Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine, Osaka

The Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Osaka dedicated to the deity or Kami, Inari. It is an ancient place of worship and celebrated the 2000th anniversary of its foundation in 1989.

The Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine is said to have been founded in 12 B.C. by Emperor Suinin. At the time the hill near the shrine were called the Tamatsukuri-oka or Hill of gem making where a group of artisans who made comma shaped gems resided. It is from the hill that the shrine gets its name. In the 1580s, Hideyoshi Toyotomi enshrined the deity Inari here to protect Osaka Castle. The Toyotomi family held tea ceremonies here and they were served by the eminent tea ceremony expert, Sen-no-Rikyu. The original shrine was destroyed by fire and battles and was completely destroyed by the bombardment during World War II. The present building was constructed in 1954 funded by contributions of worshippers.

The main deity enshrined in the Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine is Ukanomitama-no-ôkami. He is the God of abundant harvest and food. Of the ancient shrine, a gate constructed by the Toyotomi family survives to this day. There is also a monument commemorating Sen-no-rikyu and the Naniwa Tamatsukuri Gem Museum with displays dedicated to the art of gem making and gem processing is located within the temple complex.