Namba Yasaka Shrine

If you visit just one shrine in the Namba district, make it Namba Yasaka Shrine (Namba Yasaka-jinja). Its enormous lion head-shape building and cherry blossom trees dotted around the shrine grounds make it one of Osaka’s most distinctive places of worship.

[Namba Yasaka Shrine - image © Florentyna Leow]

Located a short 5-minute walk from the popular shopping complex Namba Parks, Namba Yasaka Shrine is a nice escape from the consumerist chaos of this district. The original buildings have been lost to air raids and fires, so the shrine buildings you’ll see here are primarily post-war reconstructions. There are cherry blossom trees dotted around the shrine grounds, and it’s a reasonably popular place with visitors during springtime.

[Namba Yasaka Shrine - image © Florentyna Leow]

While the shrine itself isn’t all that large, it’s the 12-meter tall, 11-meter wide lion head-shaped building that’s the main draw here. Why a lion? Apparently, the huge open mouth will swallow any evil spirits plaguing you, leaving you only good luck for succeeding in business or school-related ventures.

[Namba Yasaka Shrine - image © Florentyna Leow]

Besides the cherry blossom season, the best time to visit this shrine is on the third Sunday of January. On this day, you’ll witness a giant Tug-of-War Ritual, in celebration of the god Susano-ono-Mikoto who killed the serpent god Yamato-no-orochi and freed the Japanese people from hardship. It’s an impressive thing to watch, and raucous good fun all around.

English name:
Namba Yasaka Shrine

Japanese name:
難波八阪神社

English address:
2-9-19 Moto-machi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, 556-0016

Japanese address:
〒556-0016 大阪市浪速区元町2-9-19

Opening hours:
24h

Admission:
Free

Nearest Transport:
Subway and Train: 6-minute walk from Namba Station.

Nearest Hotels:
Check availability and pricing for hotels near Namba Yasaka Shrine on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Telephone:
+81-6-6641-1149

Website: Official Website (Japanese)

Near To Here:
Namba Yasaka Shrine is located in Osaka’s Central district. See our complete list of things to do in Central Osaka, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Where Are These Places Located?

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