It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported Buddhism introduction into Japan. This temple had been burn down and rebuilt several times the for past centuries. 

It was my first time to visit a Japanese Buddhism temple. 

I arrived at the Shiten-Nojimaeyuhigaoka Station(四天王寺前夕陽ヶ丘駅,Stop ID:T26).  

from Google Maps

I walked past Osaka Seikogakuin(大阪星光學院) and for 10mins and reached Shitennoji. The weather was slightly cloudy and cool breezy. It was relaxing to walk from the station to Shitennoji in the morning. 

from Google Maps

Of course you can also take another route from Tennoji(天王寺) Station. You can walk about 11 mins to the north of Tennoji station, passing by Horihoshi Shrine and arrive at Shitennoji. If you can’t find the two routes shared here from Shiten-Nojimaeyuhigaoka or Tennoji Station, you can call me at this hotline ….  (Joking! Hahaha). It should be pretty easy to locate this spot. You can ask around when you lose your way. Usually, Japanese are very helpful. 

Most of the outer buildings of the temple are free to view, but there are three locations where you will need to pay a fee to enter. These are the Chushin Garan or inner temple complex, the Treasure House, and the Gokurakujodo Garden. The inner complex of the Chushin Garan includes the Kondo or main hall, the Kodo lecture hall, a five story pagoda, and is surrounded by a covered walkway with three gates. The fee to enter the Chushin Garan is 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for senior high and university students, and free for children of junior high age or younger. - https://www.osakastation.com/shitennoji-temple/

Let’s have a look at our travel map! It will make you all feel easier to go on all sightseeing spots. 

Yo! I reached Shitennoji!

Walking through the side entrance(中之門), I saw fruit tree with all hanging fruits… I wondered if it was apricot or peaches? 

It has always been calm and peaceful in mind when visiting religious places. Seeing stone buddhas rise straight up with flags behind them, I put my palms together devoutly and had my prayers. It brought calmness in my mind and soul. This scene looks exactly same as those I watched from anime. 

Walking along the stone path, I was dazzled by the fall beauty of the orchestration symphony of yellow, red, brown color in woods.  

There was a small round pond surrounded by stone barriers. It was a perfect spot for photographers and you can feel the breath of autumn. I was gratified at this small stone pond with a buddha guarding my soul across from the other side. Many shots were snapped. Mothers, babies, old man, pigeons, sparrows, bike, falling red leaves, love, October… you can’t imagine all of them were snapped on the same spot. Some shots in slightly low in light as it was cloudy and about to rain.  

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus

This red leaf looked so much like a heart… rippling on the surface of the water.  

I personally love this photo. It was hard to come by. You could see old man, pigeon were looking at the same direction, with a can of beer in between them. And the bike and the falling of all red leaves…. The light was shining from the left, shadowing the bike. 

I like this photo too. This place is good for family to come and relax. Happiness showered on their faces. 

The sparrows and pigeon were so beautiful and well-nourished. They were not afraid of people around. Like they have been getting used being around with human.

Time for a break! We were resting at Warodo(和労堂). It was said to be tourist information center. It looked to me more like a resting area. There are vending machines and seating places. I think the ice-cream costed like 160-200 yen?(I said it wrongly of 400-500 yen when I first wrote this post.) I sorta forgot about it. I only remember the taste of the ice-creams. Nom! Japan always produces high-quality snacks. It may be slightly expensive than others but it worths every penny of it. I think the most luxurious thing to do in the world Is buying all the Japanese snacks then open all of them at once and finish them off! Hahaha. 

Place Visited: 

1-chōme-1-11-18 Shitennōji, Tennōji-ku, Osaka, 543-0051, Japan

〒543-0051 大阪府大阪市天王寺区四天王寺１丁目１−11-18