Sumiyoshi Taisha is the main shrine in regards to the Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan. It’s also known as the Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine or Sumiyoshi-san.
The shrine grounds pays tribute to the great gods of Sumiyoshi. It’s famous for its large crowds paying homage to the Sumiyoshi tanjin — Nakatsutsu no Onomikoto, Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto, and Uwatsutsu no Onomikoto. The Sumiyoshi-zukuri architectural style gives birth to its name. It was one of my favorite landmarks in Osaka.
Sumiyoshi Taisha is a bit out of the way from all the other major landmarks in Osaka, It’s a 26 minute cab ride from the Osaka Castle and a 22 minute cab ride from Dotonbori. The Nankai Line could be taken from Dotonbori and it’s only 5 stops until it reaches Sumiyoshi taisha Station. After a long day of sight seeing, Sumiyoshi Taisha was the last item on my list in Osaka.
Sumiyoshi Taisha shrines grounds gives off a peaceful ambiance. The trees provide shade from Osaka’s sun. The old Japanese architecture was well-maintained even though there was obvious deterioration due to time; however, the colors of the bridges and architecture was pristine in it’s vibrant colors. The wind whispered through the trees as I made my way through the different areas of the shrine.
Sumiyoshi Taisha famous stone torii sits in the middle of the shrine. It’s a few steps from the famous bridge over the small body of water that runs through the shrine. The monks could be seen walking through the the shrines grounds making sure it is maintained. Their white kasaya stood out among the bright redish-orange colors of the shrine. They smile as they pass by.
After an hour of walking around, I sat down for a good 20 minutes to really soak in the shrine. The Sumiyoshi Taisha brought me a sense of peace and relaxation after a long day of running around Osaka. It was definitely my favorite landmark in Osaka due to the historical appeal of it. It wasn’t as grand as the Osaka Castle but it was peaceful without the large crowds. However, Osaka Castle wasn’t as grand as Seoul’s Changdeokgung Palace.
Check out our other Osaka articles here.
