Gansenji Temple

Founded according to temple legend in 729 by the monk Gyoki, Gansenji in Kizugawa is known for its flowering grounds and more than 5,000 hydrangea plants in over 30 varieties, earning it the informal nickname 'Temple of Flowers.' A hydrangea symbol is carved into the temple gate. The three-storied pagoda, an Important Cultural Property dating to 1442, sits at the base of a hill so its upper tiers can be viewed from eye level on the path above. The principal deity is a nearly three-meter wooden Amida Nyorai figure thought to be the oldest of its kind, restored during the Edo period with Tokugawa family support.