Hokoku Shrine, Osaka

The Hokoku Shrine is located in the Osaka Castle Park to the south of the Castle Keep or Hommaru. Three members of the Toyotomi family are enshrined here and worshipped as the Deities of success and good luck.

After the defeat of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Meiji Emperor commissioned the erection of two shrines in honor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who was responsible for the unification of Japan. The main Hokoku Shrine was built in Kyoto and a branch was constructed in Nakanoshima Azayamazaki-no-Hana in Osaka. It was moved to its present location in 1961 and the Osaka central Public Hall was built on its former site.

The Hokoku Shrine is dedicated to Hideyoshi, Hideyori and Hidenga Toyotomi. A large statue of Hideyoshi is located here. The garden laid in 1972 has an ocean theme because locals believe that the reason for the prosperity of Osaka was seafaring and maritime trade. It has the shape of a horse that was the emblem of Hideyoshi with large stones to represent an Ishiyama or Stone Mountain. Worshippers come here to obtain an amulet called Sennari-hyotan which is said to give them success and luck because the enshrined deity Hideyoshi, who started off as a low ranking soldier, later became one of Japan’s most successful leaders.