Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Nagahama 長浜市 > Chikubushima and Hogonji Temple 竹生島・宝厳寺

Most viewed - Chikubushima and Hogonji Temple 竹生島・宝厳寺
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Tsukubusuma Shrine (National Treasure) on Chikubushima island, Nagahama, Shiga. It worships Benzaiten as well as the Dragon God and Azai-hime. 都久夫須麻神社456 views
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Chikubushima is home to Hogonji Temple first built in 724 as ordered by the Emperor to worship the Goddess Benzaiten. It belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School) and it is the 30th temple in the 33-Temple Pilgrimage of Saigoku. 宝厳寺438 views
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Keihan Maru boat during the early 1900s. This is a vintage postcard showing a steamer called Keihan Maru moored at Chikubushima. This boat landing is still being used.393 views
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Chikubushima is also home to Tsukubusuma (Chikubushima) Shrine which is also a National Treasure. Until 1868 when Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were required to be separate, the shrine was part of Hogonji temple.381 views
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Chikubushima is Lake Biwa's most famous, historic, and sacred island. National Historic Site MAP366 views
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Kannondo Temple and Karamon gate of Hogonji temple on Chikubushima island, Nagahama, Shiga.312 views
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*The following photos were taken over 10 years ago and might be outdated. Latest photos are above.310 viewsNagahama Port is where you board the boat for Chikubushima. There are several round trips every day from either port. No reservations necessary. Within walking distance from Nagahama Station.
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Throw your two dishes at the torii gate. If your dish goes under the torii gate, your wish will come true. Geez, look at all those failed wishes (shattered dishes).303 viewsThis is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed. The scene where Ryosuke throws his small dish through the torii.
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Karamon Gate 唐門 (National Treasure). Entrance to the Kannondo Temple. It might have come from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's original mausoleum in Kyoto. From the Momoyama Period. Chikubushima, Nagahama, Shiga.303 viewsThis could also have been the gate to the Gokuraku Bridge at Hideyoshi's Osaka Castle in the early 17th century.
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Tsukubusuma Shrine (National Treasure)270 views
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Torii gate and bridge to Tsukubusuma Shrine, also called Chikubushima Shrine.253 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall, the main worship hall of Hogonji temple. 247 views
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North face of Chikubushima in 2007 was also badly damaged and going bald. The cormorant bird droppings and nesting activities (breaking off branches) are killing off the trees.245 views
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Nagahama Castle from Lake Biwa240 views
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Top deck of boat going from Nagahama to Chikubushima231 views
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East view of Chikubushima in 2007, whose trees are badly ravaged by kawau cormorants. Over 30,000 of these birds live on the island.231 views
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Whenever you see a torii gate, it indicates the grounds of Tsukubusuma Shrine. The shrine is actually integrated with Hogonji temple.219 views
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Inside Benzai Tendo. 219 views
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Kannondo Temple216 views
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Mt. Ibuki from Lake Biwa214 views
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Boat landing 宝厳寺214 views
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View of Mt. Ibuki as we leave Nagahama Port. Map for Nagahama Port213 viewsChikubushima can be reached from Nagahama Port, Hikone Port, or Imazu Port on the other side of the lake. There are several round trips every day from either port. Nagahama boat schedule and Hikone boat schedule
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The snake is a messenger of the Goddess Benzaiten.212 views
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Kannondo Temple211 views
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Chikubushima208 views
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Inside boat. Almost empty.204 views
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Very old and worn statue of Pindola Bharadvaja (賓頭盧尊者) inide Karamon Gate.202 views
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Chikubushima196 views
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Inside the Haiden Hall, you can buy these little dishes. Buy two of them. You write your name on one and your wish on the other dish. Then throw it through the torii gate.188 views
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Tsukubusuma Shrine's Haiden Hall183 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument. Song details here. 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑181 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor connects Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Kannon-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. From the Momoyama Period. 船廊下176 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument. One of the verses mentions Chikubushima. This monument commemorates the song and that verse. 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑169 views
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Interlaken boat to Imazu at Chikubushima.168 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor166 views
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Chikubushima used to be a lush green island. Now it is turning brown by the thousands of cormorants which nest on the island, beyond the reach of humans. 163 views
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Nagahama from Lake Biwa158 views
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Inside Benzai Tendo158 views
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Kannondo Temple155 views
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Heading for Chikubushima.150 views
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West view of Chikubushima148 views
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Tsukubusuma Shrine (National Treasure)147 views
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Very old and worn statue of Pindola Bharadvaja (賓頭盧尊者) inide Karamon Gate. 145 views
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Chikubushima Port.143 views
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Very old and worn statue of Pindola Bharadvaja (賓頭盧尊者) inide Karamon Gate.142 views
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View of Nagahama from Chikubushima141 views
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Chikubushima in the distance140 views
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Approaching Chikubushima.137 views
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Kannondo Temple 観音堂137 views
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Inside Benzai Tendo136 views
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Kannondo Temple135 views
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Inside Benzai Tendo. The statue of Benzaiten in that corner was donated by the father of Lord Azai Nagamasa. 134 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor133 views
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Three-Story Pagoda. Reconstructed in 2000.132 views
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Inside Benzaiten-do Hall which houses one of Japan's three major statues of the Goddess Benzaiten.131 views
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Chikubushima has some steep steps.128 views
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Kannondo Temple123 views
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Inside Benzai Tendo122 views
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Statue of the goddess Benzaiten at Hogonji, Chikubushima. Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天122 views
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Benzai Tendo118 views
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Altar for the Chikubushima Dragon God.99 views
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Small shrine for the White Snake God, a messenger of goddess Benzaiten. 白巳大神89 views
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The name of the boat moored at Chikubushima is "Benten."88 views
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Snowy Mt. Ibuki as seen from Lake Biwa. Shiga Prefecture's highest mountain.58 views
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One of the lion dogs on Karamon Gate. Brought back to life from a drab-looking brown. It's part of a wooden protrusion called the "kibana" (木鼻). 50 views
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Fudō Myōō (Acala) on Chikubushima. 不動明王49 views
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Statue of the goddess Benzaiten at Hogonji, Chikubushima. She plays the biwa lute.48 views
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Mt. Kanakuso-dake (金糞岳 or Azai-dake) behind Takatsuki in Nagahama. The peak to the left is Shirakura-dake (白倉岳). The orange/white smokestack is from the Nippon Electric Glass factory (日本電気硝子) in Takatsuki. 48 views
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In front of the main altar of Kannon-do. The hall worships a thousand-arm Kannon statue (hidden from the public).47 views
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Chikubushima on Lake Biwa is home to Hogonji Temple first built in 724 as ordered by the Emperor to worship the Goddess Benzaiten. It belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School) and it is the 30th temple in the 33-Temple Pilgrimage of Saigoku.46 views
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Kannon-do ceiling of painted flowers. Peonies (red), chrysanthemum (white), and paulownia (blue). 牡丹、菊、桐46 views
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Hogonji's Shinto shrine has this iconic torii facing the lake. You can buy small clay dishes to throw at the torii. 43 viewsIf your dish goes through the torii, your wish will come through. However, most dishes never make it through the torii. They litter the ground.
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Snowy mountains all around. Mt. Ibuki can be seen on the right. It was a smooth ride.39 views
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On the mountain top is Biwako Hakodateyama ski grounds near Imazu. びわこ箱館山39 views
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Mt. Ibuki as seen from Chikubushima.38 views
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Chikubushima's west side.38 views
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Approaching Imazu in winter.38 views
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Mt. Kanakuso-dake (金糞岳 or Azai-dake) overlooks Takatsuki in Nagahama. Kanakuso-dake is indeed Shiga's second highest mountain (1,317 m). Part of Yamamoto-yama (dark green) can be seen on the left in the foreground. 38 views
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My lunch on the boat was Uminoko Curry, the same dish served on the Uminoko Floating School. 36 views
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Tsukubusuma Shrine (都久夫須麻神社 National Treasure) on Chikubushima island, Nagahama, Shiga. It worships Benzaiten as well as the Dragon God and Azai-hime. Chikubushima is one of Japan's Big Three Benzaiten shrines (日本三大弁天), besi35 views
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Never noticed those white rabbits before...35 views
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Ceiling in front of the altar includes a red paper lantern.33 views
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The roof was also rethatched with new cypress bark. The last time the building was reroofed was in 1972. (The white patch is snow.)33 views
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Before-and-after photos of the corridor in front of the altar. The wooden pillars that used to be covered with pilgrim name stickers are now all gone. Pillars totally re-lacquered. 観音堂32 views
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Karamon Gate 唐門 (National Treasure) before it was restored in March 2020. See the next photo.32 views
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Uminoko Curry had pork cutlet and kind of sweet, mild curry. Sold only by 7-11 in Shiga for a limited time of three weeks from late Jan. 2021. Best place to eat it was on Lake Biwa.31 views
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Kannon-do ceiling and transom deer carvings.31 views
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Chikubushima can be reached from Nagahama Port, Hikone Port, or Imazu Port (Takashima). I always use Nagahama Port (photo) to visit Chikubushima. Nagahama boat schedule30 viewsBoat cruise company Biwako Kisen (琵琶湖汽船) operates round trip boats from Nagahama daily. Schedule varies depending on the season (fewer boats in winter). No reservations necessary.
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Next to Tsukubusuma Shrine is this entrance to the Funa-roka corridor.30 views
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After photo of the restored wall flowers near the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja.30 views
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Karamon Gate (National Treasure). A closer look is shown below.29 views
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Map of Hogonji Temple. All within walking distance. Not wheelchair accessible. 1. Chikubushima: Boat dock, 2. Lake Biwa Rowing Song monument, 3. Souvenir shops, 4. Admission ticket gate (also restrooms), 5. *Tsukubusuma Shrine, 6. Haiden Hall,29 views7. Funa-roka boat corridor, 8. *Karamon Gate, 9. Benzaiten-do Hall, 10. Three-Story Pagoda, 11. Rest house. *National Treasure.
A few buildings are for temple priests only.
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Chikubushima poetry monument29 views
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Statue of the goddess Benzaiten at Hogonji, Chikubushima. Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天29 views
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Inside Benzaiten-do Hall. Many famous samurai, such as Oda Nobunaga and the Azai Clan, worshipped at Chikubushima since they believed Benzaiten had the power to destroy their enemies.29 views
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Nagahama Port is within walking distance (15 min.) from Nagahama Station. Nagahama Port building next to the dock is where you buy your ticket. Map here28 views
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All human presence is on this south side of the island. There are no roads and no cars. There is no path to walk around the island's perimeter nor to any other side of the island. Everything is within walking distance, but there are some steps to cli28 views(No elevators or escalators.)
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Omi Marine’s red boat named “Naomasa” (after famous local samurai Ii Naomasa) goes to Hikone Port.28 views
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Take your trash with you.28 views
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Boat departure schedule from Chikubushima. When arriving, be sure to check and remember your boat's departure time.28 views
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Up some steps to this torii.28 views
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Suggested tour route.28 views
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Exterior of Funa-roka boat corridor on stilts.28 views
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Right-side torii at Tsukubusuma Shrine .28 views
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Shrine for the Chikubushima Dragon God.28 views
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One of the lion dogs on Karamon Gate. It's part of a wooden protrusion called the "kibana" (木鼻). 28 views
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Karamon Gate looks new, but it's actually over 400 years old. "Karamon" (唐門) is a generic term for Chinese-style gates.28 viewsThere are other Karamon Gates in Japan, namely the more elaborate one at Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto. Karamon have colorful and intricate wood carvings and decorative features.
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At Imazu Port is another monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song). Interlaken also leaves for Chikubushima.28 views
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My ticket is for Nagahama to Imazu with a stop on Chikubushima. ¥2,88027 views
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Boat schedule for winter.27 views
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Snowy Mt. Ibuki as seen from Lake Biwa. Shiga's highest mountain at 1,377 meters.27 views
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Most people spend 80 min. or 90 min. on the island before taking the return boat. Be sure to remember the departure time of your return boat especially if it's the last one for the day. (No lodging on the island.)27 views
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Chikubushima Port. There's another dock nearby for the boat to Imazu. 竹生島港27 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) monument for Verse 4. 琵琶湖就航の歌 歌碑27 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) monument for Verse 4. 27 views
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Explanation about the song on the back. More info about Lake Biwa Rowing Song here.27 views
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Karamon Gate (National Treasure)27 views
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Karamon Gate roof eaves.27 views
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黒龍堂27 views
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Exterior of Funa-roka boat corridor connecting Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Kannon-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. From the Momoyama Period. 船廊下27 views
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Exterior of Funa-roka boat corridor.27 views
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Kappa creature for water safety.27 views
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Haiden Hall has this small shrine for the Chikubushima Dragon God. 竜神拝所27 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor connects Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Kannon-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. From the Momoyama Period. 船廊下27 views
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Kannon-do ceiling and transom carvings.27 views
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Three-Story Pagoda. Reconstructed in 2000. The original pagoda was destroyed by fire caused by lightning during the early Edo Period. It took six years to complete.27 views
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From Benten-do, way to Kannon-do (down the steps).27 views
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Hall of 33 Kannon Statues. 三十三所奉安所27 views
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Inside Nagahama Port building. Ticket window on right. Also see my Lake Biwa Snow Cruise blog post.26 views
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Ticket window with prices. Round trip tickets cost around ¥3,000. Biwako Kisen operates boats from Nagahama Port.26 views
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Inside the boat. Very comfortable and well heated in winter.26 views
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Large picture windows.26 views
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Snowy mountains around Lake Biwa.26 views
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Many monuments on Chikubushima. The large building on the upper left is the quarters (本坊) for temple priests.26 views
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Souvenir shops on the way to the temple. There's a ticket vendor when you buy a temple admission ticket (¥300) to enter the temple grounds.26 views
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Chikubushima Port. Smaller boats are from island workers and priests. No one lives on Chikubushima. People commute by boat.26 views
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Tsukubusuma Shrine's Haiden Hall right across from the shrine. It faces the lake.26 views
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Funa-roka boat corridor goes to Kannon-do Hall. 船廊下26 views
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Kannondo Temple has been beautifully renovated with its many intricate wood carvings and paintings on walls, doors, and ceilings restored in March 2020. 観音堂26 views
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Corridor facing the Funa-roka.26 views
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Before-and-after photos of the corridor in front of the altar. The wooden pillars that used to be covered with pilgrim name stickers are now all gone. Pillars totally re-lacquered. 観音堂26 views
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Heading toward the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja. The carved walls are now protected with plexiglass.26 views
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The only damper on this stupendous work is that, the contractor who did the job and the local government employee in charge of the project were found to have colluded to rig the bidding process. 26 viewsThe project's budget was leaked to the contractor before the bidding started. Both parties were arrested a few months after the job was completed. At least the police waited until the job was done before arresting them.
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Karamon Gate was originally built in 1596 as the gate for a covered wooden bridge named Gokuraku-bashi (極楽橋) at Osaka Castle as depicted here.26 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall, Hogonji's Hondo main worship hall. Hogonji Temple belongs to the Shingon Buddhist Sect (Buzan School). Benzaiten is the goddess of everything that flows: Water, rivers, music, etc. 弁才天堂26 views
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Inside Benzaiten-do Hall which houses one of Japan's three major statues of the Goddess Benzaiten.26 views
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Right corner of Benzaiten-do.26 views
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In front of Benzaiten-do is Fudō Myōō 不動明王26 views
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Sanryudo Shrine right next to Benzaiten-do. Worships the dragon god or the god of water. 三龍堂26 views
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Interlaken at Imazu Port.26 views
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Inside the new Imazu Port building made of wood. Waiting room.26 views
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Boat named "Benten" going to Chikubushima.25 views
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You can sit anywhere you want. Inside Benten. Very comfortable and warm in winter. Not many passengers. Easy to social distance.25 views
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At Chikubushima Port, boat on the left is “Benten” that goes to Nagahama Port. On the right is Omi Marine’s red boat named “Naomasa” (after famous local samurai Ii Naomasa) goes to Hikone Port.25 views
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Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) monument for Verse 4 engraved on the front.25 views
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After some steps, a small torii to Tsukubusuma Shrine.25 views
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Statue of goddess Benzaiten (弁才天) or Benten in one of the smaller shrines on Chikubushima. 25 viewsIn Japan, she is usually depicted playing the biwa lute as the goddess of music and everything else that flows such as water, ocean, lakes, and rivers. She's also revered as one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (七福神).
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Small shrine for the White Snake God, a messenger of goddess Benzaiten. 白巳大神25 views
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Decorative wooden support assemblages called tokyo (枓栱) or dougong. They are now illuminated to show off the vibrant colors.25 views
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Above the pillars are decorative wooden support assemblages called tokyo (枓栱) or dougong. They have also been brilliantly repainted and even lit up. Dougong are interlocking wood pieces commonly found on temples and shrines as a Chinese influence.25 views
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Karamon Gate door.25 views
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Behind the Karamon Gate.25 views
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Karamon Gate 唐門 (National Treasure) beautifully restored to its original splendor. Entrance to the Kannondo Temple.25 viewsThis gate is said to have come from Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Gokuraku Bridge at Osaka Castle in the early 17th century (Momoyama Period). Chikubushima, Nagahama, Shiga.
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It's the entrance of the temple's Kannon-do Hall that worships Kannon. The gate features the karahafu roof gable shaped like a hump, commonly found on important traditional buildings such as temples and castles.25 views
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The gate and other castle structures were later moved to warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mausoleum in Kyoto in 1600. In 1603, Hideyoshi's son ordered Karamon Gate to be moved to Chikubushima to help rebuild Hogonji Temple which was in disrepair at 25 viewsChikubushima had close ties to Toyotomi Hideyoshi since he was once the lord of Nagahama Castle. Chikubushima was part of his domain.
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Left side of Karamon Gate. The gate doors are also adorned with peony flower carvings.25 views
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Before the renovation, Kannon-do and Karamon Gate had this old, moldy roof.25 views
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A pair of tigers on the main roof.25 views
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Wash basin25 views
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Mochinoko Tree もちの木25 views
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Zuisho-sui Well 瑞祥水25 views
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Imazu Port with Chikubushima and Mt. Ibuki in the background.25 views
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Walking to Imazu Port on the boat dock. New Imazu Port building.25 views
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Inside the new Imazu Port building. That's the ticket office.25 views
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From Imazu Port, it's a short walk to JR Omi-Imazu Station to catch the JR Kosei Line (湖西線) to Kyoto.25 views
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Snowy mountains around Lake Biwa.24 views
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Approaching Chikubushima, Lake Biwa's most famous, historic, and sacred island. Takes about 30 min. from Nagahama Port. I've visited this island a number of times before, but this time I wanted to see something I'd never seen before.24 views
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Chikubushima (竹生島) is a small, sacred island dominated by a temple/shrine complex called Hogonji (宝厳寺) perched on this fairly steep slope. 24 viewsThe temple/shrine's construction was ordered by the emperor in 724 when he proclaimed that Chikubushima was a sacred place for the goddess Benzaiten (弁才天). The temple was to bring national peace, bountiful harvests, and prosperity to all. A priest named Gyoki (僧行基) then proceeded to build the temple with Benzaiten as the principal object of worship.
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Chikubushima is also home to Tsukubusuma (Chikubushima) Shrine which is also a National Treasure. Until 1868 when Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were required to be separate, the shrine was part of Hogonji temple.24 views
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Chikubushima boat dock.24 views
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Corridor facing the Funa-roka.24 views
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Candle holder.24 views
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Kannon-do Hall roof corner with a tokyo assemblage. So much eye candy in this building. 24 views
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Before photo of the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja and the nearby wall with flower carvings. (See the next photo after the restoration.)24 views
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Pindola Bharadvaja statue right inside Karamon Gate.24 views
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Behind the Karamon Gate.24 views
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Left side of the kaeru-mata.24 views
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The roof was also entirely restored. The gate is a splendid example of the finest art from the Momoyama Period (late 16th century).24 views
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About the Kannon-do Hall.24 views
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What the Karamon looks like with the doors closed.24 views
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Karamon Gate entrance to Kannon-do Hall.24 views
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Right door of Karamon Gate.24 views
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Steps between the Karamon Gate and Benzaiten-do.24 views
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Inside Benzai Tendo. The statue of Benzaiten in the corner was donated by the father of Lord Azai Nagamasa. The Nagamasa clan paid their respects to it regularly thereafter.24 views
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Another statue of Benzaiten.24 views
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Bell tower24 views
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"Interlaken" boat to Imazu at Chikubushima.24 views
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