The Iwafuneji Temple is said to have been founded in 729 by the order of Emperor Shomu, and around 1937, the previous chief priest began planting hydrangeas to beautify the devastated grounds, which eventually became known as a famous place of worship. Today, the temple grounds are home to more than 5,000 flowering plants of more than 30 varieties, including the original mountain hydrangea and western hydrangea. The "tama-hydrangea," which blooms from round, bead-shaped buds, can be enjoyed from summer to early fall.

Best time to visit (usually): early June to early July
Hours: 8:30-17:00 (last admission at 16:45)
Entrance fee: 500 yen for adults, 400 yen for middle and high school students, 200 yen for elementary school students

Shinnyo-do Temple was founded in 984 (Eikan 2) and is the head temple of Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple. Its official name is Shinsho Kyokuraku-ji Temple. Visitors can enjoy colorful purple, blue, white and other flowers around the bell tower and in the hydrangea garden. In addition to the contrast between the bell tower and the hydrangea, the elegant design of the water pots should not be missed.

Best time to visit (usually): early June to early July
Visiting hours: 9:00-16:00 (reception closes at 15:45)
Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 400 yen for junior high school students, free for elementary school students and younger
*Free of charge for those with a disability certificate

［The former villa of the Mitsui family, a wealthy merchant who made his fortune selling kimono in the Edo period, is located to the south of Shimogamo Jinja Shrine. The hydrangea garden will be open to the public free of charge for a limited time. About 400 hydrangeas, including gaku hydrangea, mountain hydrangea, and tama hydrangea, are planted in the garden and bloom in a variety of colors such as purple, blue, and pink. The white bellflowers, which are in bloom at the same time as the hydrangeas, have been planted this year in addition to the standard purple. Visitors can enjoy a more gorgeous view of the garden.

Free public viewing of the Hydrangea Garden
Best time to visit (usually): early June to late June
Period / June 15 (Sat.), 16 (Sun.), 2024 10:00-16:00 *The museum is open from 9:00-17:00 (last admission/16:30)
Free admission to the Ajisai Garden area only. Admission fee is required to visit the museum and the main garden area (600 yen for adults, 300 yen for junior and senior high school students, 200 yen for elementary school students).

Umemiya-taisha Shrine is famous as the god of childbirth and safe childbirth, and it is said that crossing the straddle stone will bring you a child. The garden is a garden with a view of Arashiyama and Kitayama, with 1,300 hydrangeas of 120 varieties, including tama-hydrangeas, blooming from the east to the north of the garden.

Best time to visit (usually): early June to early July
Hours of visitation: 6:30-18:00, Shrine Garden 9:00-17:00 (reception ends at 16:30)
Admission: Free in the precincts, 600 yen in the shrine garden, 400 yen for elementary and junior high school students.

Kanshuji Temple is the head temple of the Yamashina school of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It is known as a famous flower garden, with flowers blooming from season to season. During the rainy season, blue hydrangeas around the Shikinden Hall and in the moss garden are at their best. The fresh hydrangeas against the rainy sky and the pure white hansatsu-sho are a sight to behold.

Best time to visit (usually): mid-June to early July
Visiting hours/9:00-16:00
Admission fee/500 yen