This historic park stretches across the Hoenzaka area of Osaka's Chuo Ward. In 1961, excavations by Dr. Yamane Tokutaro, a professor at Osaka City University, uncovered the remains of two Naniwa Palace palaces, dating from the Asuka to Nara periods. Currently, the approximately 90,000 square meter area believed to be the center of the palace complex has been designated a national historic site and is being developed into a historic park. The site is marked in two ways: the Late Naniwa Palace, constructed beginning in 726, is elevated above ground level and marked with a stone platform. The Early Naniwa Palace, constructed beginning in 650, is marked with a lower level, paved with red tiles, red granite indicating the position of pillars, and surrounded by a camellia hedge. This is Naniwa Nagara Toyosaki Palace. Construction began in 650 after the capital was moved to Naniwa under the Taika Reforms. Also, in the north central part of the park, there is a restored Daigokuden Hall, which is said to have been used by the Emperor when holding official national ceremonies, and from there you can get a view of Osaka Castle.