Early summer is a time for tourists to come to Kyoto and witness the vast collection of flowers. Amongst the marvelous collection of flowers, hydrangeas are an obvious recommendation. Here, we’d like to share with you some hydrangea flower spots in Kyoto that are popularly called “hydrangea temples”. These are the spots where you can see the blossom between the end of June and the end of July.
Highly recommended hydrangea flower spots
1. Mimuroto-ji Temple
First, we would introduce the highly famous Mimuroto-ji Temple, or nationally referred to as “Hydrangea Temple.” Once you visit and see for yourself, you can see it lives up to its name as it features 10,000 flowers representing 50 species as they are lined up blooming along the cedar trees. In recent years, the heart-like shape hydrangea flowers have contributed to its popularity as a site to see hydrangeas. During hydrangea season, which is from June 1 to July 7, the temple’s hydrangea garden is open to all visitors. If you check the official home page, they even have light up events at night!
Mimuroto-ji Temple
Address: 21 Shigatani Todo, Uji City, Kyoto
Website: Mimuroto-ji Temple
Opening hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm (daily)
Opening dates: Jun 1, 2021 - July 11, 2021
Price: Adults: 800 JPY (7.15 USD) / Children: 400 JPY (3.58 USD)
2. Yoshimine-dera Temple
Next, we would like to recommend Yoshimine-dera Temple. While famous for its autumn leaves and cherry blossoms, its hydrangea flowers have also been increasing in popularity these past few years. Rivaling the scale of Mimuroto-ji Temple’s display, you will feel an overwhelming pressure of about 10,000 hydrangea flowers covering its mountainsides! From the temple, you can also find an amazing view of downtown Kyoto.
Yoshimine-dera Temple
Address: 1372 Oharano Oshio-Cho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Website: Yoshimine-dera Temple
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 500 JPY (4.62 USD)
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3. Ohara Sanzen-in Temple
Ohara Sanzen-in Temple is another famous spot to see hydrangea flowers in Kyoto. Many of its hydrangea flowers with its bigger petals surround the Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, with over 1,000 blooming along its pathways. In addition to its bigger petal hydrangea flowers, it is also famous for other and smaller species that you can enjoy, such as the rarer star-shaped petal hydrangeas, mountain hydrangeas, French hydrangeas, and climbing hydrangeas, which all bloom within a span of a month. From June 15 to July 13, it has its hydrangea festival and during that time period, it holds charity events where you can purchase paintings of famous priests from all around Japan.
Ohara Sanzen-in Temple
Address: 540 Ohararaikoincho, Sanyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Website: Ohara Sanzen-in Temple
Price: 700 JPY (6.47 USD)
In addition to temples, here are some Shinto shrines with hydrangeas in full bloom
4. Fujinomori-jinja Shrine
Fujinomori-jinja Shrine is famous with horse racing fans for it’s a shrine dedicated to the God of Victory and Horses. In addition, it’s also a shrine famous for its hydrangea flowers. Every June, it holds a hydrangea festival of having 1,500 hydrangeas with bigger petals, and 3,000 regular-size petal hydrangeas on display.
Fujinomori-jinja Shrine
Address: 609 Fukakusa Toriizakicho, Fushimi, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Website: Fujinomori-jinja Shrine
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 250 JPY (2.31 USD)
5. Umenomiya-taisha Shrine
Complimenting its namesake, Umenomiya-taisha shrine is famous for its plum blossoms you can see in its shrine garden, but it’s famous for its hydrangea flowers as well. There you can see 500 flowers of 60 species on display including hydrangea involucratas, oak leaf hydrangeas, French hydrangeas, and mountain hydrangeas. Depending on the timing of your visit, you can also enjoy the iris.
Umenomiya-taisha Shrine
Address: 30 Umezu Fukenokawacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Website: Umenomiya-taisha Shrine
Opening hours: 9am - 4:30pm (daily)
Price: 550 JPY (5.08 USD)
Recommended spots for hydrangeas in Kyoto getting popular in recent years
6. Youkoku-ji Temple
Yokoku-ji temple
Posted by The colors of Kyoto on Friday, 19 April 2019
At Yanagidani Youkoku-ji Temple in Nishiyama, is a holy ground dedicated to Koubou Daishi (or Kuukai, a famous monk), and it’s known as the eye of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion, is also famous for its hydrangea flowers. Its walking paths within the inner temple are known as Ajisai no Michi, or Hydrangea Way, and features 5,000 hydrangea flowers of 27 species. Every year, many people come for its ‘Hydrangea Week’ event. And in recent years, its flowers have been displayed in the water where you can wash your hands at the entrance have progressively gained in popularity.
Youkoku-ji Temple
Address: 2 Donotani, Jododani, Nagaokakyo, Kyoto
Price: ‘Hydrangea Week’: June 8, 2019 – July 7, 2019; 300 JPY (2.77 USD)
7. Reigen-in Temple
Reigen-in Temple, which is one of Kyoto’s oldest Zen Buddhist temples in honor of the high priest of the Kenji-ji Temple, is where you can find the beautifully blooming Amacha, or “sweet tea” sub-species of French hydrangeas. It is known also as the Amacha Temple, and its garden of Sweet Tea Hydrangeas is only open during its blooming season, which is May 18, 2019 – June 16, 2019. In addition to Sweet Tea, you can also get a view of the illusionary serrata hydrangeas within the garden.
Reigen-in Temple
Address: 594 Komatsu-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Website: Reigen-in Temple
Price: 500 JPY (4.61 USD)
Top recommendations for hydrangeas in Northern Kyoto
8. Maizuru Natural Culture Garden
Next, we’d like to recommend some places in the northern section of Kyoto prefecture, just outside the city. For starters, you can find an amazing view of hydrangeas at the Maizuru Natural Culture Garden. While famous for its proud display of 30,000 of camellia flowers, it features 100,000 hydrangea flowers of 100 species, a scale which is pretty big for Kyoto! From June 12, 2019 to July 11, 2019, it has a Hydrangea Festival and various events throughout this period.
Maizuru Natural Culture Garden
Address: 24-12 Taneji, Maizuru City, Kyoto
Website: Maizuru Natural Culture Garden
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
Price: Hydrangea season: 500 JPY (4.61 USD)
9. Nishuu Kanon-ji Temple
Nishuu Kanon-ji Temple in Fukuchiyama City, or famously known as the Temple of Tanba Hydrangeas, is home to 10,000 hydrangea flowers of 100 species. With various colors on display whether they be white, blue, purple or pink, it’s truly a wonderland of flowers. As to why it became a temple full of hydrangea flowers, in the old days, people who were treated with eye conditions would plant numerous hydrangeas as a way of showing gratitude.
Nishuu Kanon-ji Temple
Address: 1067 Kanon-ji, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto
Price: Hydrangea season: 350 JPY (3.23 USD)
10. Toko-in Temple
In the city of Ayabe, the Toko-in Temple is another place to view hydrangeas. At the center of the shrine path within a valley amongst the mountains, you can find 2,500 hydrangea flowers blooming. Just like Mimuroto-ji Temple, you can find the heart-shaped hydrangeas which lead to the next question, could it also help you find true love?
Toko-in Temple
Address: 7 Donnoku, Uwanobucho, Ayabe City, Kyoto
Let’s enjoy Kyoto’s early summer hydrangeas
Kyoto’s summer can be unpleasant due to its heavy rain and humidity. However, with our recommendations, many visitors can still have a great time with the city’s hydrangea flowers. During its rainy season, there is still a silver lining with them. So, out of our recommendations, where would you like to visit?
All present information is updated as of May 2019. For the latest information, please check the official websites.
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