Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This time, I’m sharing a perfect day trip plan to enjoy azaleas to the fullest in Ome City! 🌸
The flowers weren’t in full bloom just yet... but that meant I could enjoy the peace and quiet—and honestly, my heart felt fully bloomed! ☺️
① Starting the Morning Fresh at Tenneiji Temple
First stop of the day: Tenneiji Temple.
Walking through the impressive temple gate, I found a perfectly manicured courtyard. It felt like even the dust on my soul got swept away. (LOL)
What touched me most was the person tending the grounds—bowing deeply and greeting me with a cheerful “Good morning!”
It was a small gesture, but it really warmed my heart. ✨
By the way, I couldn’t find an offertory box, so I left my wishes with the tanuki statue in the courtyard instead. (LOL)
↓ 🚗 11 minutes (3.6 km) → Arrived at the parking lot of Shiofune Kannon-jiつつじまつり期間中は有料700円
② Azalea Check-in at Shiofune Kannon-ji
The azaleas were just starting to bloom, but the hillside was still stunning—definitely worth a visit. The best is yet to come, but with fewer people around, it actually felt like the perfect hidden timing! ♪
Check out my blog on the “Shiofune Kannon-ji Azalea Festival” here! ↓ ↓ ↓
↓ 🚗 10 minutes (3.6 km) → Arrived at the free parking lot of Shichikokusan Yakuoji
③ Shichikokusan Yakuoji—A Spot So Good I Almost Don’t Want to Share It
Honestly, I love this place so much I kind of want to keep it a secret. (LOL)
👉 Check out my blog about “Shichikokusan Yakuoji” here!
A temple wrapped in silence, a mini 88-temple path beneath your feet, a gentle breeze, and birdsong in the air. There’s “nothing” here—yet somehow, everything is.
↓ 🚗 10 minutes (4.2 km) → Parked at the Iruma City Rural Environment Improvement Center
④ Feeling on Top of the World at Sakurayama Observatory!
This time, I made a little detour to Sakurayama Observatory.
This place... I literally said out loud, “Wait, this view is free!?” 😲 And guess what— the cherry blossoms were in full bloom! 🌸 With mountains stretching out in the distance and petals swaying gently in the breeze, it was one of those “ahhh... spring really is the best” kind of moments.
This spot’s actually a bit of a hidden gem. You can park at the Iruma City Rural Environment Improvement Center.🚗
The entrance to the observatory is quietly tucked behind the building.
And get this—there’s even a walking stick rental at the entrance. How kind is that!? Of course, I thought, “I’ll be fine!” and totally walked past it...
Then came a surprisingly serious set of stairs... and yeah, I started to regret it. (LOL)
Once you conquer those stairs, you’re rewarded with an incredible view!
⑤ Dinner Jackpot at Mammy Mart Kaneko Store!
On the way to the onsen, I stopped by Mammy Mart—Saitama’s proud kingdom of ready-made meals! This place has won tons of “Prepared Food Awards” and is honestly a dream for food lovers.
I ended up tossing way too many things into my basket—so tonight turned into a full-on Mammy Mart feast 🍱 + drinks! (LOL)
Why is post-trip food always the happiest food? 💕 By the way, I had a sandwich here as a little snack—and it totally hit the spot!
↓ 🚗 15 min（5.3㎞）
⑥ And of course, ending the day with a relaxing soak in the onsen
better way to wrap up a trip than with a soak in the onsen! ♨️ This time, I headed to Kawabe Onsen Umenoyu. I forgot to snap a photo (oops!), but it’s super easy to access—just a quick walk from the Aeon Style parking lot!
The view from the open-air bath was lovely, and the low-temp mist sauna and binchotan charcoal water bath were absolutely amazing.
Both my tired feet and my soul slowly melted into relaxation. ✨
実は当初、梅の湯のお食事処で晩ごはんにする予定だったんです！ でも、マミーマートでお惣菜を爆買いしてしまい（笑）これはもう家でのんびりビール飲みながらにしよってことで、結局、お風呂だけで撤収〜となりました🍺✨
Summary
This time, the azaleas were just starting to bloom—but that meant everywhere was calm and quiet, making it a deeply soothing and heartwarming trip.
Seasonal flowers, peaceful temples, a relaxing onsen, and tasty deli treats—this is what I call the perfect laid-back day trip for grown-ups!
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
