Admission
- Adult (18+)¥500
- High School Student (15-18)¥300
- Elementary/Junior High (6-14)Free
- Visitors with disabilitiesFree
Tennoji, Osaka Prefecture
At a Glance
Shitenno-ji, founded in 593 CE by Prince Shotoku, is Japan's oldest officially administered temple and predates even the famous Horyuji Temple, making it a cornerstone of Japanese Buddhism's introduction from Korea.
Despite being destroyed by war and natural disasters multiple times throughout history, Shitenno-ji has been faithfully rebuilt in its original 6th-century style each time, with the most recent reconstruction following World War II bombing in 1945.
The temple's layout follows the ancient Shitenno-ji-shiki style, with a straight line arrangement of the gate, pagoda, main hall, and lecture hall, serving as a model for many early Japanese Buddhist temples.
This temple offers 1 different goshuin designs
Regular
Typical Crowds
Bustling
Visit Duration
Thorough (90+ minutes)
The temple's five-story pagoda and main hall have separate admission fees, so plan to spend about 300-500 yen per person to visit the inner Gokuraku-jodo (Paradise Garden) and treasure house. The outer grounds and stone torii gate are free to
Visit Shitenno-ji on the 21st or 22nd of each month for its large flea market (Daishi-e), featuring hundreds of vendors selling antiques, crafts, and street food. Arrive by 8 AM for the best selection before crowds peak at noon.
Visit early around 8:30 AM to see monks perform daily rituals and chanting in the main hall for a more authentic spiritual experience before tour groups arrive. The temple grounds open at 8:30 AM in summer and 8:00 AM in winter.
Bring small coins (5 or 10 yen) for offerings at the various halls in Shitenno-ji, which includes separate areas for Kannon, Taishi-den, and the main Kondo hall. Each area has its own offering box for donations and prayers.
When entering temple buildings, remove your shoes and carry them in plastic bags. Avoid pointing your feet at Buddhist statues while sitting. Photography is usually not allowed inside the main hall and treasure house, but is permitted in the gardens
Explore the temple's unique stone torii gate at the western entrance, an unusual Shinto feature at this Buddhist site that reflects Japan's blended religious traditions. This gate marks the traditional entrance for pilgrims approaching from the
2 recent visits and photo contributions
DDDavid Dias checked in
Nerys Lewis shared a goshuin
The divine spirits venerated at this sacred place
What this place is believed to grant
8 structures on the grounds
Part of the straight-line garan arrangement north of the inner gate.
Southernmost gate in the Shitennoji style garan arrangement.
Museum building with posted admission fees.
Fascinating facts about this place
Shitenno-ji, founded in 593 CE by Prince Shotoku, is Japan's oldest officially administered temple and predates even the famous Horyuji Temple, making it a cornerstone of Japanese Buddhism's introduction from Korea.
Despite being destroyed by war and natural disasters multiple times throughout history, Shitenno-ji has been faithfully rebuilt in its original 6th-century style each time, with the most recent reconstruction following World War II bombing in 1945.
The temple's layout follows the ancient Shitenno-ji-shiki style, with a straight line arrangement of the gate, pagoda, main hall, and lecture hall, serving as a model for many early Japanese Buddhist temples.
The temple holds a flea market called Daishi-ichi on the 21st of each month. This tradition, dating back to the Edo period, offers visitors a variety of items, from antiques to street food.
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