What if I told you that this seemingly peaceful shrine has connections to an emperor? Kiyomihara Shrine stands here in Osaka. It is more than just a local place of worship. Kiyomihara Shrine has a history stretching back centuries.
Emperor Tenmu once rested near this very spot. Legend says he was traveling to Naniwa. He paused here and thought of Yoshino in the distance. This moment gave the surrounding area its name Yoshinomi. It means thinking of Yoshino in the distance.
The shrine’s name Kiyomihara comes from Emperor Tenmu’s palace. His palace was in Yamato Kiyomihara. Originally the shrine was called Tenmutennogu or Shoji jinja. Later it was renamed Kiyomihara Shrine.
After Emperor Tenmu’s death the Otomo clan built a shrine to honor him. The Otomo clan maintained this area. They called it Tenmu Emperor Palace. It became the guardian shrine for the old Otomo village.
In 1872 the shrine’s name changed to Kiyomihara Palace. Then in 1909 local shrines were consolidated. The Meiji government sought to consolidate smaller shrines. Kiyomihara Palace merged with other village shrines. These included Sominasumi Shrine, Matsuo Shrine, and Kimori Katsute Shrine. The shrine took on the village name and became Kofuna Shrine.
Later in 1942 the grounds were expanded. New shrine buildings were added to Kiyomihara Shrine. At this time the shrine was renamed Kiyomihara Shrine.
The main deity enshrined here is Emperor Tenmu. Other deities joined him through consolidation. These include Sominasumi no Mikoto. Also enshrined are Oyamatsumi no Mikoto. Tentsukumari no Kami and Kunisukumari no Kami are here too.
Kiyomihara Shrine holds its annual festival on August 1st. It is a village shrine. This shrine has seen many changes. It honors Emperor Tenmu’s visit and continues as a place of faith. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history. Feel the presence of this important place in Osaka.