藥王寺, Buddhist temple in Ome, Japan.
Yakuoji is a Buddhist temple in Ome featuring traditional architecture with a main hall and a large Kannon statue at its center. The grounds are densely planted with azalea bushes that cover the surrounding landscape in a carefully arranged pattern.
The temple was founded in the 7th century by a nun named Yao Bikuni and has remained a religious site for many centuries. Its main hall houses a wooden Thousand-Armed Kannon statue, an important artwork from that early period.
The temple serves as a center for Buddhist worship and meditation where visitors come to observe traditional religious practices. The surrounding azalea blossoms connect the spiritual life of the place to the natural world in a way that shapes how people experience the site.
The grounds are best explored on foot, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes to navigate the different levels and paths among the azalea bushes. Spring is the ideal time to visit when the plants are in full bloom and the walkways are easily accessible.
The approximately 17,000 azalea bushes on the grounds are arranged in a garden specifically designed for the spring bloom season. This collection is so extensive that it draws visitors who come primarily to experience the floral display.
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