Namba Yasaka Shrine’s enormous lion-shaped hall stands out among the surrounding urban buildings. The open-mouthed structure is a modern reconstruction at an active shrine whose history and rituals belong to Osaka’s local religious life.
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A monumental lion’s mouth opens above the shrine grounds, making the building impossible to miss. This lion-shaped shrine hall, rebuilt after wartime destruction, stands apart from the traditional forms around it.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- The lion-shaped Ema-den is about 12 metres high.
- The current main shrine building was rebuilt after wartime destruction.
- The annual tug-of-war ritual is recognized as Osaka intangible folk culture.
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