Trip Ideas #North03
A temple town walking route with beautiful stonework
Northern/Sakamoto
A village of stonework where clear streams flow.
Sakamoto is a temple town of Hieizan Enryakuji Temple and Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine. The waterways of the clear Omiyagawa River and Fujikigawa River (Gongengawa River) that flow from Mount Hiei, along with the old-fashioned neighborhoods of Baba and Tsukurimichi, create scenery in which time appears to have stopped hundreds of years ago. The area is an alluvial fan created by the rivers, offering splendid views of Lake Biwa from higher ground. This quiet town, which was once popular as a location for the residences and retreats of elderly monks, offers many attractions including the stonework of Anoshu and famous temples and shrines. Along the long, beautiful shoreline of Lake Biwa are the remains of Sakamoto Castle, of which Akechi Mitsuhide was lord as well.
- Approx. time required
- 4-5 hour
- Key points
of traveling - ・Go by car or rented bicycle to cover a wide area and visit Saikyoji Temple, Karasaki Jinja Shrine, the remains of Sakamoto Castle, and more.
・The famous sights of the Sakamoto-Hieizanguchi Station area are within easy walking distance.
・The entranceway to Hieizan Enryakuji Temple; combine with a trip to Mount Hiei by using the Sakamoto Cableway.
Saikyoji Temple
View gardens and architectural beauty.
The family temple of Akechi Mitsuhide, where Mitsuhide and his family are enshrined.
| Address | Otsu Sakamoto 5-13-1 |
|---|---|
| Parking | 50 spaces for normal-size vehicles and limited spaces for large vehicles |
| Business Hours | 9:00 a.m.- 04:30 p.m. |
| Closed on | No holiday |
| Price | 500 yen for adults (450 yen for groups of more than 30 people) |
| URL | http://www.saikyoji.org/ |
Transit time: 20 min. by foot
Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Stroll through the shrine precincts embraced by a forest of clear streams.
| Address | Otsu Sakamoto 5-1-1 |
|---|---|
| Parking | 50 spaces for normal-size vehicles |
| Business Hours | 09:00 a.m. - 04:30 p.m. |
| Closed on | No holiday |
| Price | 300 yen (270 yen for groups of more than 30 people) |
| URL | http://hiyoshitaisha.jp/ |
Transit time: 10 min. by foot
Hiyoshi Toshogu Shrine
Brilliantly colored main shrine building.
The gongen-zukuri structure, which formed the model for the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, is definitely worth seeing. Subordinate shrine of Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine.
Transit time: 10 min. by foot
Tsuruki Soba Main Store
A venerable old soba restaurant.
A soba restaurant that has long rewarded the stomachs of priests breaking their fasts. Also take note of the building, which is designated a tangible cultural property.
| Address | Otsu Sakamoto 4-11-40 |
|---|---|
| Parking | Parking Lot 1: Fits 8 cars Parking Lot 2: Fits 16 cars |
| Business Hours | 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (last order at 5:45 p.m.) |
| Closed on | The 3rd Friday of every month New Years Day The 3rd Thursday & Friday of January and June *No holidays August & November |
| URL | http://www.tsurukisoba.com/ |
Transit time: 8 min. by foot
Former Chikurin-in Temple
Relax with matcha tea by a famous garden.
A retreat known as a satobo, offered to monks who practiced religious austerities at Mount Hiei.
| Address | 5-2-13 Sakamoto, Otsu City |
|---|---|
| Parking | 10 cars, 10 large vehicles |
| Business Hours | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Reception closes at 4:30 p.m.) |
| Closed on | Monday (Open the following day when Monday is a national holiday), New Years |
| Price | 320 yen (Group discount for groups of 15 or more: 250 yen) |
| URL | http://kyuchikuriin.web.fc2.com/ |