During rainy season, I try to take advantage of clear days when they appear and so on Wednesday, I drove over to Amidaji Temple in Hofu to see the hydrangeas. I had visited Amidaji Temple on an earlier trip to Hofu and had read a sign that told of the their hydrangea festival, so I planned to visit again in June.
The Hydrangeas
Amaidaji has approximately 4,000 hydrangea plants with over eighty different varieties!
Throughout the temple grounds there are hydrangeas of every color and more varieties than I knew existed. I remember thinking the grounds were beautiful when I visited the first time, but it is spectacular during hydrangea season.
The Niomon Gate
At the entrance of Amidaji Temple stands a Niomon Gate which is a pretty common sight at Buddhist temples. This gate is the oldest part of the Amidaji complex and was built in 1685. It was built to replace the thirteenth-century gate that had collapsed.
On either side of the entrance there is a Nio statue. “Nio” means benevolent king and you always see the Nio statues in pairs. Even though they appear rather menacing, they are there as a symbol of protection for the temple and are believed to keep away evil spirits and demons.
The statues at Amidaji were made in the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and are in really good condition. The details and craftsmanship of this pair are extraordinary. They are made of Japanese cypress using the joined-block technique and have eyes made of crystal. It amazes me that these beautiful antiquities are just out in the open for everyone to see and enjoy. I often wonder if visitors stop to appreciate the artistry that created them.
The Serenity of Water
Mountain temples are usually pretty serene and I think it is fair to say that most mountain temples (at least the ones that I have visited) usually have some type of water feature. Whether that is a stream, a pond, or maybe a waterfall. Amidaji actually has all three of those.
When I visit mountain temples, I love to just find a place to sit and listen to the water babbling over the rocks or birds singing their songs. One of the things I love about mountain temples is that they usually feel very spiritual and connected to nature. Many temples also have trails for brief hikes behind the main part of the complex which offers a little time for the tradition of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which is believed to reduce stress and promote well-being. I certainly more relaxed and grounded after a visit.
The Temple Structures and Grounds
There are seven buildings that make up the Amidaji Temple complex. The Treasure Hall includes several National Treasures. Unfortunately, the hall wasn’t open on the day I visited. I suppose I will have to plan another visit.
The Steps. So Many Steps…
Many temples, shrines, and random things in Japan always seem to have a lot of steps. I sort of have a love-hate relationship with the number of steps at temples. First, I love the rustic, natural beauty of the steps and that it is sometimes a challenge to climb them. But then sometimes, it is just exhausting when you visit multiple places with steps (like a temple walk). One temple I visited had 333 steps and I’ve heard of one that has 3,333 steps (it may or may not be on my travel list). Anyway, steps are challenging to photograph, so I tried to include people to show just how high up I was when taking the photo. And I wasn’t even at the top!
More Flowers and Other Temple Sights
Amidaji Temple is beautiful any time of year, but especially with the hydrangeas in bloom! I think my next visit will be in the fall for leaf viewing. You can read more about Amidaji here. I hope you have a chance to visit Amidaji during hydrangea season! Pin for Amidaji.
Happy Exploring! Kari
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