Things to do in Osaka, Kinki: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites

May 21, 2021 Layne Dawes

Home to nearly nine million and powering an economy that exceeds both Hong Kong's and Thailand's, Osaka packs quite a punch. The confident, stylish city is a shopping hub, with fabulous restaurants and nightlife. It's an ideal base for exploring the Kansai region; Kyoto's World Heritage Sites, Nara's temple and Koya-san's eerie graves are within 90 minutes by train. Top city attractions include the aquarium, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan and the futuristic Floating Garden Observatory.
Restaurants in Osaka

1. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-0045 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6672-0753 http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/
Excellent
41%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 856 reviews

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Built prior to the influx of Buddhist architecture, this shrine - one of the oldest in Japan - exemplifies a purely Japanese style design.

Reviewed By leungalex

Ths is place brings calm and peace, the bridge is beautiful. The steps on the bridge are deceptively steep but when you walk on them they are just like ordinary stairs, amazing architectural design. Take the subway to Tennoji station then Hankai line tram to Sumiyoshitorii-Mae, you get to enjoy the charming tram too, an unexpected experience in modren Osaka,

2. Shitennoji

1-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji-Ku, Osaka 543-0051 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6771-0066 http://www.shitennoji.or.jp/
Excellent
30%
Good
47%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,073 reviews

Shitennoji

The oldest temple in Japan, built over 1,400 years ago, this temple is famous for its symmetrical design and even has an architectural arrangement named after it,”Shitenno-ji-style temple layout.”

Reviewed By LQK2010 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The temple with main hall was beautiful. We were there during the New Year when many Japanese visited temple.

3. Hozen-ji Temple

1-2-16, Namba, Chuo, Osaka 542-0076 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6211-4152 http://houzenji.jp
Excellent
26%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 418 reviews

Hozen-ji Temple

Reviewed By DzulhilmiZulkifli - Putrajaya, Malaysia

Very beautiful temple for photo shot. Please come here during night because the view is more beautiful. it is a small open air temple. The location also perfect, inside Dotomburi district.

4. Minaminofukuju Benzaiten

1-7-11, Sennichimae, Chuo, Osaka 542-0074 Osaka Prefecture
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1 reviews

Minaminofukuju Benzaiten

5. Ikutama Shrine

13-9, I-Kutamacho, TennojI-Ku, Osaka Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6771-0002 http://osaka-info.jp/page/ikukunitamajinja
Excellent
21%
Good
59%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 92 reviews

Ikutama Shrine

6. Isshinji Temple

2-8-69 Tennohji-Ku, Tennoji-Ku, Osaka 543-0062 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6771-0444 http://www.isshinji.or.jp/
Excellent
25%
Good
52%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 183 reviews

Isshinji Temple

Buddha statues made from human ashes as a means of being able to worship the deceased openly

Reviewed By GoGo2SlowGo - Denton, United States

My wife and I were not planning to visit this in our walking tour of Osaka (on our own). However, we’ve learned that when you are in Japan, you might discover a temple that you weren’t planning to see. This one was hard to miss on our way to Tsetenkaku Tower. It’s a large complex but we were both drawn to these sculptures. Founded in the 12th century, the Isshinji Temple has a lot of history, though rebuilt following the destruction of Osaka during the closing years of World War II, like most other temples and shrines in the city. The temple surprised us because it was quite modern and built with iron, concrete and steel. It didn’t look like any of the temples we had visited previously. The bronze looking gate is ornate with female figures. The gate and other structures were designed by the current head priest who is also an architect. The temple was founded in 1185. With the modern architecture today, we wondered why there were so many visitors. They apparently do not come for the unusual architecture. Instead, they come because it is home to the remains of millions of Osaka residents' ancestors, specifically something called Okutsu Butsu, which translates as "Bone Buddha". Now that we have found it, you should visit!

7. Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine

2-3-8 Tamatsukuri, Chuo, Osaka 540-0004 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6941-3821 http://www.inari.or.jp/
Excellent
14%
Good
57%
Satisfactory
26%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 35 reviews

Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine

8. Kouzu Shrine

1-1-29 Kozucho, Chuo, Osaka 542-0072 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6762-1122 http://www.osaka-info.jp/jp/facilities/cat21/1916.html
Excellent
11%
Good
65%
Satisfactory
22%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 46 reviews

Kouzu Shrine

9. Abiko Kannonji Temple

4-1-20 Abiko, Sumiyoshi-Ku Subway Midosuji Line Aiko Station, Osaka 558-0014 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6691-3578 http://abikokannonji.com
Excellent
4%
Good
75%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 24 reviews

Abiko Kannonji Temple

10. Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kitaku, Osaka 530-0041 Osaka Prefecture +81 6-6353-0025 http://osakatemmangu.or.jp/
Excellent
16%
Good
55%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 371 reviews

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.