn than glamorous, this is the place for you.
Guests from afar will be able to take pictures with Osaka Castle visible from the shrine in the background, which will be a nice keepsake.
The shrine will be the venue for the ceremony, but not for the reception.
However, it is also a good point because the wedding reception can be held at the Osaka Geihinkan, Osaka Castle Nishi-no-Maru Garden, which is affiliated with Osaka Castle.A statue of Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi stands on the grounds. The shrine is located in the center of the city.
I can’t see much of his face because of the backlighting, but I feel that if I use …… as a standby, I will have the power to get ahead in life.
By all means, if you’re looking to get ahead in life, put a statue of Hideyoshi on your waiting list!

5. What are the good luck charms, red seals, and omikuji like?

A unique feature of the Hokoku Shrine amulet is the “Sennari Gourd”.
The senryu gourd was Lord Hideyoshi’s horse marker (a mark to let people know where you are on the battlefield).
It is a must-have wish item for those who wish to be blessed by Lord Hideyoshi, who achieved a dream-like rise to power from foot soldier to shogun.
The magic of the amulet is that you say you are not interested in getting ahead, but when you see it, you want it.
I was desperate to keep it down, though. I wonder if I could have gotten ahead if I bought it. ……Other amulets are like this.
We also have a variety of other items available outside of the ascendancy.The red seal book looks like this.
I like the austere look on the left. I still like cherry blossoms.I got a red seal!
I’m quite happy to see Osaka Castle attached to it.
Yeah, it was October. What a difference from six months ago. ……
Those were the days, I was, and getting ahead is still not easy.I thought there would be a fortune for success in life, but surprisingly, there is a love fortune.
The support of one’s spouse is also important for one’s career.Let’s also leave a back shot of Lord Hideyoshi.
The leg openings are the best.
In fact, Lord Hideyoshi is not the only deity of Hokoku Shrine. Lord Hideyori and Sir Hidenaga (Hideyoshi’s younger brother) are also deities of the shrine.

And so, if you’re going to Osaka Castle, just stop by Hokoku Shrine before you go!
I want to get ahead!” and then you see Osaka Castle, you will be excited to know that if you get ahead in life, you will be the master of such a magnificent castle! (Even if you can’t get a castle, you can still build your own home! (Even if I can’t get a castle, I will build my own home! (Even if you can’t afford a castle, you will be able to build your own home!)

*Unfortunately, the current Osaka Castle was reconstructed in the Showa period (and later underwent a major renovation in the Heisei period). Moreover, after the death of Hideyoshi, the Toyotomi clan fell through the “Osaka Winter Battle” and “Osaka Summer Battle. When the Tokugawa clan built a new Osaka Castle in the form of a new construction, all of the Osaka Castle from the Toyotomi period was buried.
but let’s leave it there: …….

6. Basic information: Hours, access, and parking

Here is some basic information about Hokoku Shrine.

Parking, but not on site as cars have been prohibited from entering since April 1, 2017.
If you are coming by car, park in a general parking lot in the vicinity of Osaka Castle Park before heading there.

7. Once you exit the Torii gate, Osaka Castle is just around the corner!

Now, Osaka Castle is right under the nose of Hokoku Shrine. Huh? I was surprised!

It seems that I had entered from the back gate of Hokoku Shrine, and this was the front gate.
The Osaka Castle keep stands neatly in the rain.I know I’ve seen this before, but it’s always new!
It is totally different from foreign castles, isn’t it? I can see why so many people from overseas visit.
I don’t want you to become a poor mechanic under any circumstances, even if the original name is changed to “2021”.
(I’m tempted to do it when the technology develops, like making it huge or robotic, but if I do that, I’m afraid it will blow away Hideyoshi’s unification of Japan or something.)

Click to enlarge the photo

This is a long way from the keep. This is a much larger entrance. ……
But it is burning…. The current keep is not burning. ……

In the Showa period (1926-1989), when the idea of restoring the castle tower was first proposed, despite the Showa Depression, donations amounting to 75 billion yen in today’s terms were collected in six months.
Osaka Castle is so important to Osaka that it should not be easily lost.We didn’t have much time, so we decided against going inside the keep.
There was an elevated platform from which I peeked into the moat, and it was, well, high.
Even if I could jump into the moat and cross it, I can’t climb up it.
Well, that must have been built with a lot of calculations.I can’t believe there was a war in such a picturesque and peaceful landscape.
Thank goodness I was not born in the Warring States Period. I wasn’t born in the Warring States period.If I couldn’t see any buildings or structures behind me, I’d think I’d gone back in time! I would think, “I’ve gone back in time!
If Hideyoshi saw this scenery, he would say, “What’s attacking us! or “Didn’t we unify the country? and he would quickly plan his strategy.
I’m like, “What do I have to do to get that unfamiliar castle? What’s it going to take to get that?” and so on.Now, back home.
Pass through Osaka Castle Park toward the station.
Highways, trains, convenience stores, buildings…. The magic of Osaka Castle is that you feel a sense of discomfort in a landscape that is so commonplace.
I can kind of see why you would want to make a time-slip movie or manga from the Warring States period.

8. If you want to “get ahead” outside of Hatsumode, go to Hokoku Shrine!

Such is Hokoku Shrine, which is associated with Lord Hideyoshi. Perfect for praying for good luck in life! Even if you don’t go there on Hatsumode, you should go there at this time when a new era is coming.

There are stations in all directions near Osaka Castle Park, so it is easy to get to Dotonbori, Tsutenkaku Tower, Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, and other famous landmarks in Osaka. There are also many hotels in the area, so if you are planning to go sightseeing in Osaka, why not stay overnight and explore more than just Osaka Castle!

▼If you want to go sightseeing in Osaka.
[Osaka Sightseeing] Thorough explanation by a local. Sightseeing spots in Osaka and recommended food information.

▼If you want to date in Osaka.
An Osakaite’s Guide! Recommended spots for couples.

▼Click here for other articles about Osaka Castle.
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