法善寺 寺標 at Dotonbori, Osaka

Stone temple marker for Hozenji, the 1637 Jodo-shu temple in Namba famed for its moss-covered Fudo.

The terashirube, or temple marker, denotes the grounds of Hozenji (法善寺), a Jodo-shu Buddhist temple founded in 1637 that sits quietly in the lanes of Namba, just a short walk from the neon of Dotonbori. The temple is best known for its Mizukake Fudo-son, a statue of the fierce deity Fudo Myoo that has been splashed with water by worshippers for so long that it is now completely cloaked in soft green moss, an arresting sight in the middle of Osaka's loudest district. Historically nestled among the theatres and entertainment houses of old Dotonbori, Hozenji was frequented by actors, geisha and artists, and it retains a reputation for granting blessings to women, particularly around childbirth. The temple has survived fires, air raids and redevelopment, and today it forms the anchor of Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow cobblestone alley lined with long-standing eateries that preserve a distinctly old-Osaka atmosphere. The temple marker itself is a small but evocative landmark for walkers exploring the backstreets between Namba and Dotonbori. It is a quiet, free waypoint that rewards anyone willing to step off the main drag.