Step out of Kitakogane Station on the JR Joban Line and the approach to Hondoji Temple runs through quiet residential streets before the temple grounds open up around you. In June the slopes are covered with hydrangeas and irises; in autumn the same trees turn red. Matsudo rewards travellers who are willing to ride a few stops beyond central Tokyo and walk.
The city suits slow, seasonal travel rather than a checklist of sights. This guide covers the temples and the one festival the sources describe, plus how to string them together if you have a single day.
Top things to do in Matsudo
1. Hondoji Temple
Hondoji Temple at 63, Hiraga is the strongest reason to make the trip. Roughly 10,000 Japanese hydrangeas and 5,000 Japanese iris, known as ajisai and shoubu, grow on the grounds, and in June many visitors come specifically to see them. In autumn the leaves turn red, and the temple runs seasonal ajisai and momiji tours.
It is open 08:00-16:30, with admission of ¥500 for adults and free entry for children. From Kitakogane Station on the JR Joban Line it is about a 10-minute walk. The temple also opens on New Year's Eve for Joya no Kane, when visitors ring the bell and pray for happiness and health.
2. Tozenji Temple
Tozenji Temple at 359, Kogane is the spring counterpart to Hondoji. Cherry blossoms fill the temple grounds, and the most admired of them is the shidarezakura, the weeping cherry. During the season, people come to view the blossoms and hold parties under the trees.
Entry is free. It sits near Kitakogane Station on the Joban Line, about a 10-minute walk from the station, which makes it easy to pair with Hondoji in a single outing. Go in spring for the blossoms, and expect the grounds to be busiest while the shidarezakura is in flower.
3. Kento Festival
The Kento Festival, or kento matsuri, is a votive lantern festival held along the Sakagawa River. It takes place on August 9 and 10 and continues the tradition of the Toumorokoshi Ichi, the maize market, dating back to the Edo period.
Because it runs for only two evenings, plan your visit around those dates if the festival is the focus of your trip. The lanterns are set along the river, so the festival is an evening activity rather than something to combine with a daytime temple visit.
If you only have one day
Morning: Take the JR Joban Line to Kitakogane Station and walk about 10 minutes to Hondoji Temple, arriving for the 08:00 opening. In June, spend the morning with the hydrangeas and irises; in autumn, with the red leaves.
Afternoon: Walk about 10 minutes from Kitakogane Station to Tozenji Temple. In spring the cherry blossoms, especially the shidarezakura, are the reason to come. Entry is free.
Evening: If you are visiting on August 9 or 10, head to the Sakagawa River for the Kento Festival and its votive lanterns. On other dates, end your day after the temples.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the flowers at Hondoji Temple?
June, when the hydrangeas and irises are in bloom. Autumn is the other season worth planning around, when the leaves turn red.
How do I reach Hondoji Temple and Tozenji Temple?
Both are roughly a 10-minute walk from Kitakogane Station on the JR Joban Line.
How much does it cost to visit the temples?
Hondoji Temple charges ¥500 for adults and is free for children. Tozenji Temple is free.
When does the Kento Festival take place?
On August 9 and 10, along the Sakagawa River.
Check the dates of the Kento Festival and the flowering seasons against your calendar, then start planning your trip to Matsudo around them.