Hase-dera Temple

Hase-dera is built into a mountainside in Sakurai, accessible via a magnificent covered stairway of 399 stone steps flanked by peonies in spring. The main hall juts out from the cliff on stilts, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The 10-meter wooden Eleven-Headed Kannon inside is one of the largest wooden statues in Japan. Over 7,000 peony bushes bloom in late April to early May.