Jindaiji Temple Daruma Doll Market

The Jindaiji Temple Daruma Doll Market, officially known as the Yakuyoke Ganzan Daishi Taisai, is one of the three largest events of its kind in Japan. Held annually on March 3 and 4 at Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, the festival hosts over 300 stalls selling traditional Daruma dolls in various colors and sizes. While the standard practice for these dolls involves the owner painting a pupil to represent a wish, Jindaiji is distinguished by a specialized “eye-opening” ritual performed by the temple’s monks. In this ceremony, a monk paints the Sanskrit character 梵 (Vam) into the left eye of a new doll to signify the commencement of a wish. For a fulfilled wish, the character 阿 (A) is painted into the right eye of the old doll as a gesture of gratitude and closure.

The market operates from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with hourly prayers held to ward off disaster and a formal Oneria-gyoretsu procession occurring at 2:00 PM. Because the temple is located in a residential area of Chofu, visitors are encouraged to use the frequent bus services available from Chofu, Mitaka, or Tsutsujigaoka Stations. For the best experience, it is advisable to arrive by midday to observe the afternoon procession and explore the numerous historical Jindaiji Soba shops surrounding the temple, which are an integral part of the local culture. Prospective buyers should anticipate significant queues for the official eye-painting area, particularly on the first day of the festival, and are encouraged to bring cash for both doll purchases and temple offerings.