There are many places in Japan that are famous for their flowers – which once a year make the place very special. This is also the case with the Shiofune Kannon Temple which is beautified by countless azaleas in April and May – and I’m taking you there with me today.
The Shiofune Kannon Temple
Let’s start with some information about the Shiofune Kannon Temple or in Japanese the Shiofune Kannon-ji (塩船観音寺). It is located in Ome City, which is situated in the far west of Tokyo Prefecture. According to a legend passed down through generations, the temple was founded in the Taika period and was built between 645 and 650 AD. This means, the Shiofune Kannon Temple has a history going back over 1,300 years. According to the legend, a Buddhist nun named Yao Bikun from Wakasa Province places a statue of the goddess Senju Kannon in the valley. The original statue is said to remain in the main hall to this day and is displayed at religious ceremonies every year.
The name “Shiofune (塩船)” literally means “salt boat” and was assigned to the temple due to its curved topography, which resembles the appearance of a ship.
At the top of the hill is an impressive Bodhisattva Kannon statue that watches over the valley. The Shiofune Heiwa Kannon is worshiped in Japan as the goddess of mercy and compassion. From the top of the hill you have a wonderful view down into the valley.
For sure, the temple offers numerous omamori and other talismans. And of course also goshuin (calligraphic temple seals), which you can take with you as a souvenir. According to the official website, this year (2024) there will even be specially designed goshuin during the time of the Azalea Festival. I picked up the goshuin of the Kannon during my visit.
Azalea Blossoms in Spring
The Shiofune Kannon Temple is famous for its large flower garden. In particular, the large number and variety of azalea bushes (tsutsuji in Japanese) attract many visitors every year. There are said to be around 20,000 bushes on the hills. During the flowering period, usually from mid-April to mid-May, the Tsutsuji Matsuri (Azalea Festival) takes place. I attended the festival on April 29, 2022, so the photos here in this article are from that day. And it was just impressive!
Usually, there is no admission fee to enter the temple grounds, although there is a small charge (300 yen for adults) during the Azalea Festival. The exact period when you have to buy a ticket will be announced on the official website. During the festival, there are also special events on some days, which will be informed about on the website, too. One of them is the Fire Walking Festival (火生三昧修行), where visitors can also try to walk over the hot charcoal amidst the colorful flowers.
I really enjoyed walking along the many paths on the hills, between the azaleas, and seeing the many different vivid colors and shapes. It’s really a colorful feast for the eyes that I can only recommend. I attended the festival on a weekday. There were many (mainly Japanese) visitors there, but it wasn’t too overcrowded. It can get more crowded on weekends or during Golden Week, but you can still wander along the many paths on the temple grounds in peace.
How to get to Shiofune Kannon Temple?
As already mentioned, the Shiofune Kannon Temple is located in Ome City, on the western edge of Tokyo Prefecture. The nearest train station is Kabe Station (河辺駅) on the JR Ome Line (this is part of the JR Chuo Line, which you can use from Shinjuku Station, among others – just make sure that the Chuo Line goes towards Ome). The temple grounds are about 40 minutes away on foot from there. Or you can take a bus from the train station to the Shiofune-Kannon-Iriguchi (塩船観音入口) bus stop. From there it’s just under 10 minutes on foot.
You want to see more of the beautiful azalea season?
Take a look to my article about the Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine ♡