Our first stop for today was Shitennoji Temple (四天王寺). We took the metro to Tennoji Station, which was just a few stations away. From the station, we walked for about 10 minutes and arrived at the entrance of the temple.
Shitennoji Temple is one of Japan's oldest temples and the first ever built by the state government. The outer temple grounds are free to enter but admission charges apply to enter the inner precinct.
Shitennoji Temple was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple's buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th century design.
In the pebble-covered courtyard of the inner precinct stood a five-storied pagoda that can be entered and ascended, which we did. However, we were not allowed to take pictures either inside the pagoda or from the windows at the top. The Main Hall (Kondo) in which Prince Shotoku is enshrined as a statue of Kannon.
The inner complex includes the Kondo or main hall, the Kodo lecture hall, a five story pagoda (above), and is surrounded by a covered walkway with three gates.
We loved taking photos at the long corridors that surround the inner ground.
We continued to explore the rest of the temple compound.
At one corner of the temple was a small Zen garden.
We spent about an hour strolling around Shitennoji Temple before leaving for Tennoji MIO, which is a nearby shopping complex.
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