Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine in Osaka had a long history before it enshrined Inari and became famous in that regard. Its founding is said to be 12 B.C. during the reign of Emperor Suinin when it originally worshiped Shitateru Hime. The name Tamatsukuri, literally “jewel making”, is the name of the area around the shrine and refers to a guild of jewel makers (Tamatsukuri-be) that inhabited this areas during the Yayoi period (200B.C.E.－250 C.E.).
A fire during a battle in 1576 destroyed all shrine buildings and records, and when Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle, this shrine became its protector. At this time the shrine was called Toyotu (Abundant Bay) Inari Shrine and had several Buddhist halls within the precincts. Its Kannon Hall became one of the thirty-three sites for Kannon pilgrimage in this area, made famous by mention in a Chikamatsu play.
The shrine burned again during the fall of Osaka Castle in 1615 and was rebuilt only to burn again, two centuries later, in a great city fire in 1863. After rebuilding in 1870, Tamatsukuri received the rank of village shrine (gosha) from the government ; in 1928 this was raised to the rank of prefectural shrine (fusha). Bombing raids completely destroyed the shrine in 1945, and the present sanctuary of ferroconcrete was completed in 1954.
Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine Location
But in any case, in the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, there are many sites built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. As the shrine of Osaka City – the guardian of Osaka City is honored. It is said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife and children will also look at the moon to do the flowers seeing. “The shrine position did not change in the Tokugawa period, and the Santo of the Osaka city had to pay homage to the other side.” There was also a record of prayer when the city was out of town.
Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine official website
Address : 〒540-0004 Yukyu 2-3-8, Central District, Osaka City
Tel : 06-6941-3821
Access : JR Osaka Loop or Subway Tsurumi Green Line “Mori Palace Station” or “Jade Station” 5-minute walk from the station
Photo and Source: Mainichi JP