Ōtsu Tour: Visiting Sites Related to Temple Seals, Castle Seals, and Post-Town Seals | Itineraries

A Solo Journey Visiting Sites Related to Temple Seals, Castle Seals, and Post-Town Seals

Omi was a major stage during the Sengoku (Warring States) period. Ōtsu City is home to many historical sites associated with legendary warlords, and it also flourished during the Edo period as the final post town on the Tokaido Road.
This route allows you to enjoy a "Solo Journey through History and Romance" amidst the natural beauty of Lake Biwa.

Tips for getting around

Ride the Keihan Railway "Otsu Line," which runs from Ishiyamadera Station to Sakamoto-hieizanguchi Station. Known affectionately by local residents as the "Ishisaka Line" for connecting Ishiyama and Sakamoto, this tram-like train will take you to sites associated with Temple Seals, Castle Seals, and Post-Town Seals. The "Keihan Railway Otsu Line Hato Koto 1-Day Pass" is a convenient way to hop on and off freely throughout the day. ☆

Route

Day 1

Purchase at the Ishiyama Station Tourist Information Center
Walking through Sites Related to "Warlord Seals"
Walking through Sites Related to the "Otsu-juku" Post-Town Seal
Lunch in Otsu Hyakucho
Walking through Sites Related to the "Otsu Castle" Castle Seal
Visiting "Miidera Temple," One of the Ten Temples and Shrines

Day 1

9:00 [JR Ishiyama Station / Keihan Ishiyama Station]

① Purchase at the Ishiyama Station Tourist Information Center

Start from JR Biwako Line "Ishiyama" Station or Keihan Railway "Ishiyama" Station!
Purchase your "Castle Seals," "Post-Town Seals," "Warlord Seals," and the "Koshinkai 10 Temples & Shrines Goshuin" at the Ishiyama Station Tourist Information Center, located right near the Keihan Ishiyama Station ticket gates, and begin your tour of the related historical sites!

*We also recommend using the Keihan Railway Otsu Line Hato Koto 1-Day Pass, which offers unlimited rides for a day. ☆

Ishiyama Station Tourist Information Center

Location: 2-28 Awazu-cho, Otsu City, Shiga 520-0832

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Phone Number: 077-534-0706
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
*Closed during the New Year holidays

Approx. 15 minutes

9:30 [Keihan Zeze Station]

② Walking through Sites Related to "Warlord Seals"

"Warlord Seal Book": 770 yen (tax incl.) / "Warlord Seal": 300 yen per sheet (tax incl.)

The "Warlord Seals" feature illustrations of Kiso Yoshinaka and Tomoe Gozen by manga artist Kemuri Karakara, a native of Ōtsu City.
Ōtsu is home to Gichu-ji TempleGichu-ji, said to be the final resting place of Kiso Yoshinaka, who was pursued by Minamoto no Yoritomo's army and met his end in Awazu. Located near Zeze Station, Gichu-ji is also where the famous poet Matsuo Basho stayed many times and held moon-viewing parties with his disciples; he was buried here according to his final wishes. The temple grounds contain many of Basho's haiku monuments, and the entire area is designated as a National Historic Site.

Gichu-ji Temple

Location: 1-chōme-5-12 Banba, Otsu, Shiga 520-0802, Japan

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Business Hours: Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed: Mondays (If Monday is a national holiday, the temple remains open and closes the following day)
Price: 300 yen
Parking Lot: Unavailable

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Approx. 15 minutes

11:00 [Biwako-Hamaotsu Station]

③ Walking through Sites Related to the "Otsu-juku" Post-Town Seal

"Post-Town Seal (Otsu-juku)": 300 yen per sheet (tax incl.)

The featured post town for Ōtsu City's seal is Otsu-juku. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, Otsu Castle was built on the shores of Lake Biwa, giving birth to a castle town. In the Edo period, it flourished as the final post town of the Tokaido Fifty-three Stations and as a temple town for Onjo-ji (Miidera) Temple. Its prosperity was so great it was known as "Otsu Hyakucho" (The Hundred Streets of Otsu). Please enjoy a stroll while viewing the historical cultural assets and architecture that remain in various locations.

Old Tokaido Road

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12:00

④ Lunch in Otsu Hyakucho

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At "Otsu Uochu," you can enjoy a meal in a merchant house built in 1905, which is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
The lunch-exclusive mini-kaiseki "Otsu Hyakucho Lunch (6,600 yen)" features sashimi, simmered dishes, and seasonal rice, all prepared with meticulous attention to ingredients, tableware, and presentation, with menus changing monthly.

Uochuu

Location: 2-chōme-4-10 Kyōmachi, Otsu, Shiga 520-0044, Japan

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Business Hours: Monday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 – 10:00 PM
Closed: Wednesdays
Price: JPY 4,000 to under JPY 10,000

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Approx. 15 minutes on foot

13:30

⑤ Walking through Sites Related to the "Otsu Castle" Castle Seal

"Castle Seals": 330 yen each (tax incl.)
Available for 5 castles: Otsu Castle, Zeze Castle, Seta Castle, Usayama Castle, and Sakamoto Castle.

Otsu Castle is known as the site of the "Siege of Otsu," where Kyogoku Takatsugu and 3,000 soldiers held out during the Battle of Sekigahara, an event that influenced the outcome of the great battle. It is also the setting for Shogo Imamura's historical novel "Saiou no Tate" (Shield of the Fortress King). The castle is famous as the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu entered after the Battle of Sekigahara to handle post-war affairs. Although the castle was later moved to Zeze, materials from the main keep were used for the keep of Hikone Castle. Today, a stone monument stands near Otsu Port.

Ōtsu Castle Ruins

Location: 5-chōme-2-29 Hamaōtsu, Otsu, Shiga 520-0047, Japan

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Business Hours: Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours
Parking Lot: Public parking nearby (including for large cars, paid parking)

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Approx. 15 minutes on foot

14:00

⑥ Visiting "Miidera Temple," One of the Ten Temples and Shrines

"Ten Temples & Shrines Goshuin Paper (1,500 yen per sheet, includes tube)"

You can collect seals from Ukimido, Saikyo-ji, Enryaku-ji, Hiyoshi Taisha, Omi Jingu, Miidera, Ishiyama-dera, Takebe Taisha, Iwama-dera, and Tachikiyama-ji on a single sheet. The center features an "Otsu-e" illustration of Daikoku by Master Shozan Takahashi, a fourth-generation Otsu-e artist and Intangible Cultural Property of Otsu City, accompanied by a moral poem. (*A separate fee of 300 yen is required for each temple/shrine seal.)

One of these ten sites is Miidera TempleMiidera (Onjo-ji TempleOnjo-ji).
During the Battle of Sekigahara, it is said that the Western Army of the Toyotomi faction set up camp on the slopes of Mt. Nagara, southwest of Otsu Castle, and launched artillery attacks, possibly from around the Kannon-do hall.

Miidera Temple

Location: 246 Onjoji-cho, Otsu City, Shiga 520-0036

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Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Admission Fees: Adults: 800 yen (Groups: 700 yen)
Junior/Senior High Students: 500 yen (Groups: 400 yen)
Elementary Students: 300 yen (Groups: 250 yen)
URL: Official Website