Shitennoji temple was established 1,400 years ago by pledge of Prince Shotoku Taishi as the first buddhist state-sponsored temple in Japan. The spacious temple grounds cover approximately 110,000 square meters, and feature the central gate, five-storied pagoda, golden pavilion, and lecture hall in a straight line from north to south, completely surrounded by a cloister hallway. In addition to the temple’s centralcomplex being one of Japan’s oldest architectural styles, it also houses various national artifacts that, at the time the temple was established, held as much cultural and historical significance as they do today. Northwest of the grounds is the 10,000 square meter wide and tranquil Hojo garden, featuring the treasured structures of the Yuyahojo and Rokkakutei – these too are cultural assets important to Japan. The garden overall envisions the buddhist image of the Sukhavati, referring to the western “Pure Land” of Amitabha in Mahayana Buddhism.

四天王寺是1400年前由聖德太子祈願所被建造的日本最初的佛法官寺。在約11萬㎡的寺廟的中央，將中門、五重塔、金堂、講堂一直線的南北排列，包圍整個迴廊，是日本最古老建築樣式之一，另外四天王寺式伽藍創建當時珍藏了各種的國寶・重要文化財。此外在境內往北東延伸約有面積1万㎡的閑靜本坊庭園，是國家的重要文化財，也有湯屋方丈及八角亭等貴重的建築，是以極樂淨土為形象所打造出來的庭園。