Located in the city of Kashiwa, in the prefecture of Chiba, is the Shitennoji Temple, one of Japan's oldest and most famous temples. Dedicated to the god of wisdom, Tenjin, it was originally built in 593 AD as a temple for Buddhism. However, over time, Shintoism became more prominent within its walls.
- Religion
- shinto
- Coordinates
- 37.9786698, 138.3851528
Visitor tip
Visit the shrine during the spring festival to experience the traditional dance performance of 'Oji-san' which is performed by men dressed as elderly women and boys dressed as boys in a parody of traditional Japanese female dress.
Cultural notes
The Shitennoji Temple complex includes the five-story pagoda of the Toshodai-temple, one of Japan's oldest surviving structures. The temple also houses an impressive collection of Buddhist scriptures and art.