Personally visited and recommended locations, perfect for early summer flower lovers.
1. Misaki Hanayama Garden (Misaki Town)
- Plants & Varieties: About 20,000 plants / 100+ varieties
- Highlight: A terraced hillside covered in colorful and rare hydrangeas.
- Access:
🚗 About 30 minutes by car from Innosho IC (Chugoku Expressway)
🚖 About 20 minutes by taxi from JR Tsuyama Station - Address: 2822 Kita, Misaki-cho, Kume-gun, Okayama


2. Fumonji Temple (Maniwa City)
- Plants & Varieties: Around 3,000 plants / 40+ types
- Highlight: Quiet mountain temple with hydrangeas lining the stone steps and paths.
- Access:
🚗 About 25 minutes by car from Yubara IC (Yonago Expressway)
🚖 About 15 minutes by taxi from JR Chugoku-Katsuyama Station - Address: 2127 Tawarayamakami, Maniwa, Okayama


3. Otakiyama Saiho-in Temple (Bizen City)
- Plants & Varieties: Around 3,000 plants / 30+ types
- Highlight: Hidden in the mountains, peaceful and uncrowded.
- Access:
🚗 About 15 minutes by car from Wake IC (Sanyo Expressway)
🚖 About 10 minutes by taxi from JR Kagato Station - Address: 1286 Kagami, Yoshinaga-cho, Bizen, Okayama


4. Kibitsu Shrine (Okayama City)
- Plants & Varieties: About 1,500 plants / 20 types
- Highlight: Historic shrine with a hydrangea garden behind the main hall. Famous for its sacred cauldron ritual.
- Access:
🚶 10-minute walk from JR Kibitsu Station
🚗 About 20 minutes by car from Okayama IC (Sanyo Expressway) - Address: 931 Kibitsu, Kita-ku, Okayama City


5. Anyoji Temple (Kurashiki City – Mt. Asabara)
- Plants & Varieties: Around 3,000 plants / mixed types
- Highlight: Known as the “Hydrangea Temple” by locals, set in a quiet hillside forest.
- Access:
🚗 About 10 minutes by car from Kurashiki IC (Sanyo Expressway)
🚖 About 15 minutes by taxi from JR Kurashiki Station - Address: 636 Hayashi, Kurashiki City, Okayama

