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Daruma Market at Jindaiji Temple - Tokyo Hotels .com

Daruma Dolls at Daruma Market

If you're having trouble meeting your goals in life, the Daruma Ichi festival can help you. The biggest festival at the Jindaiji Temple, Tokyo's second oldest temple, takes place on March 3 and 4, and during this time, crowds flock to the temple to purchase daruma, which are red papier mache heads that have no eyes. It is your job to paint the first eye of the daruma when you set your goal; when you meet your goal, you paint the second eye.

While daruma are sold from the temple any time of year, the festival is an especially fun time of year to join the crowds and take part in the tradition. Afterward, stroll through the picturesque temple grounds and head to one of the many soba shops in the area, where soba noodles are made in the traditional fashion. Jindaiji Temple is located in Chofu City, a suburb of Tokyo.