The ‘flower temple’ is associated with the legend of the 800-year-old priestess thanks to mermaids

The unique temple is located in a flower-filled valley with an interesting history behind it.
Shiofune Kannon-ji is a shrine with a large campus stretching across a valley on the outskirts of Ome City, Tokyo. The temple is located in a cup-shaped depression with surrounding hills covered with rhododendron bushes.

The construction date of the Shiofune Kannon-ji Temple is still unclear but is estimated to be between 645 and 650 AD, more than 1,300 years old. (Photo: AQUA Geo Graphic) According to legend, a mysterious Buddhist nun known as Yao Bikuni founded the temple by enshrining a wooden thousand-armed Kannon statue in the valley. The nun is said to have lived to be 800 years old. In Japanese mythology, eating mermaid can make a person immortal. This incredible longevity of Yao Bikuni is attributed to the fact that she accidentally ate mermaid meat when she was young. (Photo: Travels With Nano) Shiofune Kannon-ji is hidden in a valley whose entrance is led from the streets of a rural town. During the festival, visitors are greeted by stalls selling food in front of the temple such as ice cream, fried yakisoba noodles or takoyaki octopus cakes. The entrance of the temple is vividly decorated with small lanterns and colorful flags and banners. (Photo: Travels With Nano) The best time to visit Shiofune Kannon-ji is during the azalea blooming season which peaks between mid-April and early May. On this day, many events are organized, such as walking on the mountain. fire that anyone can join. The area around the shrine is home to about 3,000 rhododendron trees of about 100 different species, including rare varieties like the black rhododendron. (Photo: Masayuki Nazaki) The rhododendron bushes on either side of the valley are adorned with beautiful vibrant colors, from pink to red, purple and white. Many paths go down and up through azalea bushes that immerse you in the brilliant colors of the sky. The area at the foot of the large statue of Shiofune Heiwa Kannon offers a view of the entire valley covered with azaleas, contrasting greatly with the gray urban buildings in the distance. (Photo: Kanpai-japan) (Photo: Japanvisitor) (Photo: Japanvisitor) In addition to rhododendrons, the temple is also famous for hydrangeas in June, lilies in July, and September and October is the time of birches. Therefore, the temple is also known as “flower temple”.