Overview
Mimuroto-ji is a Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, serving as a special head temple (bekkaku honzan) of the Honzanshugen-shu, a Shugendo lineage loosely linked to Tendai Buddhism. Its full name is Akaboshi-san Mimuroto-ji, and its principal image is a hidden statue of Senju Kannon, the thousand-armed bodhisattva of compassion. As the 10th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, it has drawn devotees for centuries. Beyond its spiritual role, the temple is famed as a garden of flowers, with 20,000 azaleas, 1,000 rhododendrons, and celebrated hydrangeas painting the grounds through the seasons.
Highlights
- ●Senju Kannon, revered as the 10th stop on the Saigoku Pilgrimage
- ●A famed flower garden of 20,000 azaleas and 1,000 rhododendrons
- ●Hydrangeas that color the grounds in early summer
- ●A serene compound set in the wooded hills of Akaboshi-san
History
Temple tradition places the founding around the year 770, during the Nara period, and it was said to have been built to shield Kyoto from evil influences from the southeast. Under the name Akaboshi-san Mimuroto-ji, it holds the rank of a special head temple within the Honzanshugen-shu. It was designated the 10th temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and a pilgrim's verse (goeika) evoking the white waves of the Uji River has been handed down here. Through the long centuries it has remained a center of Kannon devotion and one of Uji's most storied ancient temples.
Access
The temple sits in Uji, southeast of the Uji River amid quiet, wooded hills. Uji is an ancient city easily reached by rail from central Kyoto, and visitors typically walk the approach from the nearest station. During the flowering seasons the temple grows busy, so public transport is convenient. Please confirm exact routes, opening hours, and bloom timing through official sources.
Best season
Known as a temple of flowers, Mimuroto-ji shows a different face each season. Early summer brings vivid displays of hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons that draw large crowds. If you are visiting as part of the Saigoku pilgrimage, quieter hours offer a calmer experience. Bloom periods vary from year to year, so check official information before your trip.
Map
34.9005, 135.8192 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Walk the approach from Uji toward the temple gate
- 2Pray before Senju Kannon and receive the pilgrimage stamp
- 3Tour the azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas in flowering season
- 4Round out the day with a stroll along the historic Uji riverside
Did you know?
💡 The mantra of the principal image is chanted as “On bazara tarama kiriku sowaka,” a prayer to the thousand-armed Kannon. The pilgrim's verse describing the white waves of the Uji River, paired with the mountain name Akaboshi-san (“Morning Star Mountain”), captures a mood unique to Mimuroto-ji. The 20,000 azaleas spreading across the grounds have long cemented its reputation as a flower temple.
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