Sumiyoshi-taisha in Osaka, Japan

 

<Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine>

住吉大社

symbol of Sumiyoshi "Taiko bashi bridge [Japanese: 太鼓橋]".

It is also called Sorihashi bridge [Japanese: 反橋].

the view from the Sorihashi bridge.

We started to see the entrance of Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine.

 - four main halls -

First main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto
第一本宮：底筒男命 （そこつつのをのみこと）

Second main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Nakatsutsu no Onomikoto
第二本宮：中筒男命 （なかつつのをのみこと）

Third main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Uwatsutsu no Onomikoto
第三本宮：表筒男命 （うはつつのをのみこと）

Fourth main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines

 Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto = Empress Jungu.
第四本宮：息長足姫命 (おきながたらしひめのみこと)=神功皇后 (じんぐうこうごう)

1000 year-old camphor tree "Sennen-kusunoki"[Japanese: 千年楠]

 

couple tree "Fuufu-kusunoki" [Japanese: 夫婦楠]

This tree has one root but it is divided by two.

Episode of Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine

TOMO&CHOUCHOU visited Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine [Japanese: Sumiyoshi-taisha; 住吉大社] which was one of the three big sumiyoshi shrines in Japan.
Sumiyoshi Grand shrine is located in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan. Official name of Sumiyoshi Shrine is "Sumiyoshi no Oogami no miya; 住吉大神宮".
Sumiyoshi shrine is called casually "Sumiyoshi-san" or "Sumiyossan" by local people.
Sumiyoshi shrine is very popular. Every new year's day, more than 2 millions people visit this shrine.
There is a big Trii at the entrance. [Trii; 鳥居=gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine)
After Trii, we could see the red bridge called Soribashi [反橋].
The bridge is liken to the rainbow which is the bridge between human's world and gods' world. This bridge is called "Taiko-bashi; 太鼓橋". Taiko bashi is a very famous symbol of Sumiyoshi. The reason to pass the bridge is to purify ourselves before approaching the gods. The bridge was very steep, so it was a bit scary to go up and down.
From the bridge, we could see the river and other bridges, so the view is nice.
After the bridge, there was an entrance of the sumiyoshi grand shrine.
Actually there were four halls [本宮].
First main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto
第一本宮：底筒男命 （そこつつのをのみこと）
Second main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Nakatsutsu no Onomikoto
第二本宮：中筒男命 （なかつつのをのみこと）
Third main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Uwatsutsu no Onomikoto
第三本宮：表筒男命 （うはつつのをのみこと）
Fourth main hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha enshrines Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto = Empress Jungu.
第四本宮：息長足姫命 （おきながたらしひめのみこと）=神功皇后 （じんぐうこうごう）
Sokotsutsu no Onomikoto, Nakatsutsu no Onomikoto & Uwatsutsu no Onomikoto are called "Sumiyoshi Sanjin; 住吉三神" (=three gods of Sumiyoshi).
The style of architecture of four main halls 御本殿 is known as Sumiyoshi-zukuri; 住吉造, the oldest style of shrine architecture.
Four main halls have been designated national tresures.
Not only the architecture but also trees are wonderful in Sumiyoshi Taisha.
There is a huge tree which is called "Sennen-kusunoki; 千年楠"(=1000year-old camphor tree).
There is also another special tree which is called "Fuufu-kusunoki; 夫婦楠"(= couple tree). This tree has one root but it is divided by two. Two trees are very close and they support each other, so it looks like a couple. Tomo&Chouchou could feel the energy and power of the trees.

We went to Sumiyoshi-taisha at the end of the year, so it was almost empty. Because Japanese people visit temples or shrine during New Year's. Therefore monks were cleaning of the halls and preparing for New Year's. We felt weired. But we could take good photos without crowds. We were satisfied with visiting a famous shrine in Kansai.


Address: 2-9-89, Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
大阪府大阪市住吉区住吉2-9-89

For your information,
Around New Year's: Dec.31 - Jan.3, parking lots are closed.
If you go around new year's, please go by trains.