Yata-dera — Attraction in Yamatokoriyama

関西で6月の花と言えばやはり「紫陽花（あじさい）」ですね。 梅雨の季節に咲く花として色々なところで見られます。 その中でも奈良県の矢田寺の紫陽花は見に行く価値のある場所の一つですね。 この日は6月下旬の雨の週末でちょうど晴れ間が出た良いタイミングの昼下がりでした。 気温も少し上がりだして、じめっとしてきた感じでした。 矢田寺の入り口すぐの駐車場に車を止めて、坂をあがり拝観料を払います。

ここからが大変でして、階段をしばらく登らないといけないのです。 10分～15分ほど階段を上ってようやく、本堂が見える地点まで。ここから振り返ってみる奈良の景色が美しいんですが、かなり息があがっているはずです。

ゆるやかな坂道を歩き本堂にお参りすると、そこら中に紫陽花が。

なかでも圧巻は「紫陽花の小径」。小径なんですが結構アップダウンが激しい上に、左右見回しても紫陽花だらけの中を歩くことになります。顔の大きさ程ある紫陽花もたくさんあり、まさに「紫陽花のジャングル」！一年分の紫陽花を堪能する事ができます。

本堂よりさらに上がったところにある「閻魔堂」も見る価値ありです。

紫陽花の時期は特に土日はかなり混んでるとの事でした。 階段も雨で滑るので運動靴や歩きやすい靴がお勧めです。 飲み物は本堂右手の販売所で売っていますが、熱中症防止のためには持って行くことをお勧めします。

Yatadera (Kongosan Temple)

When it comes to June flowers in the Kansai region, "hydrangeas" immediately come to mind. These flowers bloom during the rainy season and can be seen in many places. Among them, the hydrangeas at Yatadera in Nara Prefecture are definitely worth visiting.

On this day, it was a rainy weekend in late June, and we were fortunate to have a sunny break in the afternoon. The temperature had started to rise, and it felt quite humid. We parked our car in the lot just at the entrance of Yatadera, walked up the slope, and paid the entrance fee.

The challenging part starts here, as you have to climb stairs for a while. After climbing the stairs for about 10 to 15 minutes, you finally reach a point where you can see the main hall. The view of Nara from here is beautiful, but you'll likely be out of breath.

Walking up the gentle slope to the main hall, you will see hydrangeas everywhere.

The most impressive part is the "Hydrangea Path." Although it's called a path, it has quite a bit of elevation change, and you will walk through a sea of hydrangeas on both sides. Many of the hydrangeas are as big as your face, making it feel like a "hydrangea jungle!" You can fully enjoy a year's worth of hydrangeas here.

The "Enmadou" hall, located further up from the main hall, is also worth seeing.

During the hydrangea season, especially on weekends, it can get quite crowded. The stairs can be slippery when it rains, so wearing athletic shoes or comfortable walking shoes is recommended. Although drinks are sold at the shop to the right of the main hall, it is advisable to bring your own to...

15th June 1025 (700 yen entry ticket)

I spent 3 hours here but not for the Hydrangea only l, as most would expect Honestly, to experience this place is full, I wholeheartedly suggest whoever is capable, of hiking up the mountain, visiting all 88 mini God statues a long the way (as you can see from my photos). The journey is about 5km, and it may take around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Every 20 statues or so, you will be greeted with a special one. Once you reach the peak, you will feel that the view is worth all the sweat and panting.

Bring lots of water, mosquito repellent, and shoes with strong grip when undertaking the journey, take care, and enjoy !!!! Oh, and dont forget the...

Absolutely beautiful. Went on a Saturday (June 18th) and heard it was peak season and it was really pretty. It was crowded as you can imagine, as we heard this year was the first time the gardens opened in 3 years. You’re better off going by bus, since theres limited parking along the slope. You should NOT go with a baby stroller: it’s all slopes and stairs and stone paths. Took my 2 year old there and he refused to be held: he enjoyed the stairs and the stone paths. It was a wonderful experience and the views were...