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1 Gichû-ji Temple

This temple, beginning with the Issô-an Hermitage, was built to venerate the reposed spirit of the warrior Kiso Yoshinaka (also known as Gichû; 1154-84), who died in battle in the village of Ômi Awazu. The poet Matsuo Bashô (1644-94) visited this town located along the old Tôkaidô Road in the town of Zeze many times, and is buried here according to his will. Stone tablets with his poems are found around the grounds of the temple, along with the graves of both Bashô and Yoshinaka. Bashô’s disciple, Yûgen wrote composed the following haiku in memory of his master. Resting back to back / With Lord Kiso/ I wonder are they cold?

Gichû-ji Temple 1-5-12 Baba, Ôtsu-shi ●Enquiries: Tel. 077-523-2811 ●Entrance fee: 200 yen ●Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (16:00 from November to February) ●Closed: Monday (excluding public holidays) ●5-minute walk from JR Zeze Station or Keihan Zeze Station

2 Nagara Crafts Pavilion (Mitsuhashi Setsuko Art Museum)

Works by Mitsuhashi Setsuko, an artist from Ôtsu City whose life was cut short by illness, are on display at this museum. After she lost her good hand, she continued to paint with her left hand, depicting the folktales of the Lake Biwa region. Her works continue to transmit her strong love for her family and her passion for art.

Nagara Crafts Pavilion 1-1 Kozeki-chô, Ôtsu-shi ●Enquiries: Tel. 077-523-5101 ●Entrance fee: 210 yen ●Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 ●Closed: Monday (excluding public holidays, in which case it will be closed the day after the holiday) ●10-minute walk from the Keihan Kami Sakae-chô Station

3 Otsu City Museum of History

This museum exhibits its collection of materials related to the rich history and culture of Ôtsu. Visitors can enjoy learning about Ôtsu history through a model of the town as it was 350 years ago, videos, and easy-to-understand computer exhibits. In addition to the permanent exhibition, special exhibitions are also held on occasion.

Otsu City Museum of History 2-2 Goryô-chô, Ôtsu-shi ●Enquiries: Tel. 077-521-2100 ●Entrance fee: 210 yen ●Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 ●Closed: Monday (excluding public holidays, in which case it will be closed the day after the holiday), open weekends ●5-minute walk from Keihan Zeze Station

4 Onjô-ji Temple (Mii-dera Temple)

The head temple of the Jimon branch of the Tendai sect of Buddhism at the foot of Mount Nagara is famous for its cherry blossoms and is popularly known as Mii-dera. Starting with the Kondô Hall, a designated National Treasure, this temple has over 100 national treasures and important cultural properties. Mii-dera is also the 14th of the pilgrimage circuit of thirty-three Kannon temples in western Japan. Evening Bells of Mii-dera, one of the Eight Famous Views of Ômi, is also designated as one of the 100 soundscapes of Japan.

Onjô-ji Temple 246 Onjô-ji chô, Ôtsu-shi ●Enquiries: Tel. 077-522-2238 ●Entrance fee: 500 yen ●Opening hours: 8:00-17:00 ●10-minute walk from the Keihan Mii-dera Station

From the approach to Mii-dera, take the road that follows the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto train line north and take a right at the stonewall of Hiyoshi Shrine. You will reach the shrine town of Sakamoto, famous for its natural stonewalls that contribute to the beautiful scenery all around the town. Next, take the Sakamoto Cable Car to Enryaku-ji Temple where you can stroll through the Tôdô, Saitô, and Yokawa areas of the temple complex. A shuttle bus also runs between them (March 21-November 30), making access even easier.

Sakamoto Tourism Association 6-1-13 Sakamoto, Ôtsu-shi ●Enquiries: Tel. 077-578-6565, Fax 077-578-6567

5 Enryaku-ji Temple

This temple was founded over 1,200 years ago by Dengyô Daishi Saichô. Since then, the temple has prospered as the center of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but it was burned to the ground the warlord Oda Nobunaga at the end of the 16th century. Restored in the years following, the present form is more or less as it was by the 1640s. The temple buildings, sitting amongst cedar trees in the depths of the mountains, are enveloped in an aura of solemnity. In December 1994, Enryaku-ji was designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Enryaku-ji Temple 4220 Hon-chô, Sakamoto, Ôtsu-shi ●Enquiries: Tel. 077-578-0001 ●Entrance fee: 550 yen (all three pagodas) ●Opening hours: 8:30-16:00 (Tôdô until 16:30) *Times change according to season ●Walk 10 minutes from Keihan Sakamoto Station. Take the Sakamoto Cable Car for 11 minutes, disembark at the Enryaku-ji Station and walk 5 minutes.

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