Osaka Shrines and Jizo Statues

大阪市, 日本

Osaka, Japan

January 24th 2023

Something I have noticed in Japan is that even in the busiest cities at the busiest times, there is always a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple tucked away down a close side street or up some nearby stairs that offers relief from the crowds. Some are popular and over-touristed, (such as the dragon-head shrine below), but often the least well-known seem to be the best.

In the Shittenoji shrine complex, a quiet corner is occupied by rows and rows of little figures called Jizo statues. Jizo represents the guardian deity of children, and in shrines such as this, these statues are often bought and placed by women who have lost children or gone through abortion and miscarriages.