Throughout the month of June, Saga Prefecture's Daishoji Temple hosts a hydrangea festival to celebrate the beauty of these seasonal flowers. Approximately 5000 hydrangeas in 70 different varieties fill the grounds, giving some indication as to why the temple has the nickname of Ajisaidera, or the hydrangea temple.
From the temple grounds, visitors can also enjoy a view out over Takeo City on clear days. On days when the weather isn't as clear, the view is still beautiful - misty cloud cover is a regular occurrence here, which has earned the venue another nickname of 'the temple in the sky'.
Adult admission to the hydrangea festival is priced at 200 yen.
Getting there
Saga's Daishoji Temple is located approximately 20 minutes by taxi from Takeo Onsen Station, which is served by the JR Saga Line.
For those who opt to drive, the temple is around 15 minutes from the Takeo Kitagata IC on the Nagasaki Expressway. On-site parking is available for up to 100 vehicles.
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