The temple is nicknamed the 'Flower Temple' (Hana-no-tera) due to its extensive seasonal botanical displays.
It belongs to the Honzan Shugen sect of Buddhism, which emphasizes mountain asceticism.
The hydrangea garden contains over 50 different varieties of the flower.
The bull statue is part of a local legend suggesting that rubbing the stone sphere within its mouth brings financial luck.
The temple was frequently patronized by the imperial family throughout the Edo period.
Mimuroto-ji is a historic Buddhist temple in Uji famous for its expansive gardens, particularly its collection of approximately 20,000 hydrangea bushes. Founded in the Heian period, it serves as the 10th temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route. The temple grounds feature a bronze statue of a bull containing a stone ball in its mouth, which visitors touch for good fortune. Beyond hydrangeas, the temple cultivates azaleas in spring and lotus flowers in summer. The main hall, reconstructed in the early 19th century, houses a statue of Senju Kannon. Visitors access the temple by ascending a hillside slope that offers views over the surrounding Uji landscape. The temple is historically significant for its long association with the aristocratic Fujiwara clan.
The central path of the hydrangea garden, which allows for an eye-level frame of the flowers leading up toward the temple buildings.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes, as the temple grounds involve steep slopes and stone stairs.
Check the official website's blooming calendar before visiting to time your trip for peak hydrangea or azalea season.
Bring insect repellent during the humid summer months when vegetation is dense.
Do not attempt to walk from Uji station during the height of the summer heat; utilize the available local transport options.
The temple may occasionally close sections for maintenance; check the official website for seasonal illumination event schedules.
Maintain a quiet tone, remove hats when inside the main hall, and do not touch religious artifacts or statues unless explicitly permitted.
