In the heart of Dotonbori, the central area of Osaka tourism, if you venture into the alleys, you’ll come across a small temple named “Hojenji.”
Actually, more famous than the temple itself is the narrow lane called “Hojenji Yokocho.”
“Hojenji in a Small Alley in Dotonbori”
Hojenji is a temple located in a small alley near Dotonbori in Osaka. Here, you can encounter a unique moss-covered statue, and that’s the highlight.
The statue covered in moss is called Hodomayo-Osou, the Unmoving Wisdom King. The moss-covered appearance has a special reason behind it. In the past, someone, too poor to afford offerings, thought, “Wouldn’t the Buddha also appreciate a refreshing drink on a hot day?” So, they started sprinkling water on the statue and offering prayers, leading to the growth of moss on the statue.
Later, others followed suit, continuing the tradition of offering water and prayers to the statue.
“Small Cat Shrine Next to Hojenji”
Next to Hojenji, there is a shrine honoring indigenous Japanese beliefs, specifically dedicated to cats. This shrine is known for worshipping cats.
Visitors might even spot a black cat passing by when visiting this shrine.
While tucked away in a narrow alley in Dotonbori, Hojenji, along with the adjacent cat shrine, is an interesting place filled with various stories.
“Japan, Osaka, Dotonbori, Hojenji”
- Address: 1 Chome-2-16 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japan
- Phone: +81 6-6211-4152