Away from the neon lights and noise of the Namba entertainment district, visit the Namba Yasaka Shrine (Namba Yasaka-jinja). Watch as devotees ask for blessing’s at traditional and curiously designed prayer halls. Attend a lively annual festival and admire the spring bloom of cherry blossom trees.
Dating back to before the 19th-century Meiji Restoration, today’s Namba Yasaka Shrine is a post-World War II recreation. Dominating the complex is a 39-feet (12-meter tall) and 23-feet (7-meter wide) prayer hall and stage shaped like a lion’s head. Resembling something from a theme park, the lion’s mouth is believed to bestow fortune and swallow evil spirits. Note how the fearsome teeth enclose the stage, inside of which are several hand-carved phoenix sculptures. Pose for a photo in front of the mouth and observe as students and business owners ask for good luck.
Plan your visit on the third Sunday of January for an annual and boisterous tug-of-war ritual. It’s the celebration of a Shinto legend that the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto brought peace to the area by killing an eight-headed serpent god. Iaido martial art demonstrations and lion and folk dances take place during summer and New Year festivals. Look on as music sounds from the nose of the lion’s head hall and light shines from the eyes.
Dotted around the complex are shrines dedicated to various Japanese and Shinto deities. Among them are Inari, the god of rice, fertility, business and merchants. In April the light pink and white blossoming flowers of cherry blossom trees creates a picture-perfect environment.
Find the shrine in the Motomachi area of the Naniwa Ward. It’s about a 10-minute walk from train and metro stations such as Daikokucho, JR Namba and Namba.
Namba Yasaka Shrine is open daily and admission is free. Nearby attractions include the Namba Parks and Osaka City Air Terminal retail and entertainment malls.
