Gokuraku-bashi (Paradise Bridge), Osaka

Gokuraku-bashi, otherwise known as Paradise Bridge, does exactly what its name promises: it delivers you straight into Osaka Castle territory with a bit of theatrical flair. Stretching across the northeast moat, it frames one of the park’s best sightlines, where Osaka Castle rises above the treetops, as if it knows you’re coming...

The bridge first appeared in 1626, during a major restoration of the castle. Back then, it was made of wood and served a very practical purpose. The Tokugawa shogunate had reinforced the site with deep moats and towering stone walls, which meant access required a proper crossing rather than a casual stroll. Paradise, it turns out, needed infrastructure.

That original bridge didn’t survive the political upheavals of the 19th century and burned down along with the castle in 1868. Then came a long pause.

For nearly a century, the moat remained bridgeless until history caught up with preservation. In 1965, when Osaka Castle received official recognition as a Special Historic Site, Gokuraku-bashi returned—this time as a permanent and symbolic gateway rather than a defensive necessity.

Approach it from the north, and the bridge offers a neat visual summary of Osaka itself. Look one way, and modern skyscrapers line the horizon. Look the other way, and the castle dominates the scene, calm and confident behind its moats. Cross Paradise Bridge slowly—this is not a mere route forward, but a clean transition between old Osaka and the city that grew up around it.