2458 Hakota, Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture
Rating
Cost per person
Free admission
Hotai-in Temple, also known as Datsuma Temple, is located in Kasama, Ibaraki, and is a temple of the Soto Zen sect, featuring one of Japan's largest Daruma statues. The temple grounds include a five-story pagoda enshrining Buddhist relics and a Kannondo hall with seven Kannon statues. The temple is also famous for its rhododendrons, which bloom in early May. The temple is free to enter and is a 10-minute drive from Kasama Station. The temple also has a historic, culturally significant, thatched-roof gate.