Yōkoku-ji Temple (Yanagidani Kannon)

Yokokuji is a Buddhist temple in the mountains on the outskirts of Kyoto, about a 15-minute taxi ride from Nishiyama-Tenjin Station. In early summer around 5,000 hydrangea plants bloom, and seasonal flowers float in the water at the hand-washing basin as hana-chozu. Admission runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on the 17th of each month a shuttle bus runs between Nishiyama-Tenjin Station and Nagaokakyo Station. Mountain paths and narrow roads make public transport access inconvenient.