Full Day Tour of Exploring the Natural Beauty in KOHOKU of Shiga

Keisoku-ji temple

Cherries at the Yogo-gawa river

Shizugatake battlefield

Shakudo-ji Temple

Highlights

Visit the 3 main cherry spots by cycling. Guests can appreciate not only the gorgeous flowers but also breathtaking beauties from the top of Mt. Shizugatake.

Explore Keisoku-ji temple area, which is renowned for its stunning maple trees that line the moss-covered stone steps, creating a breathtaking scene in autumn. Even in rainy weather, the vibrant colors of the leaves offer a serene and mystical experience.

Shiga

Private Tour

1 Day

Medium

English

Description

[Note]

This tour is only available as below.

Cherry blossom season: From the middle of March to the end of April. This is a bike tour.

Autumnal leaves season: From the middle of November to the middle of December. The transportation to the destination is a public bus service.

[Cherry blossom season]

Let's go around the famous cherry blossom spots in KOHOKU, 1) the riverside of Yogo, which continues more than 1 km along the river, 2) Ikagu Jinja shrine, which is renowned for late blooming (in the middle of Apr.) double cherries, and 3) Shizugatake battlefield, the height of which is 421 m, and is a fine spot just between Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo.

[Autumnal leaves season]

Keisoku-ji temple was re-built by the Venerable, Saicho (767-822 AD), and named after footmarks of a chicken left on accumulated snow. The monk found an Eleven-headed Deity of Mercy in burned-out ruins and then opened tremendous area of many Buddhist temples. So, the area is said to have been called “MAHOROBA”, the most supreme of all lands.

Though the temple became deserted now, visitors can still touch and feel the healing of mind at the West Pure Land of Amida Buddha. So, the breath-taking beauty of hundreds of colored leaves at moss covered rock steps attracts so many people in foliage season of fall, just like the old days. Visitors can drop by KOKO-KAKU museum and YOSHIRO-KAKU museum nearby, where the principal image of standing image of Eleven-faced Kannon and other important cultural properties are exhibited.

Itinerary

Shiga Temple
- Meet your guide at the agreed-upon location.
- Visit Keisoku-Ji Temple, an old temple that was founded in the 8th century.
- Procced to Shakudo-Ji Temple, a Shingon Buddhist Buzan sect temple located in Kodakamiyama.
- Explore Koko-Kaku, a treasure house, taking custody of the principal image of an eleven-headed deity and other important properties.
- Marvel at Yoshiro-Kaku, a treasure house, taking custody of the Buddhist statue of curing all illness, Buddhist paintings, and more.
- Head towards the Shizugatake Battlefield.