Shitennoji Japanese Garden - The Honbo Garden

Shitennoji Temple holds a beautiful Japanese garden called the “Honbo Garden.” Within this garden is the Gokuraku-Jodo Garden (or Paradise Garden).

Osaka isn’t the most famous area for Japanese gardens, especially being so close to Kyoto, but this garden is definitely on the list of gardens to see in Osaka.

There are 2 streams (The River of Water and the River of Fire) and 2 ponds (The Paradise Lake and the Pond of Ruriko) within this garden stemming from Buddhist thought.

The original garden was created in the early Edo period (1617), however the present garden was finished in the early Meiji period.

The Paradise Lake holds a unique 8-sided blue pavilion symbolic of the Renaissance period and was constructed in the Meiji Era (1903).

I took this video in Fall, so while the maple trees are a beautiful color the grass ids unfortunately a brown color. The music from a live concert that I had in Katsuragi City, Nara, Japan. I played the shakuhachi bamboo flute and Toshihiro Yuta played the tone drum.

Shitennoji Temple

Prince Shotoku built the temple itself in 593, although most of the buildings have been rebuilt over time. The Temple is said to be the first Buddhist temple in Japan.

Prince Shotoku was known as great spreader of Buddhism at a time when Buddhism was not yet popular. He also started many temples in Nara, such as Horyuji, when Nara was the ancient capital of Japan and the birthplace of Japan, as we know it. The Prince honored the four heavenly kings (Shitenno) by building 4 institutions here.

In September 2003 the Japanese garden was fully opened to the public. If you get the chance to visit the Tennoji southern area of Osaka city, you can either hop on the subway or even walk to Shitennoji temple from there. They have a flea market on the 21st of each month that is a popular tourist destination for many Japanese people and some foreigners.

Japanese Gardens