Located in the heart of Osaka, Eight Steps Shrine is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, with a history dating back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE). This beautiful shrine complex features a stunning five-story pagoda and a tranquil garden filled with cherry blossom trees. Visitors can stroll along the 8 steps leading up to the main shrine hall, reflecting on their own journey as they ascend towards spiritual enlightenment.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Sakahama no Okami
- Kami enshrined
- Sakahama no Okami
- Coordinates
- 34.5402661, 135.4983305
Visitor tip
Visit the shrine at dawn or dusk when the morning sun illuminates the temple's wooden structures and the evening sun casts a warm glow, creating an unforgettable experience.
Cultural notes
Eight Steps Shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god of prosperity, good fortune, and longevity, known as Sakahama no Okami. The shrine complex is also famous for its 'yurei,' or ghostly apparitions, which are said to appear on the fifth step, believed to be the spirit of a samurai who died during the construction of the shrine.
Historical note
Founded in the 9th century during the Heian period