Japan's month long rainy season, known as Tsuyu in Japan, has begun.
It
is the period from spring to summer, when the country experiences a
continuous spell of rainy weather. All areas except the northernmost
island of Hokkaido have a hot and very humid rainy days. It is surely
one of the unpleasant aspects of the Japanese climate.
However,
you can savor the special beauty of Hydrangea, or Ajisai in Japanese
during this season. They bloom from June to July in different regions in
Japan
and light up its gloomy rainy season.
The Cherry Blossom festival is well known, even outside Japan, but few
are aware of the Hydrangea Festival of Flowers, a festival which
signifies the arrival of summer.
Kyoto has many of the most
famous temples for hydrangeas and the gorgeous blooms attract many
visitors during June. Below are the recommended spots in Kyoto.
Mimuroto-ji Temple
You can enjoy about 10.000 hydrangea in this temple, known as "Temple of Flower".
It is located in Uji area of which the scene from the Tale of Genji is set.
Only on the weekends from June 9th to June 24th, they light up thousands of Ajisai flowers at night. fascinating. Ajisai at night have their own unique and fascinating attractiveness.
Mimuroto-ji Temple Hydrangea Festival
*Period: June 1st - July 11th 8:30～16:30
*Light up: On Sat. and Sat. from June 9th to June 24th 19:00～21:00
Admission closes 30 minutes before closing time
*Fee: 500 yen
*Access: 15 min walk from Mimuroto Station on the Keihan Line
*Website: http://www.mimurotoji.com/
Sanzen-in Temple
This temple is located part
way up the forested mountains in the east of Ohara, where is a rural town nestled in the mountains of northern Kyoto.
The temple was established in
the early Heian Period (794-1185).It is a large
temple with a variety of buildings and gardens and particularly popular in mid November during the autumn leaf season,
Why don't you experience the beauty of Hydrangea in the graceful, elegant, peaceful, relaxing, and refreshing temple?
Sanzen-in Temple Hydrangea Festival
*Period: June 10th - July 9th 8:30~17:00
Admission closes 30 minutes before closing time
*Fee:700 yen
*Access: One hour by Kyoto Bus No. 17 from Kyoto Station to Ohara Bus Stop, then
10 minutes on foot.
*Website: http://www.sanzenin.or.jp/
Fujinomori-jinja Shrine
Located in Fushimi area, Fujinomori Shrine was built before the relocation of the capital to Kyoto in 794.
Although the shrine stands in a busy residential district, Fukakusa, the
grounds are extensive. They have two hydrangea gardens, one to the left
of the approach to the shrine, the other at the back.
On the 17th, You can see some Japanese traditional performances such as Gagaku (traditional music) and Kemari(a traditional ball game) in this shrine.
Fujinomori-jinja Shrine Hydrangea Festival
*Period: June 2nd - June 30th 9:00 ~ 16:00
*Fee: 300 yen
*Access: A 5-minute walk from JR Fujinomori Station on the JR Nara Line, or a 7-minute walk from Sumizome Station on the Keihan Line
*Website: http://www.fujinomorijinjya.or.jp/
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