Daruma Fair at Jindaiji Temple

Looking for a cultural fair that will bring you some good luck in the New Year? The Daruma fair and market will help you attain your dreams and wishes.

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What do you do when it’s a rainy spring weekend in Japan, but you are really looking for something fun and interesting? My plan had been to go to the Daruma Fair, but boy was the weather bad. It was pouring.

It was one of those rains where an umbrella would keep only one bit of you dry at a time. The rivulets of water were falling off the sides of the umbrella and making your back so wet, that you wonder, why bother? But we were a couple hours from home, the festival only comes around once a year at this temple, and hey, we were already wet. We went!

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What is a Daruma Fair?
• What is a Daruma Doll?
• History of the Daruma
• What to do at the Daruma Fair
• How to Get to the Fair

The temple grounds were filled with tents. Tents selling all kinds of daruma and food. It was a festive atmosphere, but the rain was pooling where the tent pole provided a slack, and as we walked in and out of the tent coverings, we were getting dripped on constantly.

Even though we arrived quite early, the crowds were pouring in. Lines were getting longer and longer, and the rain did not seem like it was going to give up.

What is the Daruma Fair?

As part of New Year’s wishes and aspirations, Daruma fairs allow you to go to the temple, buy a daruma doll, have it painted with your wishes on it, and then have it blessed by the priest. This will hopefully help bring good health and fortune to you throughout the coming year.

However, it sounds simpler than it really is. In Japan, darumas do not work by themselves. Just buying one, painting it, and blessing it is not enough to make your dreams come true. That is largely up to you.

What is a Daruma Doll?

A daruma is a small round doll made of paper maché of traditional Japanese rice paper called washi. For over 200 years, artisans from Takasaki (Gunma Prefeture) have made these dolls in the image of the Daruma-daishi or Bodhidharma who is known for his perseverance as he sat for nine years awaiting enlightenment.

As the years progressed, more symbolism was added to the doll. From the main color, red, an auspicious color in Asian culture, to the eyebrows, which are drawn in the shape of cranes, and the mustache, which is drawn in the shape of a tortoise, the doll is an omen of good luck.

Nowadays, you can find daruma dolls in every souvenir shop, and in fact, you can take a Japanese craft workshop to make your own. Many are traditional red with the stern face, but as everything does in Japan, some have moved into a more “cute” realm and are in the shape of animals or popular characaters (like Hello Kitty), and they come in many different colors with various meanings.

Meanings of the Daruma Colors

Red – Traditional Good Luck
Orange – Avoiding bad luck
White – Academic Achievement
Yellow – Safe Driving
Green – Good Health
Purple – Health and Longevity
Pink – Luck in Love
Gold – Business Success
Blue – Victory

The History of the Daruma Doll

Takasaki, a city in the Gunma Prefecture, is said to be the first place that daruma dolls were made. The idea of the persevering daruma had been around since the 6th century, however the dolls have only been in existence for about 200 years.

Just like in Shirakawago, this area is known for its silkworms and therefore the darumas are always made in the winter when there is not much farming to do. The farmer who made the first daruma fashioned it in the form of a round, legless, armless man.

Other Articles about Festivals and Temples and Shrines you might like:
Nakizumo at Sensoji Shrine
Chureito Pagoda
Big Buddha of Aomori
Otagi Nenbutsu in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari in Kyoto

This is a nod to the Daruma-daishi who had lost his limbs due to atrophy of never moving them for the nine years he was awaiting enlightenment. But it’s also a nod to a Japanese proverb that Nanakorobi yaoki. “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” (source)

So even though there are many pits and obstacles in the road, you must keep getting up and moving forward. You, just as much as the good luck talisman, are responsible for making your dreams and wishes come true.

What is There to Do at the Market and Fair?

• Buy a daruma; red is the most traditional.
• Have a painter fill in one eye and write your wish, in kanji.
• Take it to the priest to be blessed (this is optional, but added good luck so why not?).
• On the way back to the car, try some of the street food offered along the way.

If it’s your first time coming to a Daruma market, chances are you won’t have an old one that’s lost its power. However, if you do, make sure to take your old, used up, daruma with you. There is a place to dump them at the temple. The temple will burn them later.

After dropping off that old doll, you need to get yourself one that’s new and full of hope. Pick out the perfect size and color for your wish. There will be plenty of stalls and dolls to choose from. Remember each doll is handmade and therefore unique, so take your time.

Once you have a daruma, you need to have the left eye painted on. The eye is painted on when you make the goal or wish, and then the other eye is painted on when it is attained. This is the overriding rule of a daruma. It’s all about the eyes.

However, you can have your actual wish recorded on the back of the doll as well. After that, you can stand in line at the actual temple where a priest will bless the daruma. Don’t forget, though, that all the daruma can do is help you attain your goal. Perseverance and hard work on your part is still part of the equation. It’s not just plain buying yourself good fortune.

As you walk to the entrance of Jindaiji (source), you will see all the food vendors set up and cooking. It’s hard to walk by them without indulging, but especially if you are getting there a little later in the day, you might want to get in, buy your daruma, and then get in the line to have it blessed.

The first time we went, we really didn’t have a concrete idea of what wish we would like to make. I highly suggest that you establish this ahead of time, because it requires a lot of decisions. Do you want the traditional red daruma or would you rather pick a color that already states your wish? What kanji (couple of words) do you want the daruma painter to put on your doll?

Luckily, the vendor we chose asked us our wish and handed us a pad to write our wish down for her. This made it easier for everyone.

Where Can You Find Daruma Fairs?

• Ome Daruma Market – January
• Kamimizo Daruma-ichi – January
• Hamura Daruma Market – January
• Bishamonten Fair – January
• Daruma Kuyo – February
• Jindaiji Temple Daruma Fair – March

How to Get to Jindaiji Temple

There are many people heading to this annual fair, so stop and ask someone and they should be able to point you in the right direction. Knowing where to get off the bus will be pretty simple since there will be lots of folks going in the same direction and banners will be flying advertising the event.

Power Tip: At some of the train stations closest to the temple there are special shuttle buses to take you straight to the temple. You will recognize the buses, because they will have a cardboard daruma sign on the front of the bus.

By Train from Shinjuku Station

This is the quickest way to get there by train from Tokyo. Take the Keio Line to the Chofu Station (about 20 minutes). From there you will still have to take a bus to Jindaiji Shokkako or find the shuttle. This will take another 12 minutes.

By Train from Tokyo Station

Take the Chuo Line to the Kichijoji Station (takes about 30 minutes). From there you will need to take a bus. Take the bus to Chofu Eki Kitaguchi (bus 1 or 4). The bus takes about 24 minutes from the station to the stop/ Get off at the Jindaiji Shokakko stop.

By Car

We drove to Jindaiji since we own a car, and it was extremely simple. Plus parking was only 300 yen. To get there, you’ll be taking toll roads, like Route 4 to the Chofu exit. Then take route 12 to the temple. The temple address is: 5 Chome-15-1 Jindaiji Motomachi, Chofu, Tokyo 182-0017 for your gps.

Conclusion

Experiencing the many festivals and cultural events in Japan is a fun and eye-opening experience. One of the most fun is the Daruma Market and Fair held at Jindaiji Temple each March. Buy your own daruma doll, and see if it helps you to accomplish your goals and wishes.The spring Daruma festival is a fantastic look into the culture of Japan. From the daruma and food stands to the blessing of the doll, it is a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t miss it.

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

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