Muroji Rhododendron Festival 室生寺 しゃくなげまつり

While cherry blossoms may be the signature of Japan in spring, the bold pinks and purples of 3,000 rhododendrons draw crowds to Muroji Temple from mid-April through early May. This small but beautiful temple comes alive in late spring.

The best way to access Muroji Temple is by bus or train.

Buses from Muroguchi-Ono Station to the nearby Muroji-mae bus stop leave once an hour, taking around 15 minutes. If traveling from Osaka, you can get to Muroguchi-Ono Station from Osaka's Uehonmachi Station on the Kintetsu-Osaka Line Express for Aoyamacho.

Explore the beauty of Muroji Temple's five-story pagoda, one of Japan's oldest and smallest, surrounded by flowers. The rhododendrons transform the already beautiful pagoda into a springtime wonderland. The best views of the pagoda are from the bottom of the stairs. Up close, it is surprisingly small, at just 16 meters tall.

Hidden behind tall groves of Japanese cedar trees, the temple is off the beaten track and rarely crowded. The striking vermillion pagoda and bright flowers are set within a lush green forest. The temple complex also has an impressive entrance gate and stunning Buddhist carvings.

Even if you can't make it to the area during April, it's also worth visiting in fall, when the leaves turn red and gold and the temple holds evening illumination events.