First, start at Tamatsukuri Station on the JR Loop Line. If you walk north along Tamatsukuri Street and turn left into the residential area, you will find Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine in front of Tamatsukuri Elementary School. "Tamazukuri" appears many times like a tongue twister, but this is actually where the "Tamazukuri Club" was located in ancient times. It is a beautiful place name derived from magatama. Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine was established in the fall of Emperor Suinin's 18th year (12 BC), and it is said that when Prince Shotoku fought with Mononobe Moriya, he encamped here at Tamatsukuri Oka and prayed for victory. During the Toyotomi era, it was enshrined as the guardian deity of Osaka Castle, and at the back of the quiet grounds, the stone torii gate dedicated by Hideyori remains. To the right of the torii gate is the Namba Tamatsukuri Museum. Inside the unique building, which feels like an ancient space, there are exhibits that introduce and display ancient jade relics, raw stones and beads mined from all over the country, the history of jade, and the process of making jade (reservations required for tours). Maybe there is an ancient magatama sleeping beneath the ground where we are standing now?

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About 10 minutes down the slope from Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine. Going further back in time, we arrived at the Jomon period. On the first basement floor of Morinomiya Piloti Hall, there is an exhibition room dedicated to the Morinomiya ruins. According to research, people started living here in Morinomiya about 5,000 years ago during the middle Jomon period! Human bones were discovered during the third survey associated with the construction of this hall around 1970-1970, so the human bones, stone tools, and pottery of Morinomiya No. 1 are on display here. Noda. The ``Morinomiya No. 1'', who can be said to be the origin of Osaka people, is a 148cm tall woman who is estimated to be in her 30s.

If you go west up the slope of Chuo Odori from the Morinomiya Ruins, you will arrive at the Naniwa Palace Historic Site Park, which is full of greenery. In 645, Emperor Kotoku moved the capital to Namba with the Taika Reform. The vast Naniwa Nagara Toyosaki Shrine (Naniwa Nagata Toyosaki Shrine) was built in this area, which was bustling with the international port of Naniwa Tsu. Later, in 726, Emperor Shomu built a new palace to rebuild Naniwa Palace, which had been destroyed by fire. The foundation of Daigokuden from that time has been restored to the north of the center of the approximately 90,000 square meter historical park. Be sure to take a break on the stone platform. If you listen closely, you might even hear the rustling sounds of ancient times.

Two tall buildings stand side by side, diagonally across from the northwest corner intersection of Naniwa Palace Historical Park. The Osaka Museum of History is in the foreground. The 10-story museum introduces Osaka from ancient times to modern times with reconstructed models, computer images, and a wealth of materials, but the highlight is the Namba Palace Daigokuden, which has been recreated on the 10th floor. You can experience the grandeur of life-sized government officials lined up in a row of vermilion-painted columns with a diameter of 70 centimeters. In the basement, guided tours of the building ruins discovered during excavations are also available (six times a day, first 40 people are allowed each time).

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Takatsu Park, a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Tanimachi 9-chome Station on the OsakaMetro Tanimachi Line, is an oasis in the heart of the city, with its beautiful greenery (and cherry blossoms in spring). This is the site of Namba Takatsu-miya Shrine, which was built around the 5th century by Emperor Nintoku, who saw the smoke from the furnaces rising from the houses, realized the poverty of the people, and offered relief. It is also known as the stage for the classic rakugo show ``Takatsu no Tomi,'' and a lively vaudeville show called ``Takatsugu-tei/Kuromon Yose'' is held every month on the grounds.

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From Takatsu Shrine, take the Osaka Metro again for one stop. Get off at Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Station and walk along the approach for 3-4 minutes to finally reach Shitennoji Shitennoji, the final stop on your ancient journey. Japan's oldest temple was built by Prince Shotoku in the first year of the reign of Empress Suiko (593), about 1,400 years ago. The inner gate, five-story pagoda, main hall, and lecture hall are lined up in a straight line from south to north, surrounded by a corridor in the "Shitennoji style" layout. As the sound of bells and the voices of sutra chanting overlap, good men and women holding wooden strips are enveloped in the smoke of incense. The wish of the common people, unchanged for thousands of years, is still alive here today.

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