Written by JC Team
The Shinno Festival — Osaka’s last traditional festival of the year — is set against a backdrop of golden ginkgo trees at Sukunahikona Shrine.
What happens?
The Shinno Festival might not be Osaka’s largest festival, but it’s rich in cultural significance and rooted in local tradition.
Businesses, especially from the pharmaceutical industry, flock to Sukunahikona Shrine to pray for health and prosperity. This is where the gods of medicine Sukunahikona-no-mikoto and Shinno-shi are enshrined. Often locals stop by for quick prayers before heading to work.
During the festival, the street in front of the shrine is lined with food stalls offering traditional Japanese snacks. One of the highlights is the distribution of the iconic Tiger Amulet, believed to ward off illness: a practice dating back to the 19th century.
If you’re interested in history, the nearby Museum of Medicine offers a peek into Osaka’s pharmaceutical past.
Schedule 2024
November 22
- All day: Shrine visits and Tiger Amulet distribution
- Evening: Street stalls and festive atmosphere along Doshomachi
November 23
- Morning: Pharmaceutical prayers and visits to Sukunahikona Shrine
- All day: Street stalls and Tiger Amulet distribution
How to get there
Sukunahikona Shrine is a 5-minute walk from Exit 6 of Kitahama Station on the
Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line, 10 minutes from Exit 11 of Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, and 8 minutes from Exit 27 of Kitahama Station on the Keihan Main Line of the Keihan Railway.