Close to Minami-morimachi Station, Osaka Temmangu is a famous shrine known all throughout Japan, also fondly referred to by residents as "Tenma no Denjin-san." It is said to enshrine Sugawara no Michizane, a god of learning. Legends state that Michizane, as a human, after he had lost a power struggle in the Imperial Court and had been demoted, visited the Daishogunsha, which existed here before Osaka Temmangu. After his death, in 949, the Daishogunsha in which Michizane was enshrined became known as Temmangu, and he himself came to be known as a god of learning and accomplishment, looking over the Temma area. Students looking for academic success and merchants hoping for better business now come to him with their prayers. Every year, on July 24 or 25, the Tenjin Festival is here. It is a tradition that has continued for more than 1,000 years, and is one of the three largest festivals in Japan. Around this period, the "gyaru mikoshi" takes place in the nearby Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street, whereby women shoulder and parade with a portable decorative shrine. Roughly 100 ships come and go and hordes of people gather on the tops of Sakuranomiya Bridge and Temma Bridge to view the 5,000 or so fireworks.
Address
2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0041
Access
Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line/Sakaisuji Line [Minami-morimachi Station]
5 mins. walking from JR Tozai Line [Osakatemmangu Station]
Telephone
06-6353-0025
Price
Free