Katsuoji
Hillside Buddhist temple whose stone steps and alcoves are covered in thousands of red, one-eyed wish dolls.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Katsuoji in Osaka opens in 880, when a grateful Emperor Seiwa granted the temple a name meaning victorious king after its head priest prayed him back to health. It follows the court's second, more careful reading of those characters, and the quiet swap that saved the temple from a treasonous title while keeping the word for victory. From there it turns to the red daruma dolls that visitors buy, paint, and carry home to mark their own wishes.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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