Hipfig Travel Channel offers DIY travel video guides for more than 25 cities in
Asia, US, and Canada. If you like this video then subscribe, give us a thumbs up,
or a comment Welcome to Hipfig's Travel Guide series
on Osaka, Japan. In this video we'll be sharing our experiences with
Sumiyoshi Taisha with you in this Osaka travel guide in this Sumiyoshi
Taisha travel guide we'll be sharing how to get to Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka
things to see when you're there at Sumiyoshi Taisha and provide useful
travel tips for visiting the Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka
We took the Nankai Main line from Nankai Namba station to Sumiyoshi Taisha
station by local train. Please note that Express trains do not stop at Sumiyoshi
Taisha station. Once at the Sumiyoshi Taisha station we followed signs to the
Sumiyoshi Taisha which was about five minute walk from the station
the Sumiyoshi Taisha translated as Sumiyoshi grand shrine is located in
south osaka. This shinto shrine is dedicated to the kami or shinto gods who
protect travelers fishermen and sailors
the Sumiyoshi Taisha is generally open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
once we exited the Sumiyoshi Taisha station we walk towards the shrine's
entrance and crossed the street
another way to get to the Sumiyoshi Taisha is to take the Hankai tramway
from Tennoji station take the Hankai tramway from Tennōji-ekimae Station
and exit at Sumiyoshi station which is right in front of the entrance of the
Sumiyoshi taisha shrine compound. We crossed the street once the tramway passed
us and we walked towards the torii gate
once we crossed the street we walk towards the torii gate. Although there are other
ways into the Sumiyoshi taisha shrine compound we paseds the torii gate towards
the bridge. We decided to cross the unique curved and bright orange bridge
called the Sorihashii bridge also known as the Taiko bridge or drum bridge when
you're crossing over the Sorihashi bridge. Make sure that you're wearing
good shoes as the bridge has steep and narrow steps. The Sorihashi bridge is also
a very popular picture spot. After we crossed the bridge we noticed trees which
were decorated with rope. These are sacred trees which are over a thousand
years old. On the left hand side as you exit the bridge you'll find a cleansing
fountain. At the cleansing fountain, it's a ritual to take the bamboo ladle, take
some water and rinse your left hand outside of the fountain and then your
right hand and then your mouth. Please rinse outside of the well area. We
entered the main courtyard of the complex where we saw rows of saki
barrels on the right hand side which are an offering to the shrine and on the
left hand side is the information center and gift shop
we visited the visitor center on the left-hand side. We were greeted by a
beautiful Japanese lady with a kanzashi headdress
we bought an Emma which is a small wooden plaque for a souvenir. You'll see
many of them hanging near shrines written with prayers to the kami all
around the compound. The first main building we saw was the
main shrine called the dice at Daisahongu. This is one of the oldest shrines with
Sumiyoshi-Zukure architecture. It is a Japanese design from the 3rd century
it's characterized by straight roofs decorated with chigi above the ends of
both sides of the roof that look like an X and five katsuogi across the top
of the roof. The whole shrine is then surrounded by a fence. My favorite
section of the complex was in the back near the thousand year old giant trees
called the Nankun Sha. Here you'll see red flags flying against the wind and a
small shrine where priests preside for the services. There is a cleansing
fountain to use before you enter this small shrine. There is usually a
customary 500 yen donation. We continued through our walkthrough the whole
complex and visited the other shrines on the way back to the entrance
the Sumiyoshi Taisha is a unique, beautiful,and peaceful shrine complex
please make note that this is an active shrine complex
please show respect while visiting. When we finished our visit and as we were
leaving we noticed a small train ride for children near the entrance which
seemed very popular. The sumiyoshi-Taisha is a beautiful place to
contemplate and worth a visit to see more local neighborhoods while in Osaka
Japan
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