Shitennō-ji Temple

Shitennō-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in southern Osaka, Japan, historically founded in 593. It is one of the oldest temples in Japan and occupies a significant place in the country’s early Buddhist history.

The temple was established by Prince Shōtoku in 593 with support from the Soga clan as part of early state efforts to promote Buddhism in Japan. The buildings have been rebuilt and restored several times over the centuries; the present visible structures mostly reflect later reconstructions while preserving the traditional plan.

Shitennō-ji sits in the Tennōji area of Osaka city, within Osaka Prefecture, and is accessible from central Osaka by public transport. The temple occupies an urban site with several gates and a defined precinct in the city’s southern district.

• Founding year: Founded in 593, the temple is one of Japan's earliest state-sponsored Buddhist constructions and retains a continuous religious presence on the site.

What to See #

• Core buildings: The complex includes a Kondō (main hall) used for ceremonies and worship, a five-story pagoda that marks the temple skyline, and traditional gates and cloistered precincts forming the approach to the main buildings.
• Grounds and courtyards: Temple grounds contain garden and courtyard areas that have been part of the site layout through successive reconstructions since the original founding.