Shitennō-ji is a Buddhist temple founded in 593, which is deemed to be the oldest temple in all of Japan. It is also believed to be the first official Buddhist temple in the country and has served as an important center of education and culture ever since. The complex contains numerous buildings, including a five-story pagoda, a golden main hall, a lecture hall, gates, belfries, and other structures.

Notable features include:

• Turtle-shaped stonework from the 7th century found in the Kameido Hall📍

• Impressive art inside the lecture hall📍 (300 JPY fee has to be paid to enter the central area of the Temple over here📍)

• Nio guardian statues📍

• Huge stone torii gates📍 - as you may know, torii gate is an attribute of a Shinto Shrine but Shtitenno-ji is a Buddhist Temple. The temple was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku Taishi, who was a devout Buddhist. However, at the time, Shinto and Buddhism were not separate religions in Japan. They were both part of a syncretic belief system called Shinbutsu-shu (wiki). As a result, Shitennoji Temple was built with both Shinto and Buddhist elements. The huge stone torii gates at the entrance to the temple are a reminder of its Shinto origins.

• Japanese garden📍 - nothing too special but it is a good spot during sakura or if you would like to escape crowds of tourists (300 JPY extra fee has to be paid to enter over here📍)