The Nanshuji Garden is a karesansui (dry landscape) garden designated by the national government as a place of scenic beauty, located at Nanshuji Temple, a famous temple of the Daitokuji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The garden is known as a famous garden of the early Edo period, said to have been created by Furuta Oribe, and visitors can...
Kema Sakuranomiya Park, stretching 4.2 km along the Okawa River that flows through Osaka City, is lined with 4,800 cherry trees and is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the Kansai region. Citizens are constantly seen strolling and jogging through the four seasons in this river park, where they can enjoy the symbolic scenery of the water city Osaka. Outline and...
Ikeda Castle Ruins Park, developed on the site of Ikeda Castle, which flourished as a strategic point during the Warring States Period, is a charming place for relaxation where history and nature are in harmony. The park continues to be loved by many as a special place where visitors can enjoy the spectacular view from the observation deck, the beautiful Japanese garden, and experience...
Quietly nestled in the mountains of Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, Kyuan-ji Temple is an ancient temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism with a history of nearly 1,300 years. The temple was founded in 725 by Gyoki at the behest of Emperor Shomu (725). The predecessor of the temple is said to be Anyoin, where Kukai (Kobo Daishi) stayed during the Tencho period...
Ikukunitama Shrine, located in Tennoji Ward, Osaka City, is the oldest shrine in Osaka, boasting a long history of approximately 2,700 years, and continues to be beloved by many visitors. Known affectionately as “Ikutamasan” by the locals and by its other name, Namba Taisha, the shrine is a venerable sanctuary that dates back to the reign of Emperor Jinmu. The shrine has a wealth...
Imamiya Ebisu Shrine quietly stands amidst the bustle of Osaka’s Minami district. For more than 1,400 years, the people of Osaka have been familiar with this historic shrine as “Ebessan,” the god of business and prosperity. Every January, Tokaebisu attracts about one million visitors, and the lively scene of people seeking fukuzasa (lucky bamboo branches) is known throughout the country as Osaka’s New Year’s...
Nestled in a valley of buildings in Umeda, Osaka, Open Air Shrine is a sacred place for the fulfillment of love, known as the setting of Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s masterpiece “Sonezakishinju”. The shrine grounds, surrounded by tranquility amidst the bustling city, continue to be loved by many worshippers even today. Outline and basic information about Open-Air Shrine (Ohatsu Tenjin) The open-air shrine is a historic...
Located in Doshomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Shohikona Shrine, nicknamed “Kanno-san,” is the general guardian of Japanese medicine. Located in a town of medicines since the Edo period, the shrine is believed by many people to be beneficial for healing illnesses and achieving good health. The shrine stands quietly in a modern townscape lined with buildings of pharmaceutical companies, creating a scene typical of Osaka...
Mizuma Temple in Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture, is an ancient temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism founded by Gyoki Bodhisattva at the behest of Emperor Shomu in the Nara period (710-794). Nicknamed “Mizuma Kannon,” the temple is known for its blessings to ward off bad luck and bring good fortune, and its beautiful three-story pagoda and rich natural surroundings welcome many worshippers. Outline...
Otori Taisha Shrine, located in Nishi-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, is the oldest shrine in Izumi-no-kuni with a history of approximately 1,900 years, and has long been worshipped by many people. It is known for the myth that the spirit of Takemikoto of Japan descended as a swan, and is a sacred space surrounded by a rich forest called Chikusa-no-mori. We will introduce the...
