金剛寺, Buddhist temple in Ome, Japan.
Kongoji is a Buddhist temple located in a valley near Ome, featuring traditional Japanese architecture across multiple prayer halls and structures. The grounds spread across mountain slopes with various buildings designed for religious practice and worship.
This temple traces its founding to the Taika period around 645-650, when a Buddhist nun named Yao Bikuni established a shrine with a Kannon statue. Over the centuries, it developed into an important center for the Shingon Buddhist tradition.
This temple belongs to the Shingon school of Buddhism and remains an active place of worship and ceremony today. Visitors can observe how this particular Buddhist tradition is practiced through regular rituals and seasonal celebrations.
The temple is accessible from Ome station using local transportation, making it convenient for day trips from Tokyo. Using the local bus service helps visitors reach the grounds, especially for those without a car.
The temple grounds feature a remarkable collection of azalea bushes that bloom across the hillsides during spring in shades of pink, red, violet, and white. This seasonal flower display creates a distinctive natural feature that defines the spring visit.
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