At Yata-dera Temple on a drizzly, humid day

It's the rainy season, 梅雨 Apricot Rains,which spans about one and a half months.

It's 紫陽花 Ajisai, Hydrangea season, too.

Hydrangea is a floral symbol of Japan's rainy season.

I went to Yata-dera on a drizzly, humid day.

Yata-dera is the center of Jizo Bosatsu worship.

It houses the oldest Enmei Jizo Bosatsu Statue in Japan.

Hondo, Main Hall

Stone Jizo Statues along the path leading to the Hydrangea Garden

They've planted hydrangeas since 1965

as the round flower looks like the gemstone held in Jizo's hand,

and the changing colors of the flowers teach 諸行無常 Shogyomujyo, 

everything is constantly changing and nothing remains the same.

There are around 10.000 shrubs of hydrangea of 60 different species.

(Yata-dera homepage)

In the Hydrangea Garden, visitors climb up and down stone stairway

 flanked either side by clusters of blue, purple, pink flowers against lush green backdrop.

Wet stone steps are slippery.

Watch your steps.

Hydrangeas make our rainy days brighter as they bloom one after another

during their relatively long life span.

When I can't expect blue skies, clear blue hydrangeas especially brighten my heart.

Yata-dera is located at the middle of Yata-yama Mountain in the castle town 

Yamato-koriyama City.

About 1350 years ago, Prince Oama fled to this mountain and prayed for victory

 during the civil war, Jinshin War in 672.

 After his victory and enthronement as Emperor Tenmu, the temple was founded 

around 679 under his orders. He reigned 673 to 686.

Leading up to the temple gate is a steep slope 

and to the Main Hall and Hydrangea Garden is a long winding stairway.

Yata-dera; The temple of o-jizo-sama and hydrangeas 

Yamato-koriyama City; Sakura at Koriyama Castle Ruins

Indigo dyeing and goldfish

Cheers to Hina dolls and womanhood

Linked to Mosaic Monday