Shitennoji Temple

Shitennoji has a strong claim to being where organised Buddhism in Japan began. It was founded by Prince Shotoku in 593, and is described by the city's tourism office as the first official Buddhist temple in the country. The buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt many times over fourteen centuries, by fire, war and storms; a typhoon in 1934 brought down the pagoda, and the most recent full reconstruction of the central complex was completed in 1963. What makes it special is that the rebuilding has kept the ancient plan.

The central precinct follows the early layout in which the main gate, the five-storey pagoda, the main hall and the lecture hall stand in a straight line, enclosed by a roofed corridor. The main hall, or Kondo, houses an image of Kannon. Around this core are larger gates, including the Gokuraku-mon on the west side, and beyond it a stone torii, an unusual sight at a Buddhist temple, once seen as the gateway towards the Pure Land in the west. The treasure museum holds National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and the Honbo Garden offers a quieter corner away from the main precinct.

The outer grounds are free, while the central precinct, the treasure museum and the Honbo Garden each have a modest admission charge. Hours run from 8:30 to 16:30 from April to September and to 16:00 from October to March, with longer hours on the 21st of each month; there are no regular closing days, though the gardens sometimes close temporarily. The best days to come are the 21st and 22nd of each month, when the temple marks Kobo Daishi's day and Prince Shotoku's day and outdoor stalls set up across the grounds.

Allow an hour for the precinct and the pagoda, and longer on a market day or if you visit the museum and garden. The temple suits anyone with an interest in Japanese history and religion, and it is much less crowded than Kyoto's famous temples. Major annual events include services at the spring and autumn equinoxes and the Manto lantern service during Obon, from 9 to 16 August.

The temple is about five minutes' walk from Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Station on the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line. It sits close to the Tennoji area, so it combines easily with Abeno Harukas and Shinsekai in an afternoon.