Not an overly busy place, but my family went here with a guided tour and thought it was a nice out of the way spot. The gardens are sensational and wonderful insta spot (if your into that). My kids just loved all the turtles but the entire area is a wonderful location

Time to ‘go off the beaten track’ … so today we headed off into the outer suburbs to visit Sumiyoshi Taisha; a Shinto shrine and its surrounding gardens, which date back to the 3rd century. It is also well known for its ‘red bridge’. With google maps in hand, we navigated our way through multiple metro line changes; some walking; and even local tram rides - occasionally seeking directions via a combination of sign langauge and pigeon English. It was good fun and worth the effort. The shrine, whilst ancient, was clearly well frequented - and it was interesting watching the local visitors praying to the various entities. When it was time to head back we simply did it all over again - but in reverse. :)

If you are looking for a shrine/temple that is near Osaka city, that is not located in the outskirts or in Kyoto, consider Sumiyoshi Taisha. I took about 30min to travel here from my hotel via metro and tram. Very quiet, has many locals visiting to pray and covers quite a huge space with different dedicated areas: the three temples, fortune cat house, stone talisman making area (forgive me I'm not sure of the actual name), pond, talisman shop. There are also some food carts located right at the entrance of the Taisha. I spent about an hour here slowly walking around and stopping at times.

If you want to visit a beautiful temple without the nightmare of tourist crowds, Sumiyoshi Taisha is the one. It's just about 20 min train ride from Namba and it has plenty of things to do. You can walk on the iconic red bridge, learn about the god of sea that this shrine worships. Make sure to stroll around and just immerse in the atmosphere. Really glad we came here.

While visiting shrines wasn't initially a priority during our travels through Japan out of respect for spiritual beliefs, my daughter's suggestion to see Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine proved to be an extraordinarily rewarding experience. If one were to choose a single shrine to visit, even without spiritual motivations, this should undoubtedly be the one. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine exudes an aura of tranquility and beauty that is unparalleled. The serene escape are a contrast from the bustling city, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in harmony with nature. The shrine's architectural details with intricate woodcarvings and colors, showcase the skill of Japanese artisans. Each structure, the majestic torii gates, the bridge, the sculptures, paint a rich cultural experience. There is no cost to enter and the train ride took about 20 minutes from where we were at the time. We also walked across from the entrance, past a park to find an indoor shopping area. Whether you're a spiritual seeker or simply an admirer of architectural and natural beauty, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine should not be missed. I highly recommend it!