In the heart of Minami, Osaka's busiest shopping district, lies a charming alleyway, like a different world. Entering a narrow alleyway from Sennichimae Shopping Arcade, you'll be greeted by a wooden sign for "Hozenji Yokocho." As you walk along the refreshingly watered-down stone pavement, the scent of incense wafts from your left. At the end of the alleyway is Mizukake Fudoson, a statue of the Buddha. Because many people pour water on the temple with a ladle, it is always covered in beautiful green moss. Hozenji has been a constant source of pilgrims since the Meiji era, and tea shops and restaurants spontaneously sprouted in front of the temple, turning it into a diversion town. Until the early Showa era, there were two vaudeville theaters, and it became a mecca for rakugo and manzai comedy. The area was destroyed by air raids during the Pacific War, but after the war, it was revived as a entertainment district, and the stone-paved streets were restored. Hozenji Yokocho has been the setting for many novels, movies, and songs. The attachment that Osakans have to these alleys was proven when a fire broke out in 2002. When news broke that the road had to be widened due to Building Standards Act regulations, a petition was quickly collected with 300,000 signatures, saying, "We must not let the atmosphere of the alley be lost." Thanks to their enthusiasm, a special exception was granted to leave the alley at its original width of 2.7 meters. Now, the alley has been completely restored to its former glory, and its short 100-meter stretch is lined with restaurants of all sizes, including renowned kappo restaurants, yakitori restaurants, oden restaurants, sushi restaurants, and bars, all of which are the pride of Osaka.