No opening hours or admission are shown: the sources we checked on 2026-09-13 were used for the route only. Check the official site
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Our guide
Shitennō-ji, the “Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings”, is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist temple in Japan and the oldest one officially administered. Its buildings have been rebuilt many times over the centuries, most recently in 1963, and shortly after the Second World War it left the Tendai school to found its own, the Wa school.
It is easy to reach. The nearest station is Shitennōji-mae Yūhigaoka on the Tanimachi subway line, about 5 minutes' walk south; from Tennōji Station it is about 12 minutes' walk north, and city buses stop right at the temple gates.
It pairs well with its neighbours: Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku is about 0.9 km away in a straight line, Kuromon Market 1.5 km and Dotonbori 2.1 km.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Shitennoji & Abeno Harukas — 名古屋太郎 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Shitenno-ji Minamishodo — Yanajin33 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Shitenno-ji, sekisou — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Shitenno-ji, Rokuji-do — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Seven stars sword Sitenoji rotated — Seven_stars_sword_Sitenoji.jpg : Association of Cultural Properties derivative work: Bamse · Public domain · source · resized
- Cinerary urn of Ina no Ōmura — Unknown author · Public domain · source · resized
- Arial View of Shitennō-ji — Katsukichi Hattori · Public domain · source · resized
- Shitenno-ji Niomon zou2 — Yanajin33 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Shitenno-ji Niomon zou1 — Yanajin33 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Shitennō-ji (四天王寺, 'Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings') is a Buddhist temple in Ōsaka, Japan. It is also known as Arahaka-ji (荒陵寺), Nanba-ji/Naniwa-daiji (難波大寺), or Mitsu-ji 御津寺. The temple is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan, although the temple complex and buildings have been rebuilt over the centuries, with the last reconstruction taking place in 1963. Shortly after World War II, Shitennō-ji became independent of the parent Tendai sect and formed the Wa sect (Wa-shū, 和宗) of Buddhism.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-13 · Shitennō-ji: access
Background text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Getting there by public transport
- Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line to Shitennōji-mae Yūhigaoka Station, then about 5 minutes south on foot.
- From JR or Osaka Metro Tennōji Station, about 12 minutes north on foot; from Kintetsu Osaka-Abenobashi Station, about 14 minutes north.
- City buses stop at “Shitennōji Nishimon-mae” and “Shitennōji Higashi-Daimon-mae”, right at the temple.
Route checked: 2026-09-13 · Shitennō-ji: access · Timetables change — check the operator before you travel.
Where to stay nearby
Hotels near Shitenno-ji on Agoda
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