Explore Sakai City’s National Treasures for Just 700 Yen

The most convenient public transportation in Sakai City is the Hankai Tramway, built in 1900 and locally known as the "Ding Ding Tram” （チン電） . The tram itself is a tourist attraction, with over a century of history, and is the only remaining streetcar in Osaka Prefecture.

The Hankai Tramway is the most convenient way to explore Sakai City, locally known as the "Ding Ding Tram”.

The Hankai Tramway has two lines: the blue Uemachi Line, running from "Tennoji- Ekimae" in Osaka City to "Hamadera- Ekimae" in Sakai City, and the green line, running from Ebisucho in Osaka City (near the famous Tsutenkaku) to "Abikomichi Station" on the Osaka-Sakai border, where you can transfer to the blue line to Hamadera Station. The entire journey on the Hankai Tramway takes about 50 minutes.

Best Value: Hankai Tramway One-Day Pass

Regardless of distance, the Hankai Tramway fare is a flat rate of 240 yen for adults and 120 yen for children, which may not be cost-effective for tourists. The best deal is to buy the Hankai Tramway All-Line One-Day Pass” Tekuteku Ticket”, allowing unlimited rides on all Hankai tram lines for one day for 700 yen (about 35 HKD) for adults and half price for children. Recently, a new” Sakai Hospitality Ticket Hankai Extended Version” has been introduced, which includes unlimited tram rides and unlimited rides on Nankai buses within Sakai City, priced at 800 yen for adults and half price for children.

The tram itself is a tourist attraction, with over a century of history, and is the only remaining streetcar in Osaka Prefecture.

Tekuteku Ticket

Price: 700 yen for adults / 350 yen for children

Website: https://www.hankai.co.jp/fare/ticket/

First Stop: "Hamadera-Ekimae" - Japan's Oldest Private Railway Station

The first stop on the Hankai Tramway tour of Sakai City is the nostalgic building next to the Hankai Tramway terminus at Hamadera Ekimae, which is the "Hamaderakoen" station built by its parent company, Nankai Electric Railway, in 1907. It is currently the oldest private railway station in Japan. The station was closed in 2016 and revitalized into a café and gallery. The British-style architecture has become a popular photo spot. Hamadera Park is also one of Japan's oldest public parks, filled with lush pine forests.

"Hamadera Ekimae" station is famous for its century-old building, Japan's oldest private railway station of Nankai Electric Railway, now revitalized into a café and gallery.

Hamadera Park Station Old Station Building

Address: 2 Chome, Hamadera Koencho, Nishi-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture

Opening Hours ： Gallery 10am-5pm, close on Tuesday, Café 10am- 4pm

Website ： http://hamaderastation.com/ （ Japanese ）

Second Stop: "Myokokujimae Station" - Sakai Traditional Industry Hall

Sakai is renowned for its traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives industry, and the Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum (Sakai Denshokan) displays various types of knives, attracting foreign visitors for shopping. Sakai's Japanese Kitchen Knives was certified by the government during the Edo period and awarded the title "Sakaikiwami" . The hall also features knife sharpening demonstrations. Other exhibits include Sakai's famous products such as bicycles, dyed fabrics, carpets, incense, kelp, and Japanese sweets. On weekends, various craftsmen hold demonstrations and workshops for making incense and Japanese sweets.

The Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum's signboard features a large knife. The Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum displays various types of knives.

Nearby, there are several traditional Japanese Kitchen Knives shops. The editor visited one and was pleasantly surprised to see an old craftsman demonstrating knife sharpening and even took a photo with the knife.

The old craftsman sharpens knives daily.

The Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum （ Sakai Denshokan ）

Address: 1-1-30 Zaimokucho-nishi Sakai-ku Sakai 590-0941

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm （ The 3rd Tuesday close ）

Admission: Free

Website: https://www.sakaidensan.jp/en/

Myokokuji Temple: Guardian of the Thousand-Year-Old Great Sago Palm

Another attraction at "Myokokujimae Station" is Myokokuji Temple, built in 1562 by Nichiren Buddhist monk Nichikwang. The temple is famous for its 1,100-year-old Great Sago Palm, designated as a national natural monument, guarding the city of Sakai. According to legend, the warlord Oda Nobunaga transplanted the Great Sago Palm to Azuchi Castle, but it cried every night to return to Sakai. Nobunaga eventually returned the palm to Myokokuji Temple.

The solemn Myokokuji Temple was built in 1562 by Nichiren Buddhist monk Nichikwang.

Myokokuji Temple is the only temple in Japan with a "Sago Palm Dry Landscape" garden, which can only be viewed through glass. The Great Sago Palm is enormous, with over 120 branches, some supported by wooden poles to prevent collapse. Outside the temple, there is also a "Tosa Samurai Seppuku Grave," commemorating the site where 11 Tosa samurai committed seppuku in 1868 during a conflict with French soldiers in Sakai.

Myokokuji Temple is famous for its 1,100-year-old Great Sago Palm, designated as a national natural monument.

Myokokuji Temple

Address: 4-1-4 Zaimokucho Higashi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City

Admission: 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students

Opening Hours: 10am - 4:30pm (reservation required for groups of 15 or more)

Website: https://temple.nichiren.or.jp/5041001-myokokuji/

The Yamaguchi Residence is one of the few remaining early Edo period townhouses in Japan, designated as an Important Cultural Property. The main house was rebuilt immediately after the area was destroyed by fire in 1615. Inside, there are three tatami rooms arranged side by side, and you can see the beams, short pillars, and horizontal timbers that make up the roof structure. In the center of the courtyard is a 200-year-old large lacquer tree that turns red in autumn.

The Old Yamaguchi Family Residence is one of the few remaining early Edo period townhouses in Japan, designated as an Important Cultural Property. The Yamaguchi Residence is well-preserved, with three tatami rooms.

Old Yamaguchi Family Residence

Address: 1-2-31 Nishinocho Higashi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City

Opening Hours: 10 am - 5pm (last entry at 4 pm),close on Tuesday

Admission: 200 yen (250 yen for a combined ticket with Seigakuin) ， Free admission for junior high school students and younger

Website: https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/en/spot/detail/157

Fourth Stop: "Takasujinsha Station" - Sakai City Machiya Historical Museum :Seigakuin

"Seigakuin" is an early Edo period building that was used as a monastery and temple before being converted into a private school. Ekai Kawaguchi, the first Japanese to cross the Himalayas for study, also studied here. The museum houses items used by Kawaguchi, such as iron kettles and postcards, as well as desks and Japanese-style desks used at the time.

Desks and Japanese-style desks used by Ekai Kawaguchi.

Old Seigakuin Mountain Priest Dojo

Address: 1-3-13 Kita Hatago-cho Nishi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City

Opening Hours: 10am –5pm (Last entry at 4:30pm)

Admission:

100 yen (free for junior high school students and younger / individuals 65 years or older / disabled individuals)

250 yen for a combined ticket with Old Yamaguchi Family Residence

Website: https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/en/spot/detail/409

Fifth Stop: "Sumiyoshi Toriimae Station" - Sumiyoshi Taisha Sumiyoshi Taisha is the head shrine of 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan and is highly revered as the first shrine of ancient Japan's Settsu Province. At the beginning of this year, over 2 million people visited for worship.

Sumiyoshi Taisha is the head shrine of 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan. The shrine grounds feature a sacred camphor tree said to be over 1,000 years old.

The shrine is rich in cultural heritage, with the oldest four main halls designated as national treasures, showcasing ancient architectural styles. The Sorihashi Bridge, also known as Taiko Bridge, is a symbol of Sumiyoshi and a popular photo spot due to its drum-like reflection in the lake. Walking up the bridge, which has a steep incline of about 48 degrees, feels like climbing a ladder. The shrine also has a sacred camphor tree said to be over 1,000 years old.

Sumiyoshi Taisha Sorihashi Bridge, also known as Taiko Bridge, is a popular photo spot because its reflection in the lake resembles a drum.

The most sacred spot in Sumiyoshi Taisha is "Goshogozen," a popular spiritual site where worshippers can receive the five great powers: physical strength, intelligence, financial power, fortune, and longevity. To obtain these powers, visitors need to search for three small stones inscribed with " 五 " (five), " 大 " (great), and " 力 " (power) among the pebbles at the roots of the cedar tree in Goshogozen. For 500 yen, you can get a special pouch to carry the stones, which is said to make your wishes come true.

Goshogozen is the most sacred spot in Sumiyoshi Taisha and a popular spiritual site. Visitors search for three small stones inscribed with " 五 " (five), " 大 " (great), and " 力 " (power) among the pebbles at the roots of the cedar tree in Goshogozen.

Sumiyoshi Taisha

Address: 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City

Opening Hours: 6am-5pm (April to September), 6:30am-5pm (October to March), The souvenir shop is open from 9am to 5pm.

Admission: Free

Website: https://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/en/