Shitennoji Temple

四天王寺

Established in 593 during the reign of Empress Suiko, Shitennoji Temple is a Buddhist temple with a history spanning over 1,400 years. According to the Nihon Shoki, Prince Shotoku vowed to build this temple to house four guardian statues and provide salvation for all people after winning a battle. The grounds feature one of Japan's oldest architectural styles, known as the Shitennoji-style layout, which aligns the five-story pagoda, Golden Hall, and Lecture Hall in a straight line from south to north.