Create Your Own Daruma Doll and Bring Good Luck♪

Hi! I’m Lee Dowoo from South Korea.
I’ve been on a working holiday in Japan for 10 months, and every day has been full of new adventures!
With my time here coming to an end, I wanted to make one last special memory, so I headed to Nipponbashi in Osaka to try my hand at Daruma painting.
Painting isn’t really my forte, and I was a little nervous as a complete beginner. But that just made the experience even more exciting!

Daruma is modeled after Bodhidharma, a legendary Buddhist monk from India who supposedly meditated for nine years. He endured so long that his arms and legs withered and fell off—that’s how the Daruma got its round shape. Talk about stoic!

More than just a cute doll, Daruma is a companion with an indomitable spirit, helping make your wishes come true through all of life’s big moments—school, career, business, and family.
Its eyebrows are cranes and its mustache turtles, both symbolizing longevity and lasting happiness, inspired by the proverb “Cranes live for a thousand years and turtles live for ten thousand years.”

Daruma dolls are traditionally red, but colorful “design Daruma” have recently become popular, in pastel shades or other modern colors. Today, I’m painting my very own Daruma, making a one-of-a-kind protector just for me. How cool is that♪

I met up with my friend Yeonwoo at Metro’s Nippombashi Station to start our special day♪
It was raining, but no problem—we strolled through the covered streets of Kuromon Market and stayed dry on our quick seven-minute walk to DARUMA CLUB.

First thing we noticed when we walked in was the colorful Daruma dolls lined up on the shelves. I loved the modern Japanese-style interior!
Red, blue, yellow, gold, silver…the Daruma dolls felt like little works of art, set against a backdrop of a traditional pine tree painting on the wall. The friendly staff welcomed us and guided us to our seats.

We found a guidebook packed with all kinds of interesting information about Daruma—the history, the meaning behind its design, everything! And it was available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, and Spanish♪

I couldn’t wait to get started. How often do you get to put your own spin on a traditional craft? It was such a special experience, blending classic Japanese tradition with my own personal flair.

［AD］

STEP1:Watch a video about Daruma

First, we watched a ten-minute video explaining the history of Daruma and how the dolls are made. We learned about the raw ingredients, how the dolls are dried, and all the steps in between—it was a great introduction to the world of Daruma!

STEP2:Choose your color

As soon as the video ended, it was time to get started☆
Our first task: choose our Daruma’s color from a palette of 12 vibrant options. Each color had its own wishes and meaning, so we took our time to decide which one would become our lucky companion!

You get to pick your Daruma’s color based on the wish you want to focus on. Traditional red is for warding off evil spirits, bringing good luck, and keeping the household safe. Gold is for money luck, blue for academic and career success, and pink for love and romance☆

I went with gray to help me make calm, composed decisions, while Yeonwoo chose blue to bring extra luck for fun days ahead in Osaka.

STEP3:Create your original design

Next up: designing our Daruma dolls! We brainstormed as we checked out samples from staff and other visitors—flowers, baseball logos, anime…so many fun ideas!

The guidebook had a list of four-character idioms (四字熟語), too, with explanations for each.
Every character, letter, and number on a Daruma carries a wish! I added my favorite word to my design.

Yeonwoo arranged kanji characters around a butterfly and flowers theme. With brushes, paint markers, and gold embellishment, we dove into the details♪

Once we perfected our designs on paper, we got to transfer them onto our Daruma dolls☆

STEP4:Put our design on the Daruma dolls

Time to bring our designs to life!
We were a little nervous at first, but once we started, we were completely focused—no words, just painting.

It had been a while since I last used a brush. I went bold with my brush strokes, while Yeonwoo painted with a gentle, precise touch. I think our personalities really came through in our Daruma design.

We learned that we draw the left eye first on a Daruma doll—this is done when making a wish, and the right eye is filled in once the wish comes true!

For wishes like longevity and good health, it’s okay to draw both eyes at the same time. There’s so much meaning packed into these small details!

※Rules around Daruma’s eyes vary depending on the region.

STEP5:Dry the Daruma dolls

It takes about five to ten minutes for the paint to dry, which went by surprisingly fast.
While waiting, Yeonwoo and I chatted about our wishes for our Daruma dolls.

And just like that, we had our very own original Daruma! 👏

Ta-da! What do you think? These are our masterpieces!

I painted my Daruma with one big wish—for a smooth and successful life ahead.
On the back, I included the idiom 一切唯心造, a Buddhist teaching that means “All is created by the mind.” It reminds me that my attitude shapes reality. I hope this Daruma will help me stay focused on a positive and proactive mindset.

Yeonwoo chose the proverb 百花繚乱 for her Daruma, which literally means “A hundred flowers blooming in profusion.” It’s often used to describe a situation where many talents and brilliant works come together and flourish.
And wow—it really came to life with all the flowers and butterflies she painted! I could clearly see her artistic talent and her background in flower arrangement shining through. Both the staff and I were impressed!!!

Our very own original Daruma—truly one-of-a-kind in the world♪
I especially loved the chic colors, and even as a beginner, I had so much fun painting my Daruma.

And the box! The special Daruma case features gorgeous carvings of traditional Japanese patterns and scenic motif, making it as beautiful as it is functional.
It’s made from paulownia wood, a material traditionally used to protect treasures from moisture and insects. These stunning boxes will keep our Daruma dolls safe.

Paulownia wood is surprisingly lightweight, which makes it great for packing in your suitcase for the flight home. It’s a wonderful way to take your special creation home!

※Please note: the paulownia box is available for a separate fee.

We snapped tons of pictures to remember our experience and masterpieces—we were so proud of our creation♪

The Daruma painting experience costs 8,000 yen (tax included) per person. It might sound a bit pricey, but honestly, it’s totally worth it for the chance to create your very own lucky protector!

［AD］

★Experience Japanese culture up close

First, you get to learn about Japanese culture through painting!
From a video on Daruma’s history and how the dolls are made, to reading about the meaning behind each design, it’s more than just painting—you learn a lot along the way.

The staff’s instructions are clear and easy to follow, and you get about 110 minutes—varies by individual—plenty of time to plan your design and reflect on your wish. Painting time almost feels like meditation—it’s reflective, immersive, and very rewarding.

※The duration of the experience is an estimate and may vary by individual.

★Freely express your wishes and goals

What I enjoyed the most was putting my wishes and inner thoughts onto my Daruma. Traditional crafts can feel a bit intimidating, but at DARUMA CLUB, you’re completely free to design your own creation.
It’s fascinating to see how your personality or thoughts come through in your Daruma! This experience is great not just for friends and couples, but also families to enjoy together!

As for my own Daruma, I’m hoping my wish really comes true☆彡

Many visitors head to DARUMA CLUB after exploring Katsuo-ji Temple in Osaka’s beautiful Minoh area, known as the sacred land of Daruma. Everywhere you look at the temple, little “winning Daruma” dolls are scattered across the grounds—the impressive sight is sure to inspire your own original Daruma design!

Getting to DARUMA CLUB from Katsuo-ji Temple is easy by bus and train—it takes around 1.5 hours.

①Take a bus from Katsuo-ji Temple to Minoh-Kayano Station (Kita-Osaka Kyuko Raiway)
↓
②Take the Kita-Osaka Kyuko Line through the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line (no transfer needed) to Namba Station.
↓
③Walk about 10 minutes to reach DARUMA CLUB.

It’s a bit of a journey, but what a special day it would be—visiting the Daruma temple in picturesque Minoh and then creating your very own Daruma doll to carry your special wish! This makes a perfect itinerary for Osaka lovers looking to enjoy both nature and a hands-on cultural experience.

If you’re looking for a unique cultural experience, try Daruma painting at DARUMA CLUB♪
Create your own, one-of-a-kind Daruma in the world!

［AD］