The recommended approach to Osaka Castle is through Otemon Gate at the park's southwestern corner. The closest station is Tanimachi Yonchome Station along the Tanimachi and Chuo subway lines.

For most visitors, the best and most traditional place to enter Osaka Castle is through the Otemon Gate, located at the southwest corner of the park. This entrance provides a grand, historical introduction to the castle's massive stone walls and moats, leading you directly through the "Sengan Yagura" and toward the "Sakuramon Gate," which is the main inner entrance. The closest station to this gate is Tanimachi Yonchome Station (Chuo and Tanimachi subway lines). However, if you are visiting during the spring, entering from Osakajokoen Station (JR Loop Line) on the northeast side is often preferred for a scenic stroll through the plum and cherry blossom groves before reaching the main keep. While the park is vast with several entry points, Otemon offers the most "majestic" path for first-time visitors looking to capture the classic fortified atmosphere of the Edo period before heading up to the 8th-floor observation deck for a 360-degree view of the city.