Itineraries
Experiences, Events, and Spots
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Experiences, Events, and Spots
Eifuku-ji Temple (Prince Shotoku's Mausoleum)
As regent to Empress Suiko, Prince Shotoku, who introduced advanced political systems and cultures, including the establishment of the Seventeen-Article Constitution and the Twelve Ranks of the Crown, and the dispatch of envoys to the Sui Dynasty, attempted political reform. According to the Nihon Shoki, he died in 621 and was buried in Isonaga. The tomb is said to contain the coffins of three people: the prince, his mother, Empress Anahobe no Otomo, and his wife, Empress Zenrojo, hence the name "Three Bone and One Mausoleum." Eifuku-ji Temple was built by Empress Suiko to protect Prince Shotoku's tomb. It is said that Emperor Shomu renovated the large temple complex during the Nara period, and it developed into a sacred site for Prince Shotoku worship. While the entire mountain was burned down during the wars of Oda Nobunaga, the temple complex was gradually rebuilt, beginning with Toyotomi Hideyori's reconstruction of the Seireiden (Planet of the Holy Spirit). The Mahayana ceremony, held every year on April 11th and 12th to commemorate the anniversary of Prince Shotoku's death, is crowded with many pilgrims.
Related experience events
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Hirakatashuku juku Kagiya Municipal Museum
KawachiKagiya was a bustling inn during the Edo period as a place to wait for the 30 koku ships that connected Fushimi and Osaka, and operated as a traditional Japanese restaurant until 1997. In the same year, the main house of Kagiya was designated as a cultural property of the city, and is a historic building that retains the style of the Edo period, which is extremely rare. The city dismantled and restored the house after it was donated, and it opened as the Hirakatashuku Kagiya Municipal Museum on July 3, 2001. The Kagiya site was designated as a historic site by the city in 1998. In 2023, the annex was registered as a national cultural property.
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Hirakata City Former Tanaka Family Foundry Folk Museum
KawachiThis museum, unique in Japan, conveys the history of casting. It uses the "Tanaka Family Residence, Foundry and Main House," a tangible cultural property designated by Osaka Prefecture, and displays materials related to casting and casting craftsmen in the foundry, while the main house displays folk materials such as agriculture and folk tools. It also displays the remains of a relocated Yayoi period dwelling excavated from an archaeological site within the city, as well as a restored Yayoi period pit dwelling.
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Special Historic Site: Baekje Temple Ruins
KawachiThe Baekje Temple Ruins are the remains of a temple that is believed to have been built in the latter half of the Nara period by the Baekje royal family, descendants of the royal family of Baekje, as a clan temple. Many elaborately crafted circular foundation stones remain, and it is one of the few ruins where the earthen platforms of the main halls and pagodas from when they were first built in the Nara period are still in good condition. Combined with the historical background of the Baekje royal family, this is a valuable historical site that shows the historical facts of cultural exchange between ancient Japan and Korea, and for this reason it was designated a National Historic Site in 1941 and a Special Historic Site in 1952.
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Hirakata City Cultural Arts Center
KawachiThis facility, which opened in August 2021 (Reiwa 3), is a base for cultural and artistic activities in Hirakata City. It is equipped with two halls, one large and one small, for cultural and artistic performances such as music and theater, an event hall suitable for lectures and various parties, an art gallery, a creative activity room, and more. There is also a lush green plaza in front of the facility and a cafe.
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Kishida Farm Strawberry Picking
KawachiThis strawberry picking facility opened in the Hotani area in 2019. In addition to strawberry picking, they also sell Hirakata brand strawberries, strawberry packs, and honey.
Itineraries
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Osaka National Treasure Three Kannon Temples Pilgrimage (only on April 17th and 18th, 2025)
KawachiMinamikawachi, one of the areas with the largest concentration of national treasures in Japan, is home to three temples, Kuzui-ji Temple, Domyo-ji Temple, and Kanshin-ji Temple, which enshrines the Kannon Bodhisattva, a national treasure, as their principal image. In 2025, in addition to the usual date of April 18th, the principal image of each of these three temples will also be unveiled on the 17th, the day before. This marks the launch of the "Osaka National Treasure Three Kannon Pilgrimage." By touring these three temples, visitors can experience the rich history and culture of Minamikawachi. *This year only, Domyo-ji Temple will be displaying the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva, a former national treasure and now an Important Cultural Property, as its principal image, the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva, will be exhibited at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts.
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Discover！
KawachiStroll through the old townscape, stop at a historic winery for a tasting, and finish off with a satisfying yakiniku meal. This luxurious course lets you savor delicious food while learning about the history and food culture of the Minamikawachi area.
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Experience the rich nature and history of Kawachinagano
KawachiKawachinagano City is located in the southeastern tip of Osaka Prefecture, at the southernmost point of the Kawachi area. With the Kongo Mountains to the east and the Izumi Mountains to the south, approximately 70% of the city is covered by forest, making nature close at hand. The city is intersected by roads such as the Koyasan Koyakaido, Osawa Highway, and Amano Highway, and is dotted with historic temples. Experience the richness of nature and the scent of history.
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Enjoy grapes and wine in the famous Kawachi area
KawachiThe Kawachi area in southeastern Osaka Prefecture has been a famous grape-producing region since the Meiji era. Full-scale winemaking began in the Taisho era, and today six wineries are preserving Osaka's wine culture. Embark on a grape and wine-filled journey, touring wineries, enjoying meals, and shopping for grape-based treats at Japanese confectionery shops.
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Visit shrines and temples with miraculous powers that have been revered since ancient times
Kawachi, Osaka CityOsaka, a city with a long history, is home to many ancient shrines and temples. Since ancient times, they have attracted deep reverence from the people, and even today they continue to be affectionately referred to as "Mr. X". The history and benefits of each shrine vary, but if you visit and pray quietly, you will be able to feel the miraculous power of their presence.
