Amida-ji, Buddhist temple in Hōfu, Japan

Amida-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hōfu, built on a mountain slope and made up of several buildings, including two bathing structures. The grounds are known for their hydrangea plants, which bloom across the site each year in a wide range of varieties.

Amida-ji was founded in 1187 by the monk Chōgen as a branch temple (bessho) of Tōdai-ji in Suō Province, and its abbot also served as provincial governor. It burned down in 1484 and was rebuilt with support from the Ōuchi clan. The main hall was reconstructed in 1731 by Mōri Hiromasa of the Migita Mōri family, and the central gate was moved here in 1871 from a gate under Tōdai-ji's jurisdiction.

The temple is known as the hydrangea temple: planting began around 1975, and since 1989 a hydrangea festival has been held each June. Today about 4,000 plants of 80 varieties grow on the grounds. The temple also keeps two stone baths, one attributed to Chōgen for the workers who felled timber for Tōdai-ji; the other is heated on the first Sunday of each month, when visitors may bathe for a firewood fee.

Take the Bōchō Kōtsū bus from Hōfu Station on the JR Sanyō Main Line, bound for Hōfu Tenmangū and Mōri-tei via Amida-ji, and get off at the final stop; the temple is right in front of you. The grounds are on a mountain slope, so allow time for walking between the halls.

The temple's iron treasure pagoda, a National Treasure, is accompanied by a crystal five-ring stupa. The temple also keeps a wooden seated statue of Chogen and an iron seal bearing Todai-ji's hammer mark, both Important Cultural Properties. The gate called Nio-mon was rebuilt in 1685 by Mori Noshinobu, lord of Migita.