Hey there, let me tell you all about the Shitennoji Temple in Osaka.
This place is one of the oldest temples in Japan, dating back to 593 AD.
Can you believe that?
It’s older than your great-grandma’s grandma’s grandma’s grandma!
A Brief Walk Around The Temple Grounds
I’ll take you on a short Shitennoji Temple walk on a cold winters day.
This temple is dedicated to the Four Heavenly Kings, or Shitenno, which is where it gets its name.
These kings protect the world from evil apparently.
And the temple itself is huge.
One of the coolest things about Shitennoji is that it’s not just a temple – it’s also a marketplace.
There are all sorts of little shops and stalls selling all kinds of stuff, from food to souvenirs to clothes.
You can get everything from takoyaki (little balls of fried dough with octopus inside) to sushi to noodles.
I mean, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
But back to the temple.
One of the most impressive buildings there is the main hall, which is called the Kondo.
This has massive wooden pillars holding up the roof.
Plus, there’s a big statue of the Buddha inside.
I heard this is one of the oldest in Japan.
Next, there’s the pagoda.
It has five stories, and each one is smaller than the one below it.
What’s more , it represents the different levels of existence in Buddhism.
Before You Go
Apparently, there’s a secret tunnel underneath the temple.
Nobody knows exactly where it goes or what it was used for, but some people think it might have been an escape route for the monks.
So there you have it, folks – the Shitennoji Temple in Osaka is an amazing place full of history, culture, and just plain old fun.
If you’re ever in Osaka, you absolutely have to check it out. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
