Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This time, I visited Shichikokusan Yakuoji Temple in Ome City, Tokyo.
"Shichikokusan? Sounds like the Catbus might appear!" Turns out, no Ghibli link—but the peaceful vibe totally made up for it.
So, what kind of place is Shichikokusan Yakuoji Temple?
A peaceful little temple nestled in the mountains of Ome City.
At the end of the path, you’ll find a sun-dappled temple courtyard filled with gentle light.
It felt like time was playing in slow motion, with calm air all around.
The azaleas? Still a bit early! But honestly, that made it even better.
I was hoping to catch the azaleas in full bloom, but...
Turns out, they were just starting to bloom.🌱 Yeah, I was a bit too early. 😅
But thanks to that, I pretty much had the whole place to myself!
Wrapped in silence, with only the sound of birds and the breeze. It was like... my heart was quietly realigning itself. I ended up zoning out on a bench for a while.
A mini pilgrimage with all 88 temples... right under your feet!
One of the coolest things about this temple? The mini Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage!
Deep in the temple grounds, you’ll find rows of stone slabs lined up like a xylophone. And get this—they're filled with sacred sand from each of the 88 temples in Shikoku!
So just by walking over them, it’s like you’ve done the full 88-temple pilgrimage! Blessings from the ground up, you could say.
As I walked through the forest, I paused for a deep breath. That silence… truly priceless.✨ I genuinely felt it in that moment.
Date of Visit: April 11, 2025
A sunny day with a gentle breeze, and the birdsong was nothing short of soothing.
Nature, peace, and a tiny touch of Totoro. I’ll come back for the full tsutsuji bloom—but for now, this visit truly warmed my heart.
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
