Ishiyama-dera

Temple

Prefecture

Shiga

Type

Temple

N/A

0 reviews

¥600

Entry Fee

Train Access Cafe

About This Destination

A Shingon temple above the Seta River in Otsu, famous for the wollastonite crag it is named for and as the place where Murasaki Shikibu is said to have begun The Tale of Genji.

Ishiyama-dera was founded in the 8th century and is one of the head temples of the Shingon sect, standing on a hill above the Seta River where it flows out of Lake Biwa. The temple takes its name from the great outcrop of wollastonite that rises beside the main hall, a designated natural monument. Its main hall, the oldest wooden building in Shiga, houses a hidden image of Nyoirin Kannon, and a small room called the Genji-no-ma recalls the tradition that Murasaki Shikibu began writing The Tale of Genji here while watching the moon over the lake. The wooded grounds are known for plum and cherry blossoms in spring and for vivid, illuminated maples in autumn.

Location

Prefecture: Shiga

Address: Otsu, Shiga, Japan

Nearest Station: Ishiyamadera Station (Keihan)

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Access

Shiga, Japan

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Ishiyama-dera?

It is about a 10-minute walk from Keihan Ishiyamadera Station, reached from JR Ishiyama Station on the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line. Gates open at 8:00, with last entry at 16:00.

What is the connection to The Tale of Genji?

By tradition the court author Murasaki Shikibu retreated to Ishiyama-dera and, inspired by the moon over Lake Biwa, began writing The Tale of Genji; a room in the main hall is preserved in memory of the story.