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Nozaki Kannon, a temple in Daito City that has long been affectionately known as "Nozaki Kannon." The surrounding area is dotted with retro streets lined with traditional shops and spots where you can experience Japanese culture. This time, Kira, from Australia, took a stroll around the city. Experience the prayer experience, a Japanese lunch, a British-style cafe, and more, fully experiencing the charm of Daito City.
Related Tours
Osaka: Relax with Zen Meditation at Nozaki Kannon Temple
- Experience Zen meditation in the temple using the techniques of the Soto sect
- From how to sit to how to breathe, even first-timers can try it with confidence.
- Nozaki Kannon You can fully enjoy the solemn and special environment and atmosphere within the temple.
Located in the Kitakawachi area, Daito City is easily accessible from central Osaka, just 15 minutes by train, and is a city surrounded by abundant nature and close to Mount Ikoma.
Jigenji Temple, affectionately known as "Nozaki Kannon," has long been a place of worship in Daito City. Built at the foot of the Ikoma mountain range, the temple grounds offer a panoramic view of the Osaka Plain.
The area around Nozaki Kannon is dotted with spots where you can feel the essence of Japan, such as old-fashioned retro shops, stylish cafes, inn cuisine, and open-air baths. It's an area that's fun to just stroll around.
This time, we'll take a leisurely stroll around the city with Kira, who is from Australia, and introduce you to all the charms of Daito City, including prayer experiences and gourmet food.
Guide
I'm 28 years old and originally from Adelaide, Australia. I've been living in Osaka for a year and currently work as a barista. What I love most about Japan is the delicious food and cafe culture. I also enjoy cooking and exploring nature in my spare time.
Take a stroll from Nozaki Station to Nozaki Sando Shopping Street!
We start from Nozaki Station, about 15 minutes from Kyobashi Station on the JR Gakkentoshi Line. From here, we'll take a stroll along the shopping street leading to the temple, heading towards Nozaki Kannon Temple.
As soon as you get off at the east exit of Nozaki Station, cross the vermilion bridge and you will see the Nozaki Sando Shopping Arcade spread out before you. If you continue straight up the mountain, you will arrive at Nozaki Kannon Temple.
Nozaki Sando Shopping Street is about 350 meters long and is lined with about 30 stores. The townscape, which retains a retro Showa-era feel, is also a highlight!
Halfway through the shopping district, we were drawn in by the fragrant smell and entered Bird Plume Nozaki, a long-established bakery that has been in business in Nozaki for over 45 years.
Nozaki Sando Shopping Street is a popular stop for hikers heading to Nozaki Kannon Temple and Mt. Iimoriyama, and it's common for them to buy bread here before heading up the mountain. Kira also brought her favorite bread with her on today's walk.
The bakery's cute blue roof exterior catches your eye. Although the inside is small, there are many breads lined up, making it fun to choose. All the breads were delicious, but my favorite was the mentaiko French bread! It had a nice salty taste that was addictive.
Continuing along the shopping street, the greenery of the mountains spreads out before your eyes. From here, the road continues on a gentle slope, and you will finally reach Nozaki Kannon Temple.
One of the attractions of the mountain is that you can experience the natural beauty of the mountains as you climb the approximately 150 stone steps. You can experience the changing seasons of Japan, with cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn.
Kira, whose hobby is exploring nature, looked very comfortable enjoying the fresh air and the moderate hiking mood.
The unique shops blend naturally into the compact town, creating a street with a great atmosphere. There's plenty of nature and the stone steps are just the right length, so it's recommended for people who like to take a walk and feel like they're hiking.
Experience this at Nozaki Kannon Temple, overlooking the Osaka Plain. The prayers, with the accordion-style sutras turned over dramatically, are a powerful experience.
Nozaki Kannon is a temple with such a long history that it has appeared in Japanese Kabuki and Rakugo.
The Nozaki Mairi, held every May, is an event that has been held for over 300 years since the Edo period, and is a representative spring tradition in Daito City, attracting many visitors from both inside and outside the city.
Now, we will experience zazen and prayer while listening to the chief priest of Nozaki Kannon.
First, let's try zazen. Zazen is the basic Zen practice of "sitting to calm the mind."
Although it is called training, it is not strict or difficult; rather, it is an experience similar to simple meditation, where you sit quietly and slowly feel your breathing.
After learning how to sit and what mindset to have, stand facing the wall and join your hands in prayer.
Place your left hand on top of your right and join the tips of your thumbs together to form an egg-shaped circle, known as the Hokkaijoin mudra, then sit down. The bell rings three times, signaling the start of zazen.
This was Kira's first experience with zazen. At first she looked nervous, but gradually her tension eased and she seemed to relax and face herself.
The zazen experience lasted about 50 minutes, including the explanation!
The Zen phrase to be written on the talisman is "Fukujukaimuryo" (an immeasurable sea of blessings).
This is a very auspicious phrase that expresses the endless gathering of good fortune like the ocean. It is bestowed on those who have received Zen with the hope that good things will come to them in the future, just like the ocean.
The official name of Nozaki Kannon, "Fukujusan Jigenji," is also said to be taken from Fukujukai Muryo.
After stamping the temple's Sanpo-in seal, you can detach the section with your wish and leave it with Kannon. The other half, the Zen phrase, can be taken home as a memento, as proof that you have made a connection with Kannon.
Next is the prayer experience. You can pray for protection from misfortune and disaster, as well as for the safety of your family, recovery from illness, academic success, traffic safety, and other various life events.
The highlight of the prayer is a Buddhist service called "Daihannyatendoku," in which an accordion-folded sutra is turned over like a fan to create wind.
It is said that the wind has the power to ward off evil, bring good fortune, and purify, and sending a wind of good fortune to worshippers is part of the purification ritual.
The bellows spread out in a large arc, and the powerful sound that cuts through the air reverberates throughout the main hall, making the sound so impressive it will take your breath away.
It was a very interesting experience to learn about a part of Buddhist culture. At first, I had difficulty sitting cross-legged during the zazen experience, but the instructor taught me carefully and I was able to relax and enjoy the experience.
It was very inspiring to watch the sutras being fluttered about dynamically during the prayer, and the smell of the paper carried on the breeze was a mysterious, somehow calming scent that left a lasting impression on me.
After the prayer, we clasped our hands together and expressed our gratitude to Kannon for the day.
There are many other things to see on the temple grounds besides the main hall. The view of the Osaka plain from the grounds is particularly spectacular.
The Ikoma mountain range and Mt. Imoriyama that stretch out behind the temple are popular hiking trails, and Nozaki Kannon is visited by many people as the gateway to these trails.
Many people enjoy hiking and strolling in addition to visiting the shrine, and it is a spot where you can experience the changing seasons of nature.
After praying, enjoy gourmet food from different cultures at a Japanese inn and British-style cafe!
After refreshing your mind at Nozaki Kannon Temple, head to Nozaki Sando Shopping Street to fill your stomach. This time, we will introduce two restaurants where you can enjoy gourmet food from different cultures.
Enjoy a delicious makunouchi bento lunch at a Japanese inn, complete with an open-air bath!
We arrived at the Japanese inn Fukuju San'uo-sute. Founded in 1902, this long-established inn has a history of over 120 years, and is located just down the stone steps from Nozaki Kannon Temple.
Non-guests can also enjoy lunch such as kaiseki cuisine, hot pot dishes, and bento boxes (some dishes require reservations).
This time I had the makunouchi bento (3,795 yen).
The three-tiered makunouchi bento comes with soup, sashimi, dessert, and an aperitif on separate plates.
Although none of the dishes are particularly strong in flavor, they are delicately seasoned to allow the flavor of the ingredients to shine through, leaving a strong, lingering impression.
Combined with its beautiful appearance, it was a bento that was fun to look at and delicious to eat.
I've always loved Japanese food, such as tempura and sashimi. The three-tiered bento looked very colorful, and being able to sample a little bit of each of the various Japanese dishes made me feel like I was getting a bargain. My favorite was the daifuku wrapped in bamboo leaves. Not knowing what was inside until I opened it gave me a sense of excitement, and I was excited to savor the dessert all the way through.
Monday to Sunday 11:00 to 23:00
Enjoy a relaxing time at a British-style cafe that boasts homemade cakes
Next, we visited Cafe Maruji, located a short walk back from Uosute along the Nozaki Sando Shopping Arcade towards Nozaki Station.
The space is decorated with softly colored striped wallpaper and antique-style tables and chairs that retain the warmth of wood.
The lunch menu is apparently popular, but this time we tried the manager's special handmade cake.
A rich and moist chocolate cake topped with a light and fluffy cream, accented by the berries.
The berry cream cheese is mixed with raspberry jam and is soft and smooth. It melts in your mouth and is so light you could eat it forever.
To accompany the cake, we offer "Royal Milk Tea," characterized by its rich milk flavor and lingering tea leaf aroma, and "Strawberry and Vanilla," a herbal tea that fills the table with the gorgeous aroma of berries.
This cafe is popular with foreign customers, and you can enjoy different flavors depending on the season you visit.
The cake and tea were both delicious and I was very satisfied. The interior decoration was cute and the atmosphere was relaxing.
Speaking of Daito City, you can't miss the Zun Cha Cha Night Market
Although we didn't get to see it on this city walking tour, we'd like to introduce one famous event that you simply can't miss when it comes to Daito.
This is the Daito Zun Cha Cha Night Market, a night market held on the station deck of Suminoe Station, next to Nozaki Station.
There are a variety of shops selling a wide variety of food and drinks, as well as handmade accessories and original spices, and the live performances that liven up the venue are also popular.
Recharge your mind and body with prayer and gourmet food!
This walking tour allowed us to experience the Buddhist culture of Japan, including Zen meditation and prayer.
They toured the townscape nurtured by the lush nature of the Ikoma mountain range, enjoyed delicious food, and even enjoyed an open-air bath. Looking back on the tour, Kira said it was a very fulfilling experience.
Why not spend a relaxing day in Daito City, recharging your mind and body?
Photo: Yu Itou
Edit:morondo
Direction: Ningen Henshusha
Related Tours
Osaka: Relax with Zen Meditation at Nozaki Kannon Temple
- Experience Zen meditation in the temple using the techniques of the Soto sect
- From how to sit to how to breathe, even first-timers can try it with confidence.
- Nozaki Kannon You can fully enjoy the solemn and special environment and atmosphere within the temple.
