Taiyū-ji, Buddhist temple in Taiyu-ji-cho district, Osaka, Japan
Taiyū-ji is a temple in the Taiyu-ji-cho district of Osaka that includes several prayer halls and ceremonial buildings arranged around a central courtyard. A thousand-armed Kannon statue stands within the main hall, which anchors the layout of the compound in the heart of the city.
The monk Kukai founded this temple in 821 at the request of Emperor Saga, making it one of the oldest religious sites in Osaka. The compound survived several fires and reconstructions over the centuries, with the current structures continuing the tradition of the original architecture.
The temple serves as a significant stop on multiple Buddhist pilgrimage routes, including the New Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage and the Kinki Thirty-six Fudoson Sacred Ground.
The temple sits roughly ten minutes on foot from Osaka Station and opens daily from 8 AM to 5 PM with no admission charge. Visitors should keep in mind that certain areas may be closed during religious ceremonies.
Fire rituals take place on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of each month, continuing Buddhist ceremonial traditions preserved over centuries. These rituals regularly draw practitioners and pilgrims who participate in the traditional prayers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
