Shitennō-ji Temple (四天王寺)

Shitennō-ji Temple (四天王寺) http://www.shitennoji.or.jp/

To get to Shitennō-ji Temple, we had to get to Shitennōji-mae Yūhigaoka station (exit 4) on the Tanimachi line. Walked past a really cute bakery and we couldn't resist so.....Ta-da~!!!

I think we bought this mentaiko bread, a potato and another onion bun. But because this first one didn't taste very nice, I lost motivaiton to take picture of the others.....hahaha

Sampat ppl like us, walked past a cementary and took pictures before reading the signs to see what the place actually is!!! I apologize to everyone who walked past us while we were taking pictures. 

The weather was super cold, but thank goodness for these vending machines which are everywhere!!! We could get hot drinks wherever we go!! Yummy~

The words says, the things that mum made for me are very delicious!

Cuzzie's fav. Itoen

Even their sewer holes look amazing. That's Osaka castle for you......

The temple was first constructed in 593 and is the first official Buddhist temple in Japan. Most of what we can see now are structures from 1963, when the temple was last rebuilt.

We entered through the Nakanomon Gate, where we will first pass by the Jizo statues~

Eirei-do, The light for Peace and Prayer

The kame are so cute~

Ishi no butai

Look at all the kame swimming there....

So beautiful~

The bell tower

Sakura was really in full bloom everywhere we went.

My favourite sakura tree!! The shidarezakura aka weeping cherry blossoms. Those with more than 5 petals are called yaeshidarezakura and usually bloom about a week later than those with 5 petals.

Saijumon Gate

To enter the main temple area, we have to pay 300yen near the gate.

This is the five story pagoda. I recommend you to walk all the way up if you have already paid to enter. 

There's a main Golden Pavilion housing the Nyorai Kannon. And this is the covered corridor which holds 3 gates - the Deva, Western and Eastern gate.

Saidaimon Gate that we exited from

I found a blog that describe the history, structures and the sights in the temple really well. To read it: http://lipikazuo.blogspot.com/2010/02/shitennoji-temple.html