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Osaka, Spiritual Tour in the Temple Town

Scenic Point on the hill

Osaka Castle on the hill

Grounds in the Hokoku Shrine

East gate of Pure Land in Shitennoji Temple

Shitennoji Temple

Garden of Pure Land

Lotus flower at Jodo Pond

Image of Nirvana statue

Lotus flower and bud

Gosyuin, a red ink stamp of Shitennouji

Main Gate of Isshinji Temple

Monument inscribed with a Waka poem

Locals up and down the hill

Tennoji Park

Tennoji Park in spring

Monument at Battle field

Tsutenkaku Tower

Drama theater

Playground of Japanese Bow

Sunset over Osaka Bay

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in the Temple Town

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(9 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Osaka

English, Japanese (Native)

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Yosshi S.)

Up to 6 people

Osaka dates back to the 6th century, when the first official temple was built on the hilltop. In the Middle Ages, the emperor’s family and aristocrats believed that the Pure Land of Buddha was beyond the sunset and meditated in hermitages on the hill while watching the sun sink into the sea. Locals walked up(temples) and down (residences) regularly, enjoying life in this world and praying for a place in the Pure Land in the next life.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

12:00 PM

Meeting Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City

Osaka Castle Park (105ha/260 acres)

>Osaka Castle Tower/originally built in 1585 by a feudal lord, TOYOTOMI, who tried to make it the center of a unified Japan

>The Garden of the former Kisyu Palace/the beautiful Castle Tower can be seen from here

>Hokoku Jinja Shrine/dedicated to TOYOTOMI, the shrine was built by order of the emperor to honor a great feudal lord who contributed to the unification of the country

Yuhigaoka area (literally means sunset-hill with some 100 temples)

>Shitennoji Temple/the first official temple built in the 6th century by the order of Prince Syotoku, considered to be the “East Gate of Pure Land”

#Garden of Buddhist Pure Land/a garden that embodies an imaginary of Pure Land/Heaven with 2 streams and 2 ponds introducing natural spring water

>Isshinji Temple/the first place to practice Sunset Meditation* by the ex-emperor in the 12th century

*Gazing at the setting sun during meditation while concentrating one’s thoughts on an imagined Pure Land

Tennoji Park and Shinsekai area

>Tennoji Park (26ha/64 acres)/founded in 1909, comprising the zoo, the museum of fine art, Keitaku-en(Japanese garden), and the remains of the Osaka Summer/Winter War in the 17th century

>Shinsekai (9.2ha/23 acres/meaning New World)/was constructed by copying the design of Paris and New York in 1912, lots of local food places such as Takoyaki, Yakitori, Ramen, Sushi, etc.

>Tsutenkaku Tower (literally means Leads to Heaven)/the symbol tower with 108 m in Osaka,

Note: requires reservations for the observation deck

Ending Point

At your hotel or any convenient place in Osaka City

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

>guide fee, hotel pick up in Osaka City

What‘s not included

>transportation fee (you and guide/per adult)/subway and train (some 1500JPY)/

>admission fee (you/per adult)/Osaka Castle Tower(1200JPY), Shitennoji Temple (600JPY), Keitaku-en Garden(300JPY)

>short break/lunch/dinner

Tour Important Information

>Please wear comfortable shoes.

>There are stairs to climb and descend at the Tower.

>The above extra fees are often asked with CASH on the spot, so please bring some JPY.

>This tour is not insured, so I hope you get travel insurance.

Important message from the supplier

>I mainly work in the daytime (e.g. from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm)

>If you want a listed/customized tour, please message me in advance. I will confirm facility availability in the itinerary dates: opening dates/hours, need a reservation or not.

>Please note that my tours are leisurely, on foot and by public transport.

>My tour schedule may change if transport or tourist spots are crowded.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time

Joined 2024

Yosshi S.

5.00 / 5

(9 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yosshi S.

Thank you for visiting my page.

I’d love to guide you to an ancient capital city with over 1,000 years of urban development history and a 100-year film history. I grew up in OSAKA and studied in KYOTO. Then, I worked in TOKYO and Osaka as an urban planning expert for national and local governments for 20 years. I have been striving to create cities where residents can live safely and comfortably and where visitors are attracted by their charms.

Quitting my career, I became a freelancer and a National Licensed Consulting Engineer (Urban and Regional Planning). I inspect urban development sites and film locations at home and abroad, and post about the charm of these picturesque towns on social media (90 cities in 30 countries up to now).

Present-day Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara formed a metropolitan area centered on the Imperial Palace from the 7th to the 19th centuries, serving as the political, economic, and cultural center. Residents still cherish their connections with local temples and shrines, continue to host local events, maintain traditional lifestyles, and protect their cultural heritage.

These three cities offer a unique landscape each season: cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, autumn foliage, and snowy scenery in winter. They are also easily accessible within a 1-hour train ride, with an international airport (KANSAI) and seaports (OSAKA, KOBE).

I am not only a National Licensed Guide Interpreter but also a General Travel Service Manager. I create an ideal customized tour for you, combining your preferences with my knowledge of transportation options and sightseeing spots.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

Drew B.

5 / 5

Nov 9, 2025

Osaka, Spiritual Tour in the Temple Town

Nov 9, 2025

Osaka

6 hours

“Cultural tour of Kawachi/Osaka ”

Yosshi san created a unique tour to introduce us to the history of Kofun burial mounds and Haniwa clay pottery. We had an amazing day despite the weather visiting Shin-ike Haniwa Factory Park and the Imashirozuka Museum. Yosshi san has amazing knowledge & excellent English and was a pleasure to spend the day with. Also Yosshi san is a master of navigating Osaka transport, very impressed!! Thank you again Yosshi san for looking after us so well, Drew & Annie.

Yosshi S.

Dear Drew & Annie san Thank you so much for sending me your generous review. You read the explanations, took photos, and asked questions to the museum guide during the tour. I was impressed by your deep interest and knowledge, and it was a great honor to guide you. However, it's unfortunate that today's tour didn't go as planned due to the heavy rain all day. Here is the only imperial mausoleum in Japan that we can enter, so if we have another opportunity, I'd like to stroll around the 350-meter burial mound on a sunny day and discuss the Kofun age with you. Thank you so much for today. Regard Yosshi

James K.

5 / 5

Oct 21, 2025

Nara, Stroll through Nara Park led by the Deer

Oct 21, 2025

Nara

6 hours

“Nara park and Todai-Temple Tour”

Wonderful tour with Yosshi. Really enjoyed both Nara Park and the Todai-ji Temple. Yosshi customized the tour for our needs, and made the travel to and from Kyoto seamless.

Yosshi S.

Hello James san Thank you for your heartwarming review. I was so happy to see you and your mother enjoying the deer in Nara Park. I was also touched by how much you always cherish your mother, and I learned a lot from you. I'm glad I was able to show you around Nara Park and the Great Buddha Hall. On the train ride there and back, you and your mother told me stories about your town and asked me many questions, which broadened my horizons. I hope you and your mother are in good health. I look forward to seeing you again. Thank you. Yosshi

Chuck Y.

5 / 5

May 1, 2025

Osaka : OLD & NEW Tour 6 hours

May 1, 2025

Osaka

6 hours

“A very nice day in Osaka”

Yoshi was knowledgeable and happy to show the city to us at a leisurely pace. A very nice man who did a great job of speaking at a loud enough level so we could all hear him which was appreciated. He was very hospitable and we appreciated that.

Yosshi S.

Dear Chuck Thank you for sending me such a warm review. Osaka is a commercial city, so Osaka citizens are interactive and talkative. We looked at citizens' lives while strolling to the bustling shopping streets and the OKONOMIYAKI place. At the Rose Garden, we could see the harmony with roses, the rivers, and the skyscrapers. Thank you for including me as one of your close friends during the tour and for the topics we shared. I hope Osaka will be one of your friends' fond memories. Regards Yosshi