Make a Daruma in Chofu, Tokyo! Experience the Popular Workshop at Daruchan no Ouchi

A daruma is a round, limbless traditional craft object.
It is said to be modeled on Bodhidharma, the monk credited with bringing Zen Buddhism from India to Japan.
Since the Edo period (1603-1868), daruma have been widely used as good-luck charms.
Thanks to their weighted shape that rises when tipped, they symbolize the saying “fall down seven times, get up eight,” representing persistent effort after setbacks.

Jindaiji Temple in Chofu is famous for the Jindaiji Daruma Fair, a tradition dating back to the Edo period.
Counted among Japan’s three great daruma fairs, it is held every March.
It began as a fair selling good-luck items and New Year decorations, and as more stalls featured daruma, it came to be known as the Daruma Fair.
A unique custom here is to paint the Sanskrit “A” in the left eye of the daruma when you buy it, then paint “Un” in the right eye once your wish comes true.
Most of the daruma sold are Tama Daruma, a local traditional craft known for hand-finished painting and facial features, so each piece has a distinct look.

The process begins by writing down your wish or wishes.
On a blank white daruma, write words that embody your hopes.
You can choose how many wishes to write and where to place them.
Feel free to write large on the back or cover the surface with many wishes.
It is best not to write on the face area.
Because the writing might faintly show through in the finished piece, we recommend writing anywhere except the face.

After writing your wish, move on to fabric selection.
Fabric determines the look and feel, so take time to choose carefully.
In principle, you pick from offcuts prepared by the shop, such as pieces from kimono or futon fabric.
There is a wide variety, including vivid kimono silk and cloth dyed with the traditional kakishibu dyeing method.
You can combine multiple small pieces or cover the body with one large piece.
Just browsing the plentiful colors and patterns is fun in itself.
If you are stuck, choose a unifying theme for color or pattern first, then select fabrics that fit it.
You may also bring your own fabric or offcuts to use in the workshop.

Once you have your fabric, begin pasting it onto the daruma where you wrote your wish.
Brush glue onto the daruma, lay the fabric, then brush more glue over the fabric to bond it firmly.
When pasting, smooth outward from the center to match the curved surface, which helps prevent lifting.
For many Japanese, this hands-on gluing may bring back memories of elementary school craft class.

You are free to choose the order in which you paste, but we recommend starting from the front.
That is the most visible side when displayed, so place your favorite pattern there.
If using several pieces, think about how they combine as you paste.
Decide the placement of large motifs, then fill gaps with small offcuts for an overall balanced look.
Avoid letting fabric intrude too far into the face area.
Follow the body’s contours and paste right up to the boundary where the face will be.
By the time you finish pasting, you will likely feel attached to your one-of-a-kind design.
After covering the body, paste a white fabric piece where the face will go.
Finally, check for uncovered spots or lifting and let each piece dry for a few minutes.

After drying, draw the face to complete your daruma.
The face design is up to you, and it does not need to mimic a traditional expression.
You can draw a family member’s portrait, a favorite character, or an animal face-your creativity sets the tone.
Start drawing directly on the daruma with a pen.
Adding color to the eyes and mouth or a white highlight in the eyes brings out expression and makes it increasingly charming.
When you finish, your original daruma is complete.
Choose one cloth pouch and one key holder for taking it home, and the experience is done.

The Chofu Daruma Workshop is more absorbing than you might expect.
Many visitors find themselves agonizing over fabric selection and face design, because it can be hard to decide.
The more time you invest, the greater the sense of achievement and satisfaction when your daruma is finished.
The daruma is palm-size and very light.
It is easy to carry and perfect for preserving a travel memory.
After the workshop, the shop also offers a commemorative photo service using a daruma headpiece.
Come with friends, a partner, or family to make a one-and-only daruma together.

Founded in 733, this historic temple is known for warding off misfortune and for matchmaking.
There are more than 20 soba restaurants in the area, and soba is a local specialty.
Events such as the Daruma Fair on March 3 and 4 draw large crowds every year.

The popular Jindai Botanical Gardens showcase seasonal flowers, and this aquatic garden opened as an annex in 1985.
Part of the grounds covers the Tokyo-designated historic site of Jindaiji Castle Ruins, making it ideal for a leisurely nature walk.
True to its name, you can see waterside plants, and in June the irises reach their peak for a colorful display.

This day-use hot spring soothes body and mind with high-quality water.
Its black color comes from humic acid, an organic substance derived from ancient plants such as kelp and ferns in strata 1,500 meters underground.
You can enjoy several baths, including open-air and cold baths, plus ganbanyoku stone spa and saunas.