Dotonbori being the
epicentre of Osaka, Japan’s sec-
ond largest city, is both similar
and very different from Tokyo.
The energy of Osaka is much
busier, louder, and festive, with
attractions including histor-
ic castles, shopping arcades,
ocean and sky. Many adventur-
ers find themselves lost in the
labyrinth of Osaka’s streets –
but to be honest getting lost is
the only way to experience the
best of Osaka.
Although,
Osaka’s
shopping and busy streets
can be exhausting. When it
is much needed for a respite
from the throngs of shoppers, I
turned down to Hozenji Yoko-
cho where the Hozenji Temple
is situated.
The temple is most fa-
mous for its moss-covered
statue of Fudo Myo-o, a dhar-
mapāla or wrathful god. When
visitors prey to the Fudo Myo-o
statue at Hozenji, they throw
water on him and the two at-
tendants who flank him, a man
and a woman believed to be a
couple. This has caused moss
to grow on all three statues,
giving them a magical, other-