If you are in Osaka and want to see something unusual, in the Tennoji ward, best known for its Shinsekai entertainment district, take a little time to visit the Isshin-ji Temple.

Established 800 years ago, Isshin-ji was destroyed during the WWII and was progressively rebuilt over the following decades. One of the most recent constructions is the Main gate, raised in 1997 after the design of the head priest, who is also an architect. Made of steel, concrete and glass, with bronze statues, the new gate is a truly spectacular structure, unique amongst the Japanese temple gates (technically, this is a Niomon gate) and, as you can see from the photo, a great point of attraction for passersby.

Niomon Gate, Isshin-ji Temple, Osaka

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Old Japanese stories, Hasedera Kannon-do