Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Omi-Hachiman 近江八幡市 > Chomeiji 長命寺

01-IMG_3438.jpg
The 31st temple on the Saigoku (Western Japan) Pilgrimage circuit, Chomeiji (Long Life Temple) worships the Kannon goddess dedicated to long life and good health. It belongs to the Tendai Buddhist sect. This sign points the way.Accessible by bus from Omi-Hachiman Station.
02-IMG_3427.jpg
Entrance to Chomeiji Temple. MAP
03-IMG_3429.jpg
04-IMG_1988.jpg
808 steps to Chomeiji. Chomeiji (Long Life Temple) worships the Kannon goddess dedicated to long life and good health. It belongs to the Tendai Buddhist sect.
05-IMG_3437.jpg
06-IMG_1991.jpg
07-IMG_1992.jpg
08-IMG_1995.jpg
09-IMG_2004.jpg
Halfway point and rest stop
10-IMG_2014.jpg
11-IMG_2019.jpg
12-IMG_2034.jpg
13-IMG_2032.jpg
The steps never seem to end...
14-IMG_2040.jpg
For people with cars, drive almost to the top
15-IMG_2048.jpg
Top in sight
16-IMG_2052.jpg
Gate to temple, at lastTook me over 20 min. to climb the 808 steps.
17-IMG_2057.jpg
Water fountain
18-IMG_2061.jpg
Last flight of steps
19-IMG_2062.jpg
Stone lantern sculpture
20-IMG_2065.jpg
3-story pagodaThis is what you first see at the top.
21-IMG_2077.jpg
Hondo main hall and pagoda 本堂
22-IMG_2165.jpg
HondoPilgrims often come and chant.
23-IMG_2159.jpg
Hondo altar
24-IMG_2161.jpg
Hondo altar
24c-20170423_8089.jpg
Hondo altar
24e-20170423_8080.jpg
Ema prayer tablet for Chomeiji
25-IMG_2202.jpg
Hondo 本堂
26-IMG_2213.jpg
Hondo
27-IMG_2144.jpg
28-IMG_2145.jpg
29-IMG_2146.jpg
30-IMG_2147.jpg
Roof ornament
31-IMG_2148.jpg
32-IMG_2127.jpg
護摩堂
33-IMG_2143.jpg
34-IMG_2131.jpg
3-story pagoda 三重塔Important Cultural Property
35-IMG_2186.jpg
36-IMG_2188.jpg
37-IMG_2203.jpg
38-IMG_2181.jpg
納礼堂
39-IMG_2183.jpg
40-IMG_2166.jpg
Temple grounds
41-20170423_8008.jpg
View of Lake Biwa
41b-20170423_8118.jpg
Chomeiji is also part of the Lake Biwa Japan Heritage.
41c-20170423_7926.jpg
On the way to the main temple is this song monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song).
41f-20170423_7943.jpg
The Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument is engraved with the song's Verse 6 that mentions Chomeiji.
41h-20170423_8129.jpg
With the pagoda in the background, the song monument can be seen on the lower right.
42-IMG_2070.jpg
三仏堂
43-IMG_2072.jpg
三仏堂
44-IMG_2168.jpg
三仏堂
45-IMG_2169.jpg
46-IMG_2083.jpg
Bell tower 鐘楼
47-IMG_2085.jpg
Bell tower
48-IMG_2171.jpg
49-IMG_2081.jpg
50-20170423_8060.jpg
50c-20170423_8064.jpg
Inside the bell tower. Admission is free, but a small donation is requested to ring the bell.
50e-20170423_8066.jpg
You have to go up the steps to ring the temple bell.
50f-20170423_8067.jpg
Bell ringer log and rope.
50g-20170423_8068.jpg
Temple bell.
51-IMG_2110.jpg
如法行堂
52-IMG_2108.jpg
53-IMG_2113.jpg
As seen from the bell tower
54-IMG_2119.jpg
55-IMG_2123.jpg
Chomeiji roofs
56-IMG_2088.jpg
大権現社
57-IMG_2090.jpg
58-IMG_2093.jpg
Giant rock
59-IMG_2097.jpg
60-IMG_2103.jpg
61-IMG_2106.jpg
天尊堂
62-IMG_2055.jpg
Stairs back down
63-IMG_3398.jpg
Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑The song is about a four-day, boat-rowing trip around Lake Biwa undertaken on June 27, 1917 by seven college students. They were in the rowing club at an elite college in Kyoto called Dai-san Koto Gakko (No. 3 High School 第三高等学校) which later merged with Kyoto University. They started at Otsu and rowed to Omatsu (now called Omi-Maiko), Imazu, Chikubushima island, Nagahama, Hikone, Chomeiji, and back to Otsu. They stopped overnight at Omatsu, Imazu, and Hikone.

For a detailed explanation of this song and monument, this album.

Biwako Shuko no Uta
64-IMG_3391.jpg
Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑
65-IMG_3419.jpg
Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument for Verse 6 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑
66-IMG_3395.jpg
Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑
67-IMG_3405.jpg
Chomeiji pier
68-IMG_3442.jpg
Chomeiji bus stop
   
78 files on 1 page(s)