Sugawara Shrine is beloved as "Sakai's Tenjin-san." It is said to be one of the shrines that found one of the seven "Tenjin" wooden statues that Sugawara-no-Michizane made and threw into the sea during his demotion to a position at Dazaifu in the south.The shrine is believed to have been established in the year 997.In addition to the main shrine building, there is also the Niomon Gate (an Osaka tangible cultural property), built by Sakai gunsmiths in 1677, and a tea room, Kobaiken, on the grounds.South Osaka's only Ebisu shrine, the much-loved Sakai Ebisu Shrine is Sugawara's auxiliary shrine. Every year on January 10th, "Toka Ebisu," hundreds of thousands of people visit the shrine to pray for economic success and prosperity. Fireflies are kept in the Sugawara Shrine garden, and popular firefly watching events are held annually for two days in mid-June.