Along the hiking path of Mount Horai, which is known among the “Eight Views of Omi” for its view of the twilight snowfall, is Kojorogaike Pond, Descending further west from the peak of Mount Horai, which belongs to the Hira…

Northern

Koutoku-ji Temple is known for its connection to the Buddhist priest Rennyo and the famous story of “Katata Genbei’s Head.” It is said that long ago, when Rennyo visited Miidera Temple to retrieve a portrait of the sect’s founder, Shinran,…

North central

Gonsho-ji Temple is one of the many bessho (branch location) of Onjo-ji Temple (also known as Miidera Temple). Within the grounds of Onjo-ji Temple is also another bessho known as Bimyo-ji Temple. There was also a station along the Keihan…

Central

Sakamoto Castle was constructed by Akechi Mitsuhide on the orders of Oda Nobunaga. This famous castle fell ten years later alongside Mitsuhide when he lost the Battle of Yamazaki after the Honno-ji Incident. Afterwards, Nobunaga’s chief vassals assembled at Owari…

North central

Ki no Tsurayuki is a representative tanka poet of the collection of ancient waka poems known as the “Kokin Wakashu”. His grave is quietly located mid-way up Mt. Hieizan 300 meters to the south from Hieizan Sakamoto Cable Railway’s Motate…

North central

This 8 m wooden lighthouse was the first in the prefecture, built in 1875. The area near the lighthouse is the narrowest portion of Lake Biwa, and in years past had been the site of many nautical collisions, so the…

North central

Opened in 1927, this cable car is the longest in Japan with a length of 2,025 meters, connecting the foot of the mountain to Enryaku-ji Temple in 11 minutes.Two cable cars depart each hour: on the hour and at half…

North central

On Mount Hiei, the Okuhiei Driveway runs on the north side and the Hieizan Driveway on the south side, with the Tōdō area—home to the main hall of Enryaku-ji temple—serving as the dividing point. The total length is about 20…

North central

Seian-ji Temple is said to have been restored during the Warring States period (of Japanese history, approx. 1467-1568) by a retainer of the Asakura clan of Echizen (former province located in parts of present-day Fukui and Gifu prefectures) named Sugiwaka…

Northern / North central

Built in 1918, this monument was built in honor of Shiga Seirin, who is said to be the ancestor of sumo wrestling refereeing. With his life taking place during the Nara period (710-794), Shiga Seirin was a strong sumo wrestler…

Northern

This temple is famous for “Tozu Buddha Teachings,” which are known as a stepping stone for a chief priest of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism. It is said that Saicho founded this temple in order to spread Buddha’s teachings to…

North central

It is said the satobo residences of Sakamoto first came into existence when the elderly monks of Enryaku-ji Temple were given retirement residences. Many of these residences feature gardens because the monks’ associations with retired life in old age were…

North central