Amabikisan Rakuhōji (Amabiki Kannon)

Wonderful place! You can spend the whole day there wandering around, but do not forget that the last bus departs at 16:00!!! You can see various flowers (when it's season) and animals including peacock and goats. They also have ponds with massive fish! The only disappointing thing was a monkey show they had in front of the exhibition center. STOP ANIMAL ABUSE! The owner of the monkey literally hit it with hands and a rod, yelling at it and forced to do tricks. That was terrible!

Surrounded by lush mountains and beautiful seasonal flowers, it offers a peaceful retreat. The temple, dedicated to Kannon, the deity of mercy, dates back to the Nara period and features traditional wooden architecture. Visitors can participate in spiritual rituals and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. Accessible from JR Tsuchiura Station, Amabiki Kannon is a perfect spot for those seeking a glimpse into Japan's spiritual heritage and natural beauty.

It’s a good place to see hydrangea. Also you can see several pheasants just walking around randomly:) In hydrangea season, there are a lot of tourists and small shows in the temple, so it’s kinda noisy. If you are planning to come here, you should go in the early morning, because the car park is quite limited and you may have to wait.

We arrived pretty close to opening and I am glad because when we left, the car line waiting to get up to parking was extremely long! This was a beautiful temple with many areas to get gorgeous photos! They even had photo spots for dogs which I am always excited to see! There were many ADORABLE babies and children dressed in traditional wear, as this is a place people go to pray for children. I also noticed for the avid hiker, that there were many trails around here!

Nestled in a peaceful mountainous area in the east part of Ibaraki, the temple is widely recognized as a famous spot for viewing hydrangea. The belief is it was originally established by a monk who travelled from China in 587. It is also visited by people who pray for a safe and easy delivery of babies. Once you enter the temple, you will spot a pair of beautiful peacocks roaming around the temple. As of June 1st the hydrangeas were not in bloom - I would guess probably the second week of June would be best. Free parking is available.