First trip to the nearest city! Osaka.
Instead of getting a second train into the centre, we decided to walk.
And we came across a temple just off the side of the road, dedicated to The Restorer of Jodo-shinshu Buddhism, Rennyo Shonin.
We also found this really cute market going on outside another temple a little further on. Selling mostly food, but we did watch one guy having a massage which consisted of someone walking on him.
The temple with this market was outdoorsy, we are not sure what it symbolises but you would donate, ring the bell (I assume to alert the relevant god) and say a prayer.
It was pretty warm 22 degrees, but everyone seemed to be wearing coats and warmer clothes. We saw a really broad range of fashion, but my favourite is a pretty wide-spread style of light flowing clothing, sometimes floral, with a little sun umbrella:
Pretty sure this means no bikes:
And that the one-way system here must be a nightmare.... Some roads had 6-8 lanes!
When we reached Dontonbori, we found a few interesting streets filled with shops and restaurants:
And stopped off in one of the side streets for lunch here (Not a clue what it is called!)
It was quite yummy, but way too much food. The miso flavoured ramen was the favourite of the day!
A much better option than eating these little guys:
We wondered into Hozenji temple, which seemed completely at odds with the surrounding streets:
It enshrines Mizukakefudo, and is covered in moss because of the water visitors throw at it. People believe that sprinkling water over the statue leads to realization of their hopes on business or love.
We didn't know this until later, but watched people donate and then throw the water and say a prayer.
We had seen the little wooden plaques before, and it turns out they are motifs which people write their hopes and prayers on to hang at the temples:
I am sure we will be back to Osaka next week!