“Spring at Flower Temple, Ishiyamadera, Otsu City”
Japan is a place where you can enjoy the changing seasons. The cold winter is finally over, and the long-awaited spring has finally arrived.
Speaking of spring in Japan? “Yes, it’s cherry blossoms.”
Many foreign tourists also visit Japan to see the cherry blossoms.
Otsu City also has temples and shrines with history like Kyoto.
One of them is “Ishiyamadera”, an ancient temple with a history of more than 1200 years, founded in 747.
“Ishiyama” means “stone mountain” in Japanese.
The location of this temple, which is built on the banks of the Seta River, the only river that flows out of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, is a place where there are many stones called wollastonite, which are rare in the world, and these stones are designated as a national natural monument.
This temple, which stands on top of this strangely shaped rock, is a dynamic rock that must have existed for hundreds or even thousands of years and is very energetic.
In addition to such power, this temple is also popular for academics and literature, and is also known as the “Temple of Flowers.”
The flowers that make people happy with the long-awaited spring are increasing little by little, and in May and June, you can enjoy the bright fresh greenery in the wide precincts.
To get to Ishiyama-dera Temple, take the special rapid train from JR Kyoto Station (13 minutes) to JR Ishiyama Station, then take a taxi for about 10 minutes (about 1000 yen).
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Oh yeah, there are several restaurants in front of the temple where you can enjoy the famous clam rice, Omi beef, eel, and funazushi(fermented fish sushi).
