A narrow stone-paved alley in the Namba district, one of the most atmospheric eating and drinking streets in Osaka. The alley runs between two streets, lined with small bars, restaurants, and izakayas that seat perhaps a dozen people each. Lanterns hang at eye height, and on a wet evening the stone pavement reflects the light from inside the tiny rooms.
The alley takes its name from the Hozenji Temple at its midpoint, where a moss-encrusted statue of the Buddhist deity Fudo-Myo-o stands in a niche. Visitors pour water over the statue as an offering, and the accumulation of a century of water has grown a thick coat of living moss over the entire figure, making it look like a creature from a garden mythology rather than a religious icon. The contrast between the quiet temple and the adjacent noise of Dotonbori two streets away is sharp and characteristic of Osaka.