[Shitennoji Temple Travel Guide] Experience Culture and History at Japan’s Oldest Temple

Shitennoji Temple was founded in 593.
When the war against anti-Buddhist forces was turning against him, Prince Shotoku carved statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, guardian deities of the Buddhist world, and prayed for victory in battle.
He also vowed that if he won, he would build a temple to enshrine the Four Heavenly Kings and save all people in the world.
Perhaps thanks to that prayer, he won the war against the anti-Buddhist forces and fulfilled his vow by actually building the temple.
Later, even when buildings on the grounds were destroyed by natural disasters and war, people worked together to restore them each time. Even today, the temple welcomes many visitors every day.

The Central Precinct is where you can see the oldest architectural style in Japan, a defining feature of Shitennoji Temple.
It consists of the Lecture Hall, Main Hall, Five-Story Pagoda, Inner Gate, and West Great Gate, and you can enjoy both the architectural style and the unique attractions of each structure.
Please refer to the table below for the highlights of each building.

The Garden of the Pure Land of Paradise is a stroll garden centered around a large pond, designed to be appreciated while walking along its paths.
The Approx. 10,000-square-meter garden has two streams and two ponds fed by natural spring water,
creating scenic views and a uniquely Japanese atmosphere.
A walk through the garden lets you enjoy seasonal scenery such as cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, and autumn leaves.

The Treasure House preserves and displays more than 500 cultural assets owned by Shitennoji Temple, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. In addition to the permanent exhibition, special and themed exhibitions are also held on a variety of topics.
Depending on the time of year, there may also be special or themed exhibitions focused on Prince Shotoku.

Located in the center of the temple grounds, Rokuji Raizando Hall is an Important Cultural Property.
Its name comes from the Buddhist service called Rokujiraisan, in which prayers are offered six times a day.
It is also a place for memorial services and interment, making it one of the central structures of Shitennoji Temple.
The Stone Stage in front of Rokuji Raizando Hall is also an Important Cultural Property and counted among Japan’s three great stages, so be sure not to miss it.

Originally made of wood, the Stone Torii took its current stone form in 1294.
Torii gates were originally structures placed around sacred sites to mark off holy ground, so their presence at a temple is not unusual in itself.
However, in modern Japan, torii are mainly associated with shrines, so seeing one at a temple is rare.
To see this unusual sight, be sure to visit the Stone Torii, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property.

Tsutenkaku Tower consists of five above-ground floors and one basement level below the special outdoor observation deck. On the 5th floor, 87.5 meters above ground, you will find the gold-decorated Golden Observation Deck and Billiken, the deity said to bring good luck when you rub the soles of its feet. The current Billiken is the third generation and is known for its blond hair.
At the top, 94.5 meters above ground, the special outdoor observation deck called Tenbo Paradise has a circular observation corridor with a diameter of 8.5 meters, as well as the projecting observation platform TIP THE TSUTENKAKU, whose tip has a see-through floor.

A 300-meter-tall super high-rise complex that opened in 2014.
Floors from the 2nd basement level to the 14th floor house Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store (Kintetsu Department Store) and Abeno Harukas Dining.
The Harukas 300 observation deck spans three levels, on the 58th, 59th, and 60th floors.
The top 60th floor is an impressive indoor corridor enclosed in glass from floor to ceiling, offering the sensation of walking in the sky.

Tennoji Zoo opened on January 1, 1915, and marked its 100th anniversary in 2015.
About 1,000 animals from Approx. 170 species are kept in the Approx. 11-hectare zoo. Areas such as the reptile house IFAR and the African Savanna Zone, home to hippos, giraffes, lions, and more, use ecological exhibits that recreate the animals’ natural habitats as closely as possible.
Various events are also held throughout the zoo.
With seasonal events such as feeding experiences in the petting area and the limited-time Night ZOO, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the zoo throughout the year.

A highly convenient shopping complex directly connected to JR Tennoji Station and easily accessible from other public transportation as well.
Made up of the Main Building and Plaza Building, it brings together around 340 shops focused mainly on fashion, along with accessories, cosmetics, and miscellaneous goods. It also has handy 100-yen shops and stores selling popular anime and manga character goods, making it popular with a wide range of visitors.

A small hill with an elevation of 26 meters, Chausuyama is counted among Osaka’s five low mountains along with Mt. Tempozan and Tezukayama.
It is also famous as a battlefield from the Siege of Osaka in the early Edo period, serving as the site of the Battle of Chausuyama, where Tokugawa Ieyasu set up his main camp during the Winter Campaign and Sanada Yukimura did the same during the Summer Campaign.
At the foot of the hill is Kawasoko Pond, and Wakihashi Bridge connects it to Tennoji Park.

A cafe, dining, and bar venue located in Harukas 300, the observation floors on the 58th to 60th floors of Abeno Harukas.
From the interior, 300 meters above ground, you can see across Osaka and, on clear days, as far as the streets of Kyoto, the Rokko mountain range, and even Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
You can enjoy different views depending on the time of day, from bright daylight, to sunset as the sky changes color moment by moment, to strikingly beautiful night views.

A buffet-style restaurant located on the 19th floor of Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, Approx. 100 meters above ground.
As soon as you step inside, a sweeping panorama beyond the large floor-to-ceiling windows comes into view.
The vista is breathtaking, looking out over Osaka’s cityscape below and stretching from Osaka Bay all the way to Awaji Island.

The second branch of a solo hot pot shabu-shabu specialty restaurant founded in 1972 in Senri Chuo, located in Senri New Town in Toyonaka City.
When the main branch first opened, shabu-shabu was considered a luxury dish shared by several people around one pot.
The idea of enjoying it in your own personal pot was revolutionary and quickly became popular. Its casual counter-style setting also helped overturn the image of shabu-shabu as something formal and intimidating.

This hotel stands in the Nipponbashi area, known as the center of subculture in Osaka, lined with shops selling anime goods, figures, plastic models, and IT devices.
In addition to its convenient location with easy access to Namba and Shinsaibashi, it is also well regarded for its refined interiors, fully renovated as part of its 2021 rebranding.
The guest rooms, all equipped with Wi-Fi, come in four types.

A hotel that opened in 2020 inside the Takashimaya East Building Annex, close to Kuromon Market, Osaka’s famous food marketplace, and the Nipponbashi Den Den Town electronics district.
Located in the heart of Minami, Osaka, it is about a 10-minute walk from Namba Station, offering excellent access.
In 2021, the building was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan and is one of Osaka’s representative examples of modern architecture. Citadines Namba Osaka has 313 rooms inside this notable building.

A hotel in the Shinsekai area, one of Osaka’s most atmospheric neighborhoods, home to the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower and the old-fashioned shopping street Janjan Yokocho.
The garden area Miyagurin, with its lush green lawn, feels like an urban oasis, complete with a symbolic bathhouse and seasonal events that may feature neon art.
The guest rooms come in a wide variety, from unique rooms displaying an OSAKA Board featuring major sightseeing spots in the living space to more refined deluxe rooms with a calm, upscale feel.