A short walk from Osaka Castle leads you to the Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins - arguably Osaka’s best secret park. It’s a great place to kick back and relax as it's not too crowded.
Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins - image © Florentyna Leow
We love Osaka Castle Park - it’s one of the city’s finest green spaces, with great cherry blossom trees to boot. But it can get pretty busy during spring and autumn because everyone else and their grandmother are also heading there for the same reasons as you. When the crowds become too much to handle, take a short walk south to the Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins - arguably Osaka’s best secret park.
Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins - image © Florentyna Leow
This 7th-century palace once served as Japan’s capital, and the ruins are now preserved as a public park. Lined with a vast expanse of grass and greenery, there’s not all that much to see in terms of the ruins, but it does have a slight urban jungle feel to it. The grass can become overgrown quite quickly, so if you can, visit after the park staff have done their monthly mowing. With the large open spaces and lack of crowds, it’s the perfect place to play frisbee, read a book, or just kick back and enjoy the weather.
Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins - image © Florentyna Leow
Getting there can be tricky, as there are no signposts to point the way. You can either walk south from the Osaka Museum of History, where you’ll find the park entrance just on the other side of the elevated highway. Alternatively, alight at Tanimachi-rokuchome Station on the Tanimachi Subway Line and walk northeast from Exit 6.
English name:
Remains of Naniwa-no-Miya Palace
Japanese name:
難波宮跡公園
English address:
1 Hoenzaka, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, 540-0006
Japanese address:
〒540-0006 大阪市中央区法円坂1
Opening hours:
24h
Admission:
free
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 2-minute walk from exit 10 of Tanimachi 4-chome Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo and Tanimachi Lines.
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone:
+81-6-6943-6836
Website:
none
Near To Here:
Remains of Naniwa-no-Miya Palace is located in Osaka Castle area. See our complete list of things to do in the Osaka Castle area, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:- Open the Osaka map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
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- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Osaka Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com – usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- You can buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Osaka's Kansai International Airport. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with the Japan Rail Pass – here's why it's worth it
- Get a prepaid Icoca card to make travelling around Osaka easy – here's how
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