Katsuo-ji Day Trip: Osaka Daruma Temple
Join me on an adventure to Katsuo-ji in Minoh, Osaka’s famous Daruma temple. We’re taking a day trip to enjoy the scenery of thousands of Daruma doll, and make our wishes for the future. But, of course, we had to explore the yummy foods along the way. From taste testing the famous Okonomiyaki, to finding local favorites like chicken pai-tan ramen and katsu-don, this is a foodie adventure you can’t miss. This is an adventure I absolutely recommend if you have time in Osaka!
Visiting Osaka’s Famous Daruma Temple
I’m spending 5 days in Osaka with my Mom and Dom. Since Osaka is the food capital of Japan, we’ve decided to eat it all. Yesterday was a foodie adventure around Dotonbori taste testing different takoyaki shops, and Namba. But, today is our actual adventure day. We’re actually heading to Katsuo-ji, also known as Temple of Victory. It is actually located in Minoh, a little town outside of Central Osaka. We are taking a day trip to explore a quieter side of the Kansai area while hitting some yummy food spots along the way.
How To Get To Minoh By Public Transport
We’re going to go all the way up to Minoh through public transport straight to Katsuo-ji. it does take a little bit more effort to get there, but honestly, it is so worth it. This way, you can enjoy the famous temple first, then walk down to experience the quiet little town of Minoh. Here’s the easiest way to get to Katsuo-ji Temple:
- Board the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line at Shinsaibashi Station, heading north.
- Get off at Minoh-Kayano Station. No transfer is required.
- Exit to the bus terminal directly outside the station.
- Pro Tip: Definitely check the bus schedule ahead of time, because it doesn’t run as often as a city train. You don’t want to be stuck waiting!
- Take the Hankyu Bus bound for Katsuo-Ji, or grab a taxi.
- Ride about 15–20 minutes to Katsuoji.
Our Minoh Katsuo-ji Day Trip Itinerary
Extra Energizing Katsu-Don and Oyakodon-don
To prepare for a day of adventure, we decided to fuel up at Tanoshi Japanese Tapas and Sake Bar. This neighborhood restaurant is a local favorite, and honestly, I can see why. Tanoshi is a katsu-don focused restaurant in the day, but turns into a Japanese tapas bar at night. There’s nothing more iconic as a hearty Japanese lunch more than katsu-don, aka pork cutlet and egg rice bowl, and oyako-don, or chicken and egg rice? The best part is, their menu offers 4 different tiers of their katsu-don.
So, ahead of our adventures, we ordered their Double Premium Katsudon (ダブルプレミアムかつ丼)and Oyakodon (1300 yen or $8.21), which comes with an extra egg yolk sitting on top of the fluffy omelette. Japan has the best eggs. The yolks are so rich, creamy, and golden. They can even make this simplest bowl of rice feel so special. Between bites of juicy pork and creamy, runny egg, I can eat this every single day. It is so good, and quickly became one of my favorite bites from this trip so far.
I know I keep saying that every restaurant is my favorite, but this place is seriously mind-blowing. I definitely give it a 9.5 out of 10. This was one of those meals that reminds me why Japan is one of the best countries when it comes to food. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just warm rice, soft, fresh eggs, juicy pork and chicken, and that homemade sweet and savory sauce that ties everything together. It definitely kept us fueled for a day of walking!
Famous Daruma Temple Katsuo-ji 勝尾寺
Katsuo-ji 勝尾寺, or Temple of Victory, is a Buddhist temple in Minoh where many come to pray for success in school, work, business, health, or just overcoming obstacle in life. But, it’s most recently famous for their Daruma dolls. These dolls are modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. They are a popular good luck charm. Since they are weighted at the bottom, they never fall over, symbolizing resilience in the face of challenges. Here at Katsuo-ji, it’s not just one or two Daruma dolls. You see them literally EVERYWHERE: lined up in shells, tucked away in corners, sitting on bridges, and hidden all across the temple, It makes the whole place feels so so magical.
You can add your own Daruma to the temple, too! The dolls come without their eyes drawn in, but don’t be alarmed. The idea is, you make a wish or set a goal, and color in one eye. Once your wish does come true, you come back, color in the other eye, and return it back to the temple as a thank you. It’s such a beautiful reminder of setting and achieving your own goals. Winning doesn’t always mean competing and being better than anyone else. Sometimes, it just means not giving up on yourself.
The ticket for the temple comes with a free empty postcard. As you walk around the temple, stop by each station to fill up the card by collecting different stamps. By the end, you have a beautiful stamped scenery postcard that makes the whole experience feel even more special!
Although the temple is a little bit out of the way from Osaka, I would say it’s the perfect day trip that you have to add to your trip. We spent around two and a half hours here, but I would honestly spend even more. It was so magical, and was definitely one of my favorite memories from this trip.
Okonomiyaki: Avoid The Lines!
I know by now you’re probably wondering, when are we going to try the famous okonomiyaki, one of Osaka’s most iconic street food. Since we tried so many takoyakis in Dotonbori, we decided to avoid the crowds and enjoy this treat here in Minoh. Here, while walking around, we found a branch of Osaka’s most famous okonomiyaki spot: Tsuruhashi Fugetsu. Their menu includes a range of flavor for Okonomiyaki and other griddle-based dishes. Once ordered, they’re cooked by the staff on the teppan, the flat iron griddle on the table, right in front of you.
The name okonomiyaki literally translates to “grilled how you like it”. This savory Japanese pancake is made with a base of cabbage, batter, egg, and different fillings like pork, seafood, noodles, or cheese. They’re most famous for their kimchi options, but you can customize it with whatever toppings or fillings that you want. Then, It is cooked on a hot griddle until golden, crispy on the outside, but still soft and fluffy on the middle. Finally, it’s finished with okonamiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, bonito flakes, and seaweed powder.
I definitely think we need to come back and dedicate a whole trip to finding the best okonomiyaki in Osaka. There’s just so many different places to try. But, I’m happy to report that even the chain restaurants in Osaka actually taste amazing. Watching them make the pancake from start to finish is also super super fun. So, if you don’t want to line up for a super viral restaurant, I highly recommend this location after your temple adventure. That way, you can sit down, relax, and enjoy a comforting meal before taking the train back to the city.
Super Creamy Chicken Paitan Ramen
For our last stop of the night, we actually went back to this ramen shop that we actually passed by earlier during lunch: Komugi To Ikiru Michi. When we walked by, there’s this huge lineup filled with locals. So, of course, I immediately saved it and told Dom that we have to come back. This place is known for two things made in-house: the handmade noodles made with Hokkaido wheat, and their rich chicken paitan ramen. So, their menu is simple, with a few varieties of ramen, mixed noodles, and side dishes.
Of course, we had to get their specialty, the Chicken Paitan ramen. It looks really light when it first arrives, but the broth is actually really, really rich and comforting, without feeling too heavy at all. This creamy chicken-based broth had this frothy, Cappuchino-like texture on top. That frothiness really helps the broth cling to the noodles, which has a really chewy texture and a deep wheat aroma. It has such unique features, yet is super well balanced. After a full day of walking, shopping, and eating around Minoh, this was exactly what I wanted!
See More of Osaka with My Itineraries and Must Try Lists!
