Hase Temple is located on the hillside of Mt. Hase overlooking the Hase Highway that connects Yamato and Ise.  From the end of April to the beginning of May, more than 150 kinds of peony, which is said to be 7,000 stocks, are in full bloom, and this temple has been called “Flower Temple” for a long time.  It also appears in many classical literature such as “Makura-Soshi(Pillow Soshi”, “Genji Monogatari,” and “Sarashina Diary.”  Above all, the “Sarashina Diary” describes in detail the state of Hase-Temple worship of women in the aristocratic society at that time.  It is estimated to have been built in the first half of the 8th century during the Nara period, but the exact time and circumstances of its construction are unknown.  Perhaps this had been also a sacred place from long ago before Buddhism was introduced, and Buddhist culture was overlaid on it.

長谷寺は大和国と伊勢国を結ぶ初瀬街道を見下ろす初瀬山の中腹に建っています。4月下旬から5月上旬は150種類以上、7,000株といわれる牡丹が満開になり、当寺は古くから「花の御寺」と称されてきました。また、『枕草子』『源氏物語』『更科日記』など多くの古典文学にも登場します。中でも『更科日記』には、当時の貴族社会の女性達の長谷寺信仰の様子が詳しく書かれています。創建は奈良時代の8世紀前半と推定されていますが、創建の詳しい時期や事情は不明です。多分ここも、仏教伝来の遥か昔からの聖地で、その上に仏教文化が被さったのでしょう。