Top 5 Temples and Shrines in Osaka

Osaka is rich in temples and shrines worth visiting. Here's a guide to them.

2 min readMar 2, 2018By Lydia Schrandt

A visitor enjoys a visit to one of the main temples and shrines in Osaka in Japan

Hi, I'm Lydia!

Lydia Schrandt is a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer currently based in Houston. She’s a contributor for USA TODAY 10Best and serves as the first chair of the Editors Council of the Society of American Travel Writers. Her work has appeared in Draft, Time Out Beijing, Travel+, USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle, and others.

Get off the beaten path in the ultramodern city of Osaka by touring its historical side. Pay a visit to these temples and shrines through the city, and you’ll be rewarded with a rich cultural experience often overlooked in Osaka.

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1. Hozenji Temple

Lanterns and paper wishes left by visitors to Hozenji Temple in Osaka in Japan.

Hozenji Temple and the wishes people have left on a visit.Photo Credit: Tang Yan Song / Shutterstock

Built in 1637, the small and serene Hozenji Temple in Dotonbori attracts relatively few visitors, making it an excellent refuge from the neon lights and crowds of nearby Shinsaibashi. Situated on a narrow lane lined with shops and cafes, the temple is dedicated to one of Buddhism’s five Wisdom Kings.

2. Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Visitors head into huge Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka in Japan.

Visitors head into Tenmangu Shrine.Photo Credit: beeboys / Shutterstock

Founded in the 10th century, Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan. It’s dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the deity of scholarship, and the shrine famously hosts the Tenjin Matsuri festival—one of the most popular festivals in Japan, where a likeness of the temple’s deity is paraded through the city.

3. Isshin-ji Temple

The tranquil buildings of Isshinji Temple in Osaka in Japan.

The sweeping views of Isshin-ji Temple.Photo Credit: cowardlion / Shutterstock

Known for its strikingly modern entrance, Isshin-ji Temple has a history dating back to the 12th century when it was founded by the leader of the Pure Land Sect. Today, the Buddhist temple enshrines a statue of the Buddha constructed with human bones gifted to the temple by devotees since the late Edo period.

4. Sumiyoshi Taisha

A grand old gate at Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka.

An entry gate into Sumiyoshi Taisha.Photo Credit: KPG-Payless / Shutterstock

Many travelers may not realize that Osaka is home to one of Japan’s oldest shrines, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. Founded in the 3rd century, the temple distinguishes itself as being one of only three shrines in the entire country with purely Japanese architecture, free of influence from the Asian mainland.

5. Shitenno-ji Temple

A huge red pagoda at Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka.

Shitenno-ji Temple on a blue sky day.Photo Credit: cowardlion / Shutterstock

Shitenno-ji was believed to have been founded in the 6th century, making it one of Japan’s oldest temples of Buddhism. The temple’s stone torii dates back to 1294—the oldest of its kind in the country—and the temple grounds feature a main hall, five-floor pagoda, and a peaceful strolling garden.