Mimuroto-ji Temple

The basics

The foliage-laden grounds surround the religious temple, a head temple of the Honzan-Shugen-shu sect of Buddhism, originally constructed in the early 1800s. The temple houses an image of a thousand-armed Kannon Bodhisattva, a deity and Buddhist symbol of wisdom and compassion. A three-tiered pagoda rests on temple grounds, too. Touching the statues outside of the temple's main hall is believed to grant wishes and bring good luck.

Things to know before you go

• The temple is a great alternative to Kyoto for those who want to see cherry blossoms with less intense crowds.
• Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and airy clothes if visiting in the summer, as the area can get hot and humid.
• Although the pathways here are paved and well maintained, wheelchair and stroller users should note that parts of the grounds require navigating stairs.

How to get there

The temple is located in Uji, a 40-minute train ride south of Kyoto Station on the JR Nara Line. From the JR Uji Station, you can take bus number 43 straight to the temple. Alternatively, you can switch at the Obaku Station onto the Uji Line, get off at Mimurodo Station, and walk about 20 minutes to the temple.

When to get there

The temple is best visited from April through November, with cherry blossoms in bloom in April, some 20,000 azaleas in late April or early May, and 10,000 hydrangeas in June. The temple is open almost every day of the year, except for December 29-31. At night, the temple garden is lit up, allowing visitors to take in the seasonal flowers, even when the temple itself is closed.

While in Uji

Uji has tons of cultural attractions, with enough to easily make a day trip from Kyoto and not get bored. Perhaps the most popular attraction in the area is the Byodo-in Temple, which features on the back of 10-yen coins and is one of the few examples of Heian-era architecture still standing. Also worth checking out is Obaku-san Manpuku-ji Temple, established by a Chinese monk in the 17th century.