Hi Everyone,
Japan has so many aspects we love, which is why we go back over and over again. Osaka is one of many places we enjoy long stays due to its easy access around Japan, but there is so much to see even in the middle of the city. In the middle of the Tennoji area is Horikoshi Jinja (堀越神社), a small, underrated shrine that many tourists might easily overlook as it doesn’t have a grand epic frontage.
What makes this shrine special is that it is famous for something called ichigo ichie (一期一会) wishes—meaning wishes that are deeply personal and meant to come true only once in a lifetime. It’s said that if you make a heartfelt wish here, the gods will grant it to you as long as it’s sincere. We saw a full line of people lining up at this shrine on New Year's Day, but we didn’t line up for it as the line was too long.
The shrine isn’t very big, with a few large lanterns at the entrance. As you walk in, it feels like you are stepping away from the busy city which is surprisingly very quiet. We made our wishes but didn’t write on a wooden plaque. We did though shook the bell right in the middle of the shrine, a way to tell the gods we were here. As we walked around the shrine, there was a small set of tori gates that we walked through hoping to have a great year ahead of us. It’s also a cute feature for this small shrine.
Located very close to Tennoji station, I highly recommend you stop by for a visit and make a special wish, hoping it will come true. After your visit, you could continue on to Tennoji Park, Shitennoji Temple or grab a meal near the station, lots of options on what to do at Tennoji.
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