Enmei-ji Temple Annual Market (Daruma Market)

Towards the end of the year, the annual Daruma Market at Enmei-ji Temple unfolds. It's a captivating scene where the stalls are adorned with daruma dolls in various sizes and styles. Daruma dolls have been cherished as symbols of good fortune, resilience, and perseverance since ancient times. Amidst the bustling market filled with visitors eager to acquire them, a distinctive ritual known as "soul-insertion" accompanies each purchase. This ritual involves striking flint, creating sparks that are seldom seen elsewhere. This event, deeply rooted in local tradition for many years, serves as a year-end tradition, offering prayers for a more prosperous year ahead.

Daruma dolls are traditional Japanese talismans inspired by Bodhidharma, who is believed to be the founder of Zen Buddhism. A distinctive feature of Daruma dolls is their blank eyes. When setting a goal or making a wish, one eye is filled in, and the other is colored once the goal is achieved. This custom has made Daruma dolls a popular gift for motivation, business success, exams, and personal milestones.