Overview
LOCAL CULTURE WALK
Walk with a local guide
from the Seta River to Ishiyama-dera, associated with Murasaki Shikibu.
Seta no Karahashi Bridge has long been a key transportation hub where many people traveled between east and west. From there, enjoy the scenery of the Seta River—the only river flowing out of Lake Biwa—as you make your way to Ishiyama-dera, an ancient temple associated with Murasaki Shikibu.
On this tour, you will walk from the Seta River area to Ishiyama-dera with a local guide who knows the region’s history and culture well. At Ishiyama-dera, the guide will introduce stories of history and literature preserved on the grounds, including the “Genji Room” in the Main Hall, said to be where Murasaki Shikibu conceived The Tale of Genji. After your visit, enjoy Temple Town Sweets and experience the culture of Ishiyama-dera that has been passed down for more than a thousand years.
LOCAL STORY
A river route and a thousand years of literature, brought together through the guide’s storytelling.
The people who crossed Seta no Karahashi Bridge, the history of the Seta River and Ōtsu, and the story of Ishiyama-dera and Murasaki Shikibu. As you walk while listening to a local guide, each place begins to connect as a single history. This is an Ishiyama walk that lets you encounter local stories that are easy to miss if you only enjoy the scenery.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS
Walk with a local guide｜Guided with locally rooted stories about the history of the Seta River and the stories of Ishiyama-dera
Seta no Karahashi Bridge and the Seta River｜Enjoy a famed bridge that has long been a key transportation hub, along with riverside scenery
Ishiyama-dera, associated with Murasaki Shikibu｜Visit the grounds where stories of literature and history remain, including the “Genji Room”
Two ways to join｜Walk from Ishiyama Station / Meet on site at the Higashi-Ōmon (East Great Gate) of Ishiyama-dera
Temple Town Sweets｜After your visit, enjoy Ōtsu-style sweets in the temple town of Ishiyama-dera
WALKING MAP
Walking route from Seta no Karahashi Bridge to Ishiyama-dera
Basic Information
- Tour Dates
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Daily *Except during the year-end/New Year holidays and on certain dates (festivals and events)
- Time
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■ Morning Session 9:20–12:00
(Meet on site) 10:20–12:00
■ Afternoon Session 13:20–16:00
(Meet on site) 14:20–16:00
[Duration: approx. 2 hours 40 minutes (meet on site) / approx. 1 hour 40 minutes] - Meeting Point
- Capacity
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10 people (minimum participants: 2)
- Price
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¥3,500 (when joining with 2 or more people) / ¥6,000 (when operating for 1 person)
[Includes] Admission fee, food and drink, guide-related expenses, etc.
*The minimum number of participants for this tour is 2. If you wish to join even if you are alone, please apply using the one-person rate. If additional participants apply and the tour reaches the minimum (2 or more), the difference will be refunded.
Itinerary
Ishiyama Station Tourist Information Center / Meet at JR Ishiyama Station; depart with a local guide
→
Seta no Karahashi Bridge
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Setagawa Gururi Walking Path
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Ishiyama-dera Temple / Temple visit: National Treasure Main Hall, Murasaki Shikibu memorial pagoda, National Treasure Tahōtō Pagoda, statue of Murasaki Shikibu, ancient stone quarry, and more
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Ishiyama-dera Temple Town / Temple Town Sweets
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Ishiyama-dera Temple Town / Tour ends on site
Additional Details
FOLLOW THE STORY
Trace a thousand-year story from the Seta River with a local guide
LOCAL GUIDE EXPERIENCE
From the river’s history to the story of Ishiyama-dera and Murasaki Shikibu.
The people who crossed Seta no Karahashi Bridge, the Seta River and local life, and the stories of faith and literature preserved at Ishiyama-dera. As you walk while listening to a local guide, each place connects into a single history. Follow Ishiyama’s unique stories that are easy to miss if you only take in the scenery.
A historic transportation hub: “Seta no Karahashi Bridge”
Seta no Karahashi Bridge has long been known as a key transportation link connecting east and west. Visit this famed bridge—counted among the Eight Views of Ōmi as “Evening Glow at Seta”—and, with the guide’s commentary, unravel its history. Enjoy as well the scenery of the Seta River, the only river flowing out of Lake Biwa.
SETAGAWA WALK
Enjoy the Seta River scenery on the way to Ishiyama-dera
From Seta no Karahashi Bridge, walk to Ishiyama-dera along the “Setagawa Gururi Walking Path.” While enjoying the riverside scenery, a local guide will introduce the connection between the Seta River and the community it has supported through transportation and daily life.
Visit Ishiyama-dera, an ancient temple associated with Murasaki Shikibu
Ishiyama-dera is said to be where Murasaki Shikibu conceived The Tale of Genji. With a local guide, visit places associated with her, including the “Genji Room” in the National Treasure Main Hall, as well as her statue and memorial pagoda.
Within the temple grounds, you will also visit the National Treasure Tahōtō Pagoda, wollastonite—the mineral said to be the origin of the name “Ishiyama”—and ancient stone quarries, exploring not only literature but also the temple’s history and the formation of the land itself.
Admission fee included
Conclude your walk with Temple Town Sweets
After visiting Ishiyama-dera, head to the temple town lined with traditional souvenir shops. To wrap up the walk, take a break and enjoy Temple Town Sweets.
Temple Town Sweets included
INFORMATION
Please review before joining
About the guide
A local guide with in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of the Ishiyama and Seta River area, as well as the stories of Ishiyama-dera, will accompany you from departure to the end of the tour.
About walking
The walking distance is approximately 3.4 km. As there are stairs and slopes within the Ishiyama-dera grounds, please join in comfortable clothing and walking shoes.
About the itinerary
Depending on temple events or shop/facility closures, some stops and parts of the itinerary may be changed.
In Case of Rain
The tour will proceed in the rain. Please bring your own rain gear. However, the tour may be canceled if it is determined that safe operation is difficult due to severe weather.
Information for the day
We do not mail travel documents or the final itinerary for this tour. Please check the day-of information (final itinerary) under “Reservation Details” in your booking confirmation email.
Tour Operator
Registered Travel Agency with the Governor of Shiga Prefecture: No. 2-243
Full Member of All Nippon Travel Agents Association (ANTA)
Biwako Otsu Tourism Association
Civic Cultural Center 2F, 2-3 Goryo-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
