Shinshu-otani-ha Namba Betsuin (Minami-mido), Osaka

The Shinshu-otani-ha Namba Betsuin also called the Minami-mido was the main temple of the Shinshu Otani branch of Zen Buddhism until the construction of Higashi Hoganji temple was constructed in Kyoto. Its location is Chuo-ku in Osaka City.

The Minami-mido temple was established in Watanabe in 1595 by the 12th Kyonyo Shonin. It was relocated to its present site in 1598. When the Tokugawa Shogun Leyasu gave the Shinsu Otani sect a large piece of land in Kyoto to build a temple, the Higashi Hoganji temple was constructed in 1602 and the Minami-mido ceased to be the principal temple of the sect. The temple was completely destroyed by the bombardments during World War II in 1945 and rebuilt in 1961.

The present Minami-mido Temple is a recent construction. The only surviving objects from the original building are the statue of the main God, the Amida Buddha and a granite statue of Shinran, the founder of the sect. A new temple gate and main hall where the main Deity was reinstalled were completed in 1961. There is also a small monument in the grounds inscribed with the last poem of the well known Haiku poet, Basho Matsuo. The temple stays open every day between 9.00 am to 2.30 pm.