Hozenji Temple

The Hozenji temple

The Osaka audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the Hozenji temple, a small Buddhist sanctuary nestled a stone's throw from the bustle of Dōtonbori. Founded at the beginning of the seventeenth century, it is dedicated to Fudō Myōō, a protective deity associated with moral strength.

The Mizukake Fudō and its alleys

The most famous statue of the temple, the Mizukake Fudō, is entirely covered with moss. For decades, visitors have poured water on it while formulating a wish, gradually creating this thick green layer; the ritual is supposed to bring luck, protection and success. On leaving the precinct, one enters Hozenji Yokocho, a set of paved alleys with wooden façades and hanging lanterns, rebuilt after the Second World War in respect of their traditional appearance, which evoke the Osaka of the past.

What there is to see

In contemplation, the visitor discovers the mossy statue of the Mizukake Fudō, before which many come to pray for health or an important project, and the intimate atmosphere of the alleys of Hozenji Yokocho. Cobbles, lanterns and wooden façades shelter there an exceptional concentration of small restaurants and Japanese cuisine houses. A haven of calm and tradition in the heart of the modern district.

Practical information

The Hozenji temple is a stone's throw from Dōtonbori, in Osaka, in the heart of the alleys of Hozenji Yokocho. A place of worship, it can generally be visited during the day, with respect for silence and for the faithful; access is on the level. The restaurants around follow their own hours.

Why is the statue of the Hozenji temple covered with moss?

Because for decades visitors have poured water on the Mizukake Fudō while formulating a wish, which has grown this thick green layer.

What is Hozenji Yokocho?

A set of paved alleys with lanterns and wooden façades, near the temple, which evoke the Osaka of the past and shelter numerous small restaurants.