Now is the best time to view "Fuyo," or cotton roses, at Shanain Temple, which is known as the "Temple of Fuyo," in Miyamae-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. These flowers bloom in the morning and wither in the afternoon. The petals' pale pink shades float in an atmosphere of ephemerality.

In 1937, when the temple relocated its main hall and other buildings to the current location, cotton roses were planted around the pond. Now, there are nearly 200 bushes throughout the temple precincts.

This year, the flowers also began to bloom at the end of July. At the end of August, "Suifuyo" flowers, or Hibiscus mutabilis, which change from white in the morning to pink in the afternoon, will begin to blossom. The biggest flowers of both kinds can reach approximately 15 centimeters in diameter. Ryukei Yoshida, the temple's chief priest, said, "Such numerous clusters of Fuyo are rare. I recommend coming in the morning, because many visitors have been disappointed to find the flowers have withered in the late afternoon."