Tenjinnomori Tenmangu — Attraction in Osaka

I came to this beautiful and important historical shrine on a Monday morning in June, in order to admire it while avoiding possible crowds and to snap a few photos without bothering anyone. I had come from Haginochaya, on a walk along the Kishu Kaido to try to imagine what the journey to Sumiyoshi Taisha and on through Sakai must’ve been like when Toyotomi Hideyoshi first passed through to rest at Tengachaya, giving it its name. Tenjin no Mori and it’s shrine is near the site, so I entered respectfully and walked quietly around. I am very aware of the purpose of Shinto shrines and have read up on the history of this particular Tenmangu shrine.

Sadly, it is true, a man came out from the shrine office when I approached the haiden from an angle and yelled at me to stop taking photos and to delete the photos I had taken (only two, and not directly of the front)! I thought maybe he was harassing me for being what he thought was a foreign tourist, excused myself gently, and explained that I had never heard of such a rule that photos must never be taken inside the grounds of a shrine. It is not specifically stated at the entrance on any sign the photography is prohibited, or I would certainly have complied! Then, later, I saw all of the other stories about this man, and understood.

Tengachaya is not a large tourist center, particularly along this route, but it is an important road that’s worth visiting for its history, just the same. It’s a shame visitors are so often chased away from what few relics remain here to visit. I give this location 3 stars because it is well worth a visit! I would give it only one star for the man who would make your visit a bad time just for taking a quiet and unbothersome photo as a souvenir to remember it by....

[Very Racist Old Man] I visited this place this morning, and while standing inside the shrine to see the map, an old man approached me who's running the place, and began to ask me "Are you Japanese?". After which, he told me to get out of the stone paved path... The question of "Are you Japanese?" was irrelevant, and was just extremely rude I think... As someone from Osaka, this is sad, as I hope more old people becomes more...

地元天下茶屋ということもあって、春先の梅撮りを何度もさせてもらっていましたが、先日「撮影ご遠慮ください」と初めて注意を受けたのですぐに撮影を中止、折角なので「なぜ撮影できないのか」詳しく事情をお聞きしました。 曰く、境内は神域であり特に依代（神殿や神木など）は信仰の対象なので写真撮影はご遠慮いただいている。と、いたってまっとうなお話でした。ただし、お参りに来られた方が記念撮影するとか、梅花も神木ではないので撮影は問題ないということ（それでも神社の方がいらっしゃれば一声かけましょう）。 さらに突っ込んでいろいろお聞きすると、撮影不可とされるご事情も止むを得ないと思いました。（神社を信仰の場ともわきまえない不敬な人や信仰心もないのに撮影だけしていくような人が多すぎます） こちらの神社では今後も美観を損ねてしまう「撮影不可の看板等」を掲示する予定はないそうです。 私も今後は、必ずまずお参りしてから、（特に撮影可否の掲示がなければ）神社の方にお伺いしてから撮影させていただこうと思います。 最後にご推薦のひとこと。天神ノ森は天下茶屋界隈で現存する最も美しい神社です。かつて存在した名水（近くに天下茶屋跡がある）、森の名残りを感じさせる境内はとても貴重で歴史の流れを肌身に感じら...