Sumiyoshi Shrine Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Osaka's most famous shrine by far is Sumiyoshitaisha (Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine), the headquarters of some 2000 Sumiyoshi shrines throughout Japan. It enshrines three gods that have long been worshiped for protecting the nation, for protecting sea voyages and for promoting waka (31-syllable) poetry―and thus is a place of pilgrimage for sea travelers, students of the military arts, and waka poets. The main shrine is designed in the oldest style of shrine construction and is registered as a National Treasure. The shrine's symbol, the gracefully arched Taiko-bashi Bridge, spans the pond in front of the shrine. This shrine is referred to in the Nihon Shoki (the Chronicles of Japan), in Kojiki (Ancient Chronicles) and in The Tale of Genji.