What is free and what you pay for
Shitennoji's gates are open 24 hours, and you can pray at the halls from outside at any time, according to the temple's admission page (in Japanese). Three areas inside need a ticket:
| Area | Adult (incl. university) | High school | Elementary and junior high | Kindergarten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central precinct (中心伽藍) | ¥500 | ¥300 | Free | Free |
| Garden (庭園) | ¥300 | ¥200 | ¥200 | Free |
| Treasure house (宝物館) | ¥500 | ¥300 | Free | Free |
Groups of 30 or more pay ¥100 less per person wherever a fee applies. The temple lists no combined ticket, so seeing all three costs an adult ¥1,300. People with a disability certificate and one companion enter free.
The current central-precinct price has applied since 1 October 2024 and the treasure-house price since 14 September 2024. The Osaka tourism bureau's page gives the same adult prices and calls the garden the Honbo Garden.
Which areas to choose
- Short visit: walk the free outer grounds, then pay ¥500 for the central precinct (中心伽藍).
- Garden lovers: add the ¥300 garden. The tourism bureau notes that the gardens sometimes close temporarily, and the Osaka Amazing Pass attraction list says the garden is closed on the 1st–10th of most months and on some other days. The temple's own admission page does not mention this, and its home-page garden schedule notice was empty when we checked, so confirm before you go.
- Treasure house: worth adding during a special exhibition. The autumn exhibition of medieval documents runs from 10 October to 29 November 2026 at the normal prices.
For a family of two adults and a 10-year-old seeing everything, the total is ¥2,800: ¥1,000 for the precinct, ¥800 for the garden (2 × ¥300 + ¥200) and ¥1,000 for the treasure house, with the child free in the precinct and treasure house.
Opening hours
| Period | Central precinct, halls and garden |
|---|---|
| April–September | 8:30–16:30 |
| October–March | 8:30–16:00 |
| 21st of each month, April–September | 8:00–17:00 |
| 21st of each month, November–March | 8:00–16:30 |
| 21 October | 8:00–17:00 |
The treasure house stops admitting visitors 20 minutes before closing, and on 21 November it opens 8:00–16:30. The temple's pages list no closing days; the tourism bureau says there are none, apart from occasional garden closures.
Closing at 16:00 in winter is early. If you want to combine the temple with sights that stay open late, visit Shitennoji in the morning and go on afterwards; Tsutenkaku tower is open until 21:45.
Free days and the monthly fair
The central precinct is free on these days, according to the admission page:
- the 21st of each month (大師会, Daishi-e);
- the 22nd of each month (太子会, Taishi-e);
- the spring equinox week in March and the autumn equinox week in September.
The temple's home page says a fair is held on the 21st and 22nd of every month. Expect more people on those days, and arrive close to the 8:00 opening if you want a quieter look round. The treasure house and garden are not on the free list.
Getting there
The temple's access page gives these walking times:
| Station | Line | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka | Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line | 5 min south |
| Tennoji | JR Osaka Loop Line; Osaka Metro Midosuji and Tanimachi lines | 12 min north |
| Osaka Abenobashi | Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line | 14 min north |
Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka is the closest. Tennoji is the better choice if you are coming on the JR Loop Line or continuing to other sights in the Tennoji area. Our Osaka Metro fares guide explains single fares and the day pass.
By car, use the unmanned Times car park next to the South Gate (Minamidaimon): ¥200 per 30 minutes from 8:00 to 22:00 and ¥100 per hour overnight, for up to 34 cars. There is no coach parking.
