Hase-dera

Hase-dera is a temple with a long history that was founded in the early 8th century. The temple often appears in Japanese classical literature. Its main hall is located halfway up the mountain and visitors go up a stone stairway covered with a roof called Noboriro. The main hall has a unique feature, a balcony, that allows you to appreciate the outside view. This temple is designated as a National Treasure and it is also famous as "a temple of flowers." Visitors enjoy peonies blooming along the stairway in spring. In autumn, you can enjoy the spectacular riot of colorful leaves from the balcony. You can see a wide variety of flowers throughout the changing seasons.

(Source: 週休・休日フォトグラフ)

Noboriro

Going through the gate of the temple, you will see 399 stone steps called Noboriro. When night falls and lights come on, there is a magical atmosphere in the corridor. There are over 7,000 peonies along both sides of the stairway that bloom beautifully from late April through early May.

(Source: 663highland/Wikipedia)

Main Hall

It took about five years to build this main hall which dates back to 1645. The temple is designated as a National Treasure for its enormous size as a wooden building. The balcony of the temple is a perfect place to overlook over the entire precincts.

(Source: 大和國長谷寺)

Juichimen Kannon

The principal Buddhist statue of this temple is Juichimen Kannon, or the eleven-faced Goddess of Mercy. More than 10 meters high, it is said to be the biggest wooden statue in Japan. This statue was built in 1538 and is believed to cure sickness. It has been worshiped by many visitors for ages.

Five-Storied Pagoda

The five-storied pagoda is the first one to be built after World War II in 1952. The colors of the temple-red clay, gold, and brown- harmonize with its surroundings creating a beautiful setting. Especially in the cherry blossom season, it is a very popular place for taking photos.

(Source: 桜咲く散歩道)

Autumnal Tints

Visiting Hase-dera in autumn is highly recommended when the trees take on beautiful autumnal colors. Looking over from the balcony of the temple, you will see the mountains turning a bright red. The view is truly breathtaking.