Katsuo-ji is a temple that I was looking forward to visiting on my pilgrimage to the Thirty-Three Temples of the Western Country. The impact of the Daruma on my first visit was outstanding, and I was hoping to visit again. However, this time it was surprisingly crowded. The parking lot was full because the autumn leaves were at their peak. They even had shuttle buses running. I was told that the maple leaves are amazing here, which is why it's so famous. It's really crowded with people taking pictures of the maple leaves and Daruma. Last time, I bought some Katsuo gummies as souvenirs, and they were cheap and delicious, so they're my number one souvenir choice again this time. When you have a Katsuo gummy, you feel like a winner. It's perfect for students taking exams or anyone feeling down. I came with the determination to buy more. They cost 120 yen each, so I bought a lot to share with others. They also have Daruma candy, so now there are even more options. Daruma is great, isn't he? I'll keep getting back up after falling down, just like him!

On October 10, the third activity of the day♪ Visited the 23rd temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Katsuo-ji Temple in Minoh City♪ This temple is known for its many Daruma dolls. Got a temple stamp and drew a Daruma fortune... and got great luck♪ Unfortunately, the cafe was closed, so I got some carbonated rice crackers at the souvenir shop♪ They were light and refreshing♪ Couldn't find any monkeys this time, but there were a lot of people, and there was a traffic jam near the waterfall parking lot... Delicious♪ (*´ω｀*) (Update from October 10, 2020)

Today is Wednesday♪(´ε｀ ) Taking a substitute holiday to go on a pilgrimage to the Nishikoku 33 Kannon Temples~♪ Starting from the 23rd temple, Ounzan Shoujouji in Osaka, Minoh City. Walking up the winding mountain path from Minoh Park, we encountered a few monkeys along the way before arriving♪(´ε｀ ) This temple is quite modern and is known as a temple of good luck, with famous winning Daruma dolls scattered around... probably in the thousands all over the place♪ And it's spacious~♪(´ε｀ ) But... despite thinking I was following the signs, I clearly ended up going in the opposite direction... (laughs) So the photos are a bit out of order♪(´ε｀ ) Navigating through the main gate and seeing a large pond... mist floating around~♪ The sound of sutras echoing throughout the temple via speakers creates a serene atmosphere♪(´ε｀ ) After offering prayers in the main hall and receiving a temple stamp... I found the source of the mini Daruma dolls♪ There's a Daruma fortune-telling game where you pick a Daruma with a fortune slip attached, and people place these Daruma dolls all around the temple... After exploring various areas, feeling a bit thirsty... I headed to the attached shop near the exit, but oh, they're refraining from serving coffee due to certain circumstances... (｡>﹏<｡) So, I decided to get a souvenir as well... a winning Daruma candy and... carbonated rice cracker... Carbonated rice crackers are common, but I like them, so... (laughs) I opened the carbonated rice crackers at home♪ They were lightly sweet and had a refreshing type of fizziness♪ They also had a nice crunch♪ Overall, it was more of a temple visit experience... (laughs) Thank you for the meal♪(*´ω｀*) Now onto the next stop... (04/07/2021 First visit)

(Post from a blog) "Sweet Pilgrimage to the 33 Temples of the Western Region". I am going around trying the famous sweets from each temple. The 23rd temple is Katsuo-ji. I took a bus from Senri-Chuo Station on the Osaka Metro to reach Katsuo-ji. Katsuo-ji is located in the center of Minoh National Park and is known as a temple for good luck. Inside the temple grounds, there were dedicated "victory Daruma" and "Daruma fortune slips". The "Daruma fortune slips" are often dedicated in various places by people after drawing them. ■ Rest Area Hana no Chaya At the exit of Katsuo-ji, I purchased the pilgrimage sweets of Katsuo-ji at the café and souvenir shop "Hana no Chaya". ● Victory Daruma Chocolate Crunch It is a crunchy chocolate in a multi-faceted box shaped like a Daruma. I opened it right away at a table inside the shop. The chocolate is bite-sized and has a crispy texture that is pleasant. It seems like a product that would be appreciated as a souvenir from Katsuo-ji!!

I visited Keio-ji Temple as the 6th stop out of the 33 temples in the Saigoku pilgrimage. After my visit, I decided to grab a light snack at the café in the souvenir shop before heading back. When I went to the register, I saw handwritten signs for shaved ice - two flavors available: strawberry and Uji sweet potato. There was a price difference of about 150 yen between the two, which I later found out the reason for. I wasn't in the mood for strawberry, so I chose the Uji sweet potato flavor and paid at the register, then waited at my seat. When it arrived, I was surprised to see chestnut paste on top, with green tea syrup drizzled over the shaved ice. The red bean paste was hidden underneath. The portion was unexpectedly large, about 2.5 times more than a regular shaved ice. It would be great for those who love red bean paste, but I ended up leaving about half of it uneaten. I apologized to the staff for not finishing it, mentioning that there was a bit too much red bean paste for my liking.

Katsuo-ji Temple. A temple famous for its winning Daruma. Feeling a bit down on luck and not confident in winning, I decided to visit this temple on a weekday. The sight of Daruma omikuji being offered at various places like lanterns, water basins, and tree branches is unique to this temple. It may seem somewhat comical, but each offering is filled with everyone's thoughts. After finishing my prayers, I headed towards the main gate and... Huh? It seems like they are guiding visitors to the tea house on the way back. Well, since I'm already here, I might as well take a break and have a coffee while enjoying the view of the pond. - Iced coffee 300 yen. Relaxing by the pond with a coffee that has low acidity, strong bitterness, and richness suited for adults. It was peaceful and quiet on a weekday, allowing me to enjoy my drink. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the 23rd temple, Shozen-ji, as part of the pilgrimage to the thirty-three temples in western Japan. It was a cold evening close to the end of the year. After finishing my prayers and sutra copying, I passed by the shop building on my way out. Despite the cold, I decided to check out the cafe since there were still people inside. I went to the counter and tried something called "yakimochi." Instead of two regular rice cakes, it was a Daruma-shaped rice cake. It was a nice touch from Shozen-ji. The warmth of the self-serve tea penetrated my chilled body.

I bought it as a souvenir, but ended up eating most of it myself because it was a gift for my mother. I was initially thinking of buying cookies, but ended up choosing rice crackers. There were six flavors available: nori, sesame, shichimi, soy sauce, negi miso, and zarami. I like zarami the most, so I ate that first. There were two pieces of soy sauce flavor, so there was no need to fight over them. Since my mother doesn't like spicy food, I took the shichimi flavor for myself. I also ended up eating the nori flavor. They were tastier than I expected (crispy rice crackers) and I enjoyed them.

Minoh Falls, famous for its autumn leaves, on a certain autumn day, I casually went for a leaf-peeping trip. There are several ways to get to Minoh Falls. Two of them are as follows: - Take the Hankyu Railway Minoh Line and walk about 40 minutes on the Minoh Falls trail from the final stop at Minoh Station. - Drive from the parking lot at the top of the falls to Katsuo-ji Temple via the driveway, accessible by bus, taxi, or private car. Walking on the trail to the falls is something I have done many times since I was a child, with my aunts and family in Minoh. I vaguely remember a carriage passing by. The first time I took the driveway was during my school days, when a friend took me there. This year, the autumn leaves didn't look as vibrant, perhaps due to the mild winter. The leaves that had fallen didn't fully turn red before falling, so they had a dull brownish color, which was disappointing. There were many sightseeing buses and people walking around. I also saw a group of ladies who had come by taxi from the station. People who seemed to be visiting for the first time were exclaiming, "Wow, it's beautiful!" about the autumn leaves, but in my mind, I thought, "It's not as great this year, but I won't say that out loud." Nevertheless, I wished they could see more beautiful autumn leaves since they had come all the way here. Most of the shops at the falls were closed on this weekday, except for one that was open, serving noodles, oden, and takoyaki. The takoyaki was large and very delicious. However, at 550 yen for 8 pieces, it seemed a bit pricey due to it being a tourist spot. The service was not great either, but since the shop name was unknown and not listed on maps, I decided to leave the review. After buying takoyaki and returning to the car, I found some autumn leaves on the roof, which made me happy. After visiting Minoh Falls, I went to Katsuo-ji Temple. Katsuo-ji Temple is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect with a history of 1,300 years. The temple is known for the "Victory Daruma." There is a souvenir shop next to the entrance and a cafe called "Hanano Chaya," where you can have coffee and udon. I took a short break there. I'm not good with ticket machines, but the one here had a small menu and food samples, so it was okay. I chose the matcha set (black sesame tofu with black honey and kinako) for 580 yen (tax included). The matcha had a nice bitterness and was delicious. The black sesame tofu with kinako and honey had a unique taste. It was sweet with the kinako and honey, making it more like a dessert. When paired with the slightly bitter matcha, it was a delicious balance. Having tea time while looking at the garden was a relaxing and enjoyable experience. After having tea, I bought "Kuromame Kan Tsuba" (6 pieces) for around 600 yen as a souvenir for my parents. It had a mild sweetness and a soft texture. I also got "Katsuttaro" coconut sablé that came with the coffee for 220 yen (several pieces). It had the shape of a Daruma, which was cute. Although I intended to give it as a souvenir to my parents, I ended up eating it all by myself. On another day, I drove along this driveway with my aunt from Minoh to pass the time. Surprisingly, my 88-year-old aunt enjoys mountain drives and found the winding road enjoyable. Despite my concern about her getting car sick, she held onto the assist grip firmly and said, "I love this kind of road." Driving on the twisty road was fun and interesting for her.

◇First visit (December 2015, weekday, TeaTime) I came to Katsuo-ji to offer a Daruma doll for my wish. I had made a wish here when I was taking the CPA exam, and I passed this year, so I came to make an offering. Katsuo-ji is famous for its autumn leaves, but by the end of the year, the leaves have fallen and the trees are bare. There are few visitors. I was exhausted from walking, so I decided to take a break at the flower tea house near the entrance. It is located next to a souvenir shop, and you can see the entire Katsuo-ji from the window. I imagine the view would be even more spectacular during the autumn foliage season, but the winter scenery of Katsuo-ji and the surrounding mountains is also elegant. ●Zenzai 500 yen It contains 3 or 4 pieces of white rice cake and 1 chestnut inside. It is sweet but warm. Is it normal to have pickles as a side dish? ●Coffee 400 yen My husband ordered this. We also got a cookie. The cookie is the same as the ones sold in the souvenir shop. The café has a limited menu. It's not particularly delicious, but it was a nice break. I would like to come back during the autumn foliage season. Maybe next time, I'll come to make a wish for my child's crucial moment.

I visited Katsuo-ji Temple during the three-day weekend in November ❤ The weather was great and the trees on the mountain looked beautiful. After praying and drawing a kachi daruma fortune, we decided to have some dessert here. The restaurant operates on a ticket system and only serves udon noodles. The specialty is called "Kaiun Udon" (Good Luck Udon) and we ordered two bowls. We bought the tickets and then separately ordered zenzai (sweet red bean soup) and coffee at another counter. It was a well-thought-out system. However, we had to wait quite a while for our udon because it was very crowded. While waiting, my family and I enjoyed the zenzai with chestnuts, which was a pleasant surprise. When the udon finally arrived, it was delicious. And all of this only cost 550 yen, which is great value for money. My husband especially loved the flavorful broth. Since we normally work in the Kanto region, it might have been even more satisfying for us. Our son and daughter also enjoyed the udon. We prayed, had the Kaiun Udon, drew a daruma fortune, and ate well. Hopefully, we will have some good luck ❤❤❤❤

After enjoying the autumn leaves at the lucky temple, Katsuo-ji, on the way back, I took a break at the souvenir shop "Hana no Chaya." I had the "Lucky Zenzai" for 420 yen and a hot coffee for 270 yen. The zenzai in a plastic container had chestnuts and a small rice cake in it. The sweetness of the zenzai was comforting for my tired body. It was a bit disappointing that the plastic containers for the zenzai and hot coffee felt a little plain. The complimentary tea was also served in a plastic container. It seems like they use these simple containers only during the autumn leaves season when it's crowded. I relaxed while looking at the autumn leaves through the glass wall. It was a nice break. Thank you for the meal.

Katsuo-ji is a restaurant more like a cafeteria located in Katsuo-ji Temple. Players from the Hanshin Tigers and Gamba Osaka teams also come here to eat the katsu curry. We tried it too, and it has a cafeteria-like atmosphere but is clean and offers a nice view of the temple. The set includes coleslaw and katsu curry, and you serve yourself like in a school cafeteria. The katsu curry tasted excellent! However, I wonder if it will bring luck to Hanshin since they can't win, and Gamba is getting relegated to J2.

I headed towards Minoh Falls but ended up going the wrong way and ended up at Katsuo-ji Temple instead. Since I was already there, I decided to visit the temple first before going to the waterfall. Katsuo-ji Temple is known as one of the Western Japan 23 Pilgrimage Sites. As I passed through the gate and crossed the bridge over the pond, I was surprised to see white smoke coming out. It turned out to be the God of Gambling, so I decided to pray there. The autumn leaves had just started in early November, so it was not at its peak yet. After the visit, I stopped by Hananochaya for some coffee. The place was bustling with pilgrims and other visitors. I ordered coffee and iced coffee as I didn't want to wait long for food. The drinks were served quickly and tasted normal. While sipping my coffee, I enjoyed the view of Katsuo-ji Temple's garden. It must be even more impressive during peak autumn season. I had planned to visit Minoh Falls on my way back, but I was told it was one-way traffic and couldn't go there. So, I had to turn back and head towards the falls from Minoh Station. It's recommended to check the traffic restrictions on weekends and holidays before visiting. Minoh Falls is easily accessible from Minoh Station. After passing Minoh Falls, you will reach Katsuo-ji Temple. It seems like now is the best time to see the autumn leaves.

This is the rest area shop at Shozoji Temple. With the autumn leaves, the buildings, and the red Daruma dolls, Shozoji Temple was completely red, and the shop is also filled with red Daruma goods. I bought some Kachi Gumi gummies from Meiji and Daruma Pie from Sha Nakatsuka as souvenirs for my friend who is about to take the promotion exam. I hope they pass.