JAPAN - DECEMBER 10: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shinto Shrine, Osaka, Japan, 3rd century. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

De Agostini/Getty Images

Sumiyoshi Taisha

Osaka

LoginSave

Dedicated to Shintō deities of the sea and sea travel, this graceful shrine was founded in the early 3rd century and is considered the headquarters for all Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan. The buildings are faithful replicas of the ancient originals, with a couple that date back to 1810, and the grounds are criss-crossed by a tree- and lantern-lined waterway spanned by a bright orange drum bridge. It's a rare Shintō shrine that predates the influence of Chinese Buddhist architectural styles.

The Hankai line tram from Tennōji stops right in front of the torii (Shintō shrine gate).

Transportation

  • tram: Hankai line to Sumiyoshi-torii-mae
  • train: Nankai line to Sumiyoshi-taisha

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Osaka, Japan - April 30, 2017: tourists looking Osaka city at Abeno Harukas, the tallest skyscraper in Japan. The building stands on top of Kintetsu Osaka Abenobashi Station near JR Tennoji Station. 919551970 Abeno Harukas Observatory

    Abeno Harukas

    2.57 MILES

    This César Pelli–designed tower, which opened in March 2014, is Japan's tallest building (300m, 60 storeys). The observatory on the 16th floor is free,…

  • Path through bamboo forest

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

    29.61 MILES

    The thick green bamboo stalks seem to continue endlessly in every direction and there’s a strange quality to the light at this famous bamboo grove, which…

  • Row of stone lanterns at Oku-no-in cemetery.

    Oku-no-in

    27.64 MILES

    Oku-no-in, whose name means 'inner sanctuary', is perhaps the most intensely spiritual place in Japan. At its farthest reaches is the Gobyō, the crypt…

  • Horyuji Temple, Nara, Japan

    Hōryū-ji

    13.86 MILES

    Hōryū-ji was founded in 607 by Prince Shōtoku, considered by many to be the patron saint of Japanese Buddhism. It's renowned not only as one of the oldest…

  • People walking under thousands of Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. 88375702 destination, historical, gate, cultural, oriental, approaching, red, kyoto, culture, landmark, attraction, history, thousand, walking, orange, corridor, shintoism, pathway, people, traditional, asia, tour, building, religious, tourist, historic, heritage, tradition, architecture, tourism, religion, shintoist, shinto, spot, tunnel, japanese, japan, fox, shrine, road, senbon dorii, senbon torii, fushimi, kansai, taisha, torii, senbon, inari, kinki, 1000

    Fushimi Inari-Taisha

    29.11 MILES

    With seemingly endless arcades of vermilion torii (shrine gates) spread across a thickly wooded mountain, this vast shrine complex is a world unto its own…

  • Todai-ji Temple, Nara

    Tōdai-ji

    20.42 MILES

    Nara's star attraction is its Daibutsu (Great Buddha), one of the largest bronze statues in the world. It was unveiled in 752, upon the completion of the…

  • Osaka Castle in Morning 1331407004

    Osaka-jō

    5.46 MILES

    After unifying Japan in the late 16th century, General Toyotomi Hideyoshi built this castle (1583) as a display of power, using, it's said, the labour of…

  • 636312738 Kyoto City, Japanese Fall Foliage, Maple Leaf, Octagon, Tofukuji Temple, Japanese Maple, Buddhism, Religion, History, Spirituality, Multi Colored, Yellow, Red, Orange Color, Green Color, Japanese Culture, Famous Place, Travel Destinations, Outdoors, Japan, Maple Tree, Autumn, Landscape, Temple - Building, Place of Worship, autumn foliage, autumn leaves, zen temple, Rinzai Sect, Octagonal Building, MiniKyoto2016 The photo shows autumn foliage around Aizendo Hall (Octagonal Hall)of Tofuku-ji Temple, Kyoto, Japan.

    Tōfuku-ji

    29.76 MILES

    Home to a spectacular garden, several superb structures and beautiful precincts, Tōfuku-ji is one of the best temples in Kyoto. It is linked to Fushimi…

View more attractions

Nearby Osaka attractions

1. Abeno Harukas Art Museum

2.57 MILES

This state-of-the art museum inside Abeno Harukas hosts temporary shows that vary wildly, including, so far, Renaissance painting and tantric Buddhist…

2. Abeno Harukas

2.57 MILES

This César Pelli–designed tower, which opened in March 2014, is Japan's tallest building (300m, 60 storeys). The observatory on the 16th floor is free,…

3. Billiken

2.73 MILES

Ever-smiling (and a bit creepy looking) Billiken sits, toes out, like a golden Kewpie doll on a pedestal reading 'The God of Things as they Ought to Be'…

4. Tsūten-kaku

2.83 MILES

When Tsūten-kaku was first built in 1912, it was, at 63m high, the second tallest structure in Asia and the pride of Osaka. Damaged by fire in 1943, it…

5. Shin-Sekai

2.88 MILES

A century ago, Shin-Sekai ('new world') was home to an amusement park that defined cutting edge. Now this entertainment district mixes down-at-heel with…

6. Liberty Osaka

2.88 MILES

Japan's first human rights museum began in 1985 as an archive of documents relating to the burakumin – the lowest caste under the old feudal system …

7. Imamiya Ebisu-jinja

2.97 MILES

Nicknamed 'Ebessan', this famous shrine is said to have been founded by Japan's most revered historical figure, the priest-prince Shotoku-taishi, c AD 600…

8. Shitennō-ji

3.11 MILES

Shitennō-ji is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, said to be founded (in 593) by priest-prince Shotoku-taishi (who first spread Buddhism in…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "japan/kansai/osaka/attractions/sumiyoshi-taisha/a/poi-sig/423405/356704",
  "destination": "Osaka",
  "continent": "Asia",
  "country": "Japan",
  "city": "Osaka",
  "position": "superzone"
}