Hozenji Temple & Doguyasuji, Osaka

A delicious authentic Japanese breakfast (bow) then off to C17 Hozenji Temple. Destroyed in WW2 except for Fudo Myo, legend has it the statue was visited by an older woman who had lost everything in the war. She could only offer water to Fudo Myo, the ‘Immovable One’ who represented discipline and moral character, and her wish came true. He is one of the Five Bright/Wisdom Kings of Buddhism and Shintoism. We tossed water on the mossy figure and I made my wish for peace.

Off to the eight level Don Quijote Department Store, with a ferris wheel shopfront we’d seen the night before, selling everything from food to sex toys, all wrapped in plastic. Then on to the Doguyasuji, the famous ‘Kitchenware Street’ of Osaka, a covered arcade and culinary paradise. So began the search for Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock print ‘Under the Wave off Kanagawa’ (1830-2) Showa Japan crockery.Read more