Osaka Tenmangu

Osaka Tenmangu (大阪天満宮) is a Shinto shrine in Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka, a central shrine of the Tenjin cult in the Kansai region and a betsu-hyo shrine of the Shrine Association. The principal kami is Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), the Heian scholar and Minister of the Right exiled to Dazaifu, recorded in the Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku and Fuso Ryakki. According to shrine tradition, the shrine was founded in 949 CE under Emperor Murakami after a vision of the Tenmangu rising at the site, and the auxiliary Daishogun Shrine of the onmyodo tradition predates the foundation. The Tenjin Festival on 24-25 July, with its evening boat procession (funa-togyo) and fireworks, is one of the three great festivals of Japan together with the Gion Festival of Kyoto and the Kanda Festival of Tokyo.