Kansai Six-Day Tour: Shitennoji Temple

When talking about Osaka, besides the bustling Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori, Shitennoji Temple is also a cultural treasure not to be missed. Founded by Prince Shotoku in 593 AD, it is acclaimed as "Japan's oldest government-sponsored temple," rich in historical significance and Buddhist culture. ⛩️✨

#Temple History
Shitennoji was built during the Asuka period and is named after the Four Heavenly Kings, the guardian deities it enshrines. It is said that Prince Shotoku, long oppressed by Mononobe no Moriya, prayed to the Buddhist guardian gods "Jikokuten," "Zochoten," "Komokuten," and "Tamonten," vowing that if he could defeat Mononobe no Moriya’s power and establish a temple complex, he would fulfill his promise. Indeed, the Mononobe clan was destroyed. In the first year of the Suiko era (593 AD), the temple was built to honor the Four Heavenly Kings and became a focal point of local popular faith. The temple was damaged multiple times in wars, and in 1957, the five-story pagoda and main hall were rebuilt, attempting to recreate the style of the Asuka period. 🙏

#Main Highlights
Five-Story Pagoda: The temple’s iconic building, with vermilion walls and rustic blue-tiled eaves, grand and layered in appearance.
Temple Complex: From south to north, the middle gate, five-story pagoda, main hall, and lecture hall are aligned in a straight line, surrounded by corridor-style buildings. This layout is called the "Shitennoji-style temple complex," one of the oldest temple configurations in Japan.
Treasure House: Houses over 500 varieties of Japanese national treasures and cultural properties from the time of the temple’s founding.
Pure Land Garden: A Japanese-style garden featuring the Gochiko-in.

In front of the Five-Story Pagoda: Find the perfect angle with the sky and pagoda as the background for a picture-perfect shot.
Temple Corridors: Wooden corridors backlit by the sun, combined with lanterns or fan-shaped decorations inside the temple, easily create an artistic and ancient atmosphere.

Post by 走跳碰 | Jul 31, 2025