⛩️ Danzhou Guanyin Temple丹州観音寺（華観音寺）

The Danzhou Kannon Temple is said to have originated in the 4th year of the Yōrō era (720) when the hermit Hōdō visited the area and enshrined a Kannon statue over eight feet tall in a grass hut. Later, during the mid-Heian period, in the first year of the Engi era (961), the renowned monk Kūya, known for his dancing and chanting of the Buddha's name, built a seven-hall temple complex. It became the center of Kannon worship in the Tanba region and reached its peak. During the Kamakura period, it entered a golden age, supported by the shogun Hojo Tokiyori and Hojo Sadatoki, and developed into a temple with over 25 affiliated temples. Hydrangeas were planted under the vow of offering countless lanterns and flowers during the opening of the secret Buddha, the "Eleven-Faced Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Kannon." The local climate is suitable for hydrangeas to thrive, and during the blooming season, around 100 varieties of approximately 10,000 hydrangea plants bloom in a stunning display. The soft whites, blues, and the splendid purples and pinks of the colorful hydrangeas create a scene in the temple grounds that is as beautiful as a "Pure Land" of flowers.

Every year between June and July, around 100 varieties of approximately 10,000 hydrangeas adorn the entire temple. The sight of hydrangeas blooming in the inner grounds is as beautiful as a "flower paradise." In autumn, you can enjoy the red leaves, and in early spring, the wax plums, allowing for a variety of flowers and plants to be appreciated throughout the four seasons.