Worth a quick diversion if you are visiting. We are not adherants to this faith, however it was clear that a key purpose was one of calm, and it was very effective.
It was very cool for us to see a touch of Australia for us Aussies through the Friendship Monument
This is a very traditional shrine. I came here for my child's Omiyamairi (shrine visit), and I was very satisfied with how quickly we were able to proceed with the ceremony. However, there is little shade, so be cautious if you visit on a hot day. It's particularly important to take care if you have young children or elderly people with you. Despite the lack of shade, the experience was wonderful and the shrine's traditional atmosphere made it a memorable visit.
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, established in the 10th century, is a key shrine among many in Japan dedicated to Tenjin, the Shinto God of scholarship, who is associated with Sugawara Michizane, a notable scholar of the Heian Period.
Michizane liked plum trees, which are commonly found at Tenmangu Shrines, and the plum blossom motif serves as the symbol of these shrines.
Although Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka doesn't draw many foreign visitors like its counterparts in Tokyo and Kyoto, it holds significant importance for locals in Osaka.
Osaka Tenmangu is famous for the annual Tenjin Matsuri festival, held on July 24 and 25, which is ranked as one of Japan's top three festivals, along with Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri. The festival features a joyful land and river procession, where the shrine's deity is paraded in a divine palanquin (called “mikoshi”), accompanied by fireworks.
The shrine is conveniently located near the busy shopping street, Tenjinbashi-suji.
I've visited the shrine a few times when I was in Osaka. Once, I had a good udon at the small restaurant inside the shrine grounds around lunchtime. It was a memorable meal.
If you are a fan of Japanese Shinto shrines, I recommend you stop by this Jinja. It’s in the center of Osaka (south of Umeda). Its beauty and peaceful atmosphere will make you forget you’re in a big city.
There’s also a great food alley nearby to satisfy your hunger.
A big shrine in town. They have a big main hall for people to pray, one for stamps, charms and fortunes, and several others. The goshuin was nice and costs ¥500.
