Iris at Nanba Shrine 難波神社

Located in the heart of downtown Ōsaka near the business district is Nanba shrine, constructed under the reign of Emperor Hanzei, it is now another example of how the Japanese landscape is a mixture of ancient existing right alongside modern. The large stone temple walls enclose the shrine that is otherwise surrounded by modern 20 story office buildings and the endless traffic noise from the busy street right at its gate - a main artery for transportation in the area. The relative silence coupled with the ancient buildings and gardens inside the walls creates an atmosphere that feels almost otherworldly in comparison to the fast moving city just a few feet away. At this time of year the temple also features large groups of potted iris carpeting the interior grounds.