Horikoshi Shrine

Located in Tennoji, this shrine is affectionately known by locals as “Horikoshi-san.” It is said to have been founded during the reign of Empress Suiko by Prince Shotoku, who was serving as regent at the time, in memory of his uncle Emperor Sushun, and is known as one of the “Shitennoji Shichinomiya,” a group of seven shrines built around the same time as Shitennoji Temple.

The main enshrined deity is Emperor Sushun. In Osaka, there is a long-standing belief that “Horikoshi-san is the deity who grants one wish in a lifetime,” and the shrine has been deeply revered for centuries. The “Hitoyume Prayer,” in which visitors write down one wish on a prayer slip, place it in an amulet pouch, and carry it with them every day until the wish comes true, is especially popular. When your wish is granted, it is recommended that you return to the shrine to give thanks.

The shrine’s name is said to come from a beautiful moat that ran along the south side of the grounds from the time of its founding until around the middle of the Meiji era, as worshippers would cross over the moat to visit the shrine. Even though it faces busy Tanimachi-suji Avenue, the grounds are surrounded by lush greenery, including trees that are several hundred years old, creating a serene atmosphere.