Tsutenkaku
Osaka, Japan
Shitenno-ji, Osaka
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Photo: 名古屋太郎, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- grounds free; precinct ¥500
- Hours
- 8:30–16:30 in summer, 8:30–16:00 in winter
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Grounds
- Free, gates always open
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Central precinct
- ¥500; high school ¥400; schoolchildren ¥300
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Gokuraku-jodo Garden
- ¥300; closed on the 1st–10th of several months
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - 21st and 22nd
- Flea market; central precinct free
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Getting there
- Metro to Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka, 5 minutes
Key facts
593the year Prince Shotoku founded the temple
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en.wikipediaFirststate-built Buddhist temple in Japan
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en.wikipedia5 storeysof the pagoda at the centre of the precinct
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en.wikipediaOne linegate, pagoda, golden hall and lecture hall — the 'Shitenno-ji style'
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en.wikipedia¥500entry to the central precinct
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shitennoji.or.jp24 hoursthe temple gates are open
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shitennoji.or.jp21st and 22ndof each month — flea market and free entry
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shitennoji.or.jpShotokuthe prince who spread Buddhism in Japan
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en.wikipediaWhat is Shitenno-ji?
Shitenno-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Tennoji area of south Osaka and one of the oldest in the country. It was founded by Prince Shotoku in 593 and is considered Japan's first state-built temple. The name means 'temple of the Four Heavenly Kings', the Buddhist guardians of the four directions.
The temple keeps its original layout, known as the 'Shitenno-ji style': the middle gate, five-storey pagoda, golden hall and lecture hall stand in one straight line from south to north inside a covered gallery. The present buildings are modern reconstructions that follow the ancient plan.
Tickets and hours
According to the official site, the temple gates are open around the clock, and you can walk the outer grounds for free. Entry to the central precinct with the pagoda and golden hall is ¥500 for adults and university students, ¥400 for high-schoolers and ¥300 for schoolchildren; preschoolers go free.
Gokuraku-jodo Garden is ¥300, and the treasure house ¥500 during exhibitions. From April to September the precinct and garden open 8:30 to 16:30, and from October to March until 16:00. The garden closes on the 1st–10th of February, March, May, June, July, September, October and November, and on 12–14 January.
What to see
- The five-storey pagoda — you can go inside.
- The Kondo golden hall with its Kannon statue.
- The stone torii at the west gate.
- Gokuraku-jodo Garden with ponds and streams.
- The treasure house — during exhibitions.
- The flea market on the 21st and 22nd.
How to get to Shitenno-ji
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Tsutenkaku is about 17 min away on foot.
More tips
- Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka metro — Tanimachi line, about 5 minutes on foot.
- Tennoji station — JR and metro, about 15 minutes on foot north.
- Kintetsu Osaka-Abenobashi — about 15 minutes on foot.
- From Tsutenkaku — about 15 minutes on foot through Tennoji Park.
- From Namba — metro with one change, about 15 minutes.
Shitenno-ji or Kyoto's temples
| Shitenno-jiyou are here | 593 — one of the first | Reconstructions on the ancient plan | ¥500; grounds free | Few |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto temples | Mostly later | Many original | Usually paid | Many |
How long do you need?
An hour is enough for the temple: walk the grounds, visit the central precinct, go into the pagoda and sit in the garden. On flea-market days allow longer — you can browse the stalls for ages.
Shitenno-ji pairs easily with Tsutenkaku tower and the Shinsekai quarter, about 15 minutes' walk away through Tennoji Park. The Abeno Harukas skyscraper with its observation deck is nearby too.
Is Shitenno-ji worth visiting?
Yes, if you're interested in the history of Japanese Buddhism: it began here, and the temple's layout is the same as in the 6th century.
The YesGo take: the buildings are new and look freshly painted rather than ancient, which can disappoint after Kyoto and Nara. But there are few tourists, and on the 21st it hosts one of Osaka's best flea markets. If you're in the Tennoji area, don't miss it.
The outer grounds are free and open around the clock, so you can drop in on the way without a ticket: see the pagoda over the gallery, the stone torii and the turtles in the pond. It's worth paying if you want to go inside the pagoda and walk the inner courtyard.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
South Osaka in half a day
Shitenno-ji temple in the afternoon, Tsutenkaku and a kushikatsu dinner in Shinsekai towards evening, then the neon of Dotonbori. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Shitenno-jiyou are here1 h · grounds free; precinct ¥500
- 17 min walk from the previous stopTsutenkaku1 h · ≈ ¥1,500
- 32 min walk from the previous stopDotonbori1 h · free
3 places · about 3 h 49 min with walks · 49 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- The grounds are free and always open.
- The 21st and 22nd: flea market and free entry.
- The garden closes on the 1st–10th of several months.
- Ticket sales end at 16:00–16:30.
- Nearby: Tsutenkaku.
Questions
How much is entry to Shitenno-ji?
The grounds are free; the central precinct is ¥500, the garden ¥300.
What are the opening hours?
8:30–16:30 from April to September, 8:30–16:00 from October to March; the gates are always open.
When is the flea market?
On the 21st and 22nd of each month.
When was the temple founded?
In 593, by Prince Shotoku.
Are the buildings original?
No, they are modern reconstructions on the ancient plan.
How do I get there?
Metro to Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka, about 5 minutes on foot.
How long do you need?
About an hour.
When is the garden closed?
On the 1st–10th of several months and on 12–14 January.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Temple official site (shitennoji.or.jp/admission.html) — seasonal hours, prices, free days, garden closures (checked 09.11.2026)
- Official site (access.html) — access
- English Wikipedia: Shitennō-ji — founding, Prince Shotoku, layout, reconstructions
- Wikidata Q339859 — coordinates
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