Kinomoto-cho, Shiga

From PHOTOGUIDE.JP
Kinomoto, Shiga (木之本町; Kinomoto-chō)
Mt. Shizugatake View from Mt. Shizugatake More Kinomoto photos here.
Map of Shiga with Kinomoto highlighted
[{{{GoogleMapLink}}} Google Map of Kinomoto here.]
Location Shiga Prefecture, Kinki region, Honshu island, JAPAN  
Population 8,329 (2007-02-01)
Area 88.44 km²
Town Centers Kinomoto Station, Hokkoku Kaido Road 
Major Sights Mt. Shizugatake, Kinomoto Jizo-in temple 
Major Gateways JR Kinomoto Station 
Train Stations JR Kinomoto Station 
Claim to Fame Battle of Mt. Shizugatake where Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeated Shibata Katsuie.
Products
Neighbors Takatsuki-cho, Yogo-cho, Nishi-Azai, Nagahama, Ibigawa-cho (Gifu) 
Old Name(s)
Keywords Shizugatake, Kinomoto-juku, Hokkoku Kaido, Kannon
Historical Persons Yamauchi Kazutoyo
Links Kinomoto Articles | Kinomoto Photos
Kinomoto Tourist Information
Location 滋賀県伊香郡木之本町1472番地 (Kinomoto Station)
Phone Tel: 0749-82-5909

Fax: 0749-82-3956 

Tourist Links Kinomoto Tourism  
Int'l Association [Web site] Tel:  
Volunteer Guides Tel: 0749-82-5909  
Kinomoto Town Hall 木之本町役場
Address 〒529-0492滋賀県伊香郡木之本町木之本1757-2

Kinomoto 1757-2, Kinomoto-cho, Ika-gun, Shiga-ken 529-0492 JAPAN

Phone/Fax Tel: 0749-82-4111

Fax: 0749-82-3956 

Official Site Japanese | English  
Symbols Flower:  Magnolia コブシ
Tree:  Zelkova ケヤキ
Bird:  Varied tit ヤマガラ
Others:  Jizo, Kannon
Logo:  enter
Sister Towns

by Philbert Ono

Kinomoto (木之本町; -chō) was a town in Shiga Prefecture. It was dissolved as a municipality upon the town's merger with the city of Nagahama on Jan. 1, 2010. Note that this Web page will no longer be updated. For the latest photos and news about the Kinomoto area, please refer to the Nagahama page for travel info and the Nagahama gallery page for photos.

The Kinomoto area is best known for Mt. Shizugatake which provides grand views of Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo. It was also the site of the Battle of Shizugatake where Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeated Shibata Katsuie.

Kinomoto-juku was also a lodging town on the Hokkoku Kaido Road linking the Hokuriku region with Kyoto and Edo. Kinomoto also has its share of noted Kannon temples. A new and spacious Kinomoto Station building was completed in 2007.

Sights

  • Mt. Shizugatake 賤ヶ岳 - Provides grand views of Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo. One of Shiga's most scenic spots. A chair lift (400 yen one way or 760 yen round trip) from the foot of the mountain takes you near the summit. After getting off the chair lift, climb up about 300 meters to the summit. The summit has a few lookout decks where you can see a grand view of Lake Biwa, Lake Yogo, and Kinomoto town. Closest train station is Kinomoto Station on the JR Hokuriku Line. Buses run from Kinomoto Station to near the chair lift. The bus stop is right outside the train station. Take a bus bound for Sugaura (菅浦) or Shindono (新道野). Get off at Ooto (大音) and walk toward the mountain. You can see the chair lift cutting through the mountain. then go up the chair lift (operates April-Nov., 9 am - 5 pm). Buses run infrequently (check schedule here). It's possible to walk, but it will take a good 40 min. Or take a taxi for a 4-min. ride, costing about 1,020 yen. From the Shizugatake summit, there are hiking trails to Lake Yogo and Yamamoto-yama. One trail to Lake Yogo goes along the mountain ridge and will take 2 hours. Another trail is shorter (1.5 km) going down to the Yogoko-so Kokuminshuku lodge. You can then walk along Lake Yogo to Yogo Station. Shizugatake was the battleground between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie in 1583. Shizugatake chair lift Web site here.
  • Kinomoto Jizo-in 木之本地蔵院 - Real name is Joshinji temple (浄信寺). A short walk from Kinomoto Station, it's along the old Hokkoku Kaido road going to the Hokuriku region. Noted for a giant statue of Jizo, one of Japan's three largest Jizo statues. The temple also has a few statues designated as Important Cultural Properties.
  • Hokkoku Kaido Road 北国街道 - This old road linked the Hokuriku region with the Kinki region and was Kinomoto-juku's main street. It also includes the place where Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's wife Chiyo bought a fine horse for her husband. There are signs along the road indicating where the Honjin and the horse selling area were.
  • Kannon temples - Kinomoto, along with other neighboring towns, have a number of temples with noted Kannon statues. They include Kuroda Kannon-ji 黒田観音寺 and Shakudoji 石道寺. Ask for a map at the tourist info counter in the train station.

Event Calendar

  • Aug. 22-25 - Kinomoto Jizo Festival 地蔵縁日 attracts many people to the temple lined with food stalls.

Travel Tips

  • Tourist information counter is in the new and spacious Kinomoto Station.
  • It's possible to see both Mt. Shizugatake and Lake Yogo during the same day. First see the Jizo-in temple, a short walk from Kinomoto Station, then take a bus to Mt. Shizugatake. After seeing the views, follow the hiking trail to Lake Yogo. When hiking, always go with a friend.
  • By taxi from Kinomoto Station, it takes 4 min. to get to Mt. Shizugatake, costing about 1,000 yen.

Getting There

By Train

JR Kinomoto Station on the Hokuriku Main Line.

Train Lines & Stations

Travel Time

By Bus

Nearest Airports

Getting Around

By bus

Buses leave Kinomoto Station infrequently. Check with the tourist info counter in the train station for the bus schedule.

By bicycle

Rental bicycles available at Kinomoto Station (tourist info counter).

Maps

Unless noted otherwise, all maps are in Japanese.

Photos

https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/kinomoto-cho/eki/thumb_010-IMG_2372.jpg https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/kinomoto-cho/jizoin/thumb_012-IMG_2453.jpg https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/kinomoto-cho/hokkokukaido/thumb_021-IMG_2652.jpg
Kinomoto Station Kinomoto Jizo-in Hokkoku Kaido Road

More photos at Kinomoto Photos. More Shiga photos here.

Videos

History

  • Pre-Edo Period - Being on the road connecting the Hokuriku region with the Kinki region, Kinomoto flourished as a cultural and economic base.
  • Edo Period - Kinomoto-juku served as a lodging town for travelers between the Hokuriku region and Edo and Kyoto.
  • 1889 - Kinomoto becomes a village.
  • 1918 - Kinomoto village becomes a town.
  • 1954 - Kinomoto town merges with three neighboring villages.
  • 2006 - The new Kinomoto Station is completed.
  • 2010 - The town of Kinomoto is dissolved upon the merger with Nagahama on Jan. 1.

Miscellaneous

Trivia

  • One of the kanji characters for "Kinomoto" for Kinomoto Station 木ノ本駅 is different from the kanji used for the town's name 木之本町.

Side Trips

Other sights in neighboring cities/towns within easy reach from Kinomoto.

  • Lake Yogo - Scenic lake north of Lake Biwa. A hiking trail from Mt. Shizugatake goes to Lake Yogo. Or take the train to the next stop at Yogo Station.

Related Articles

External Links

Municipalities of Shiga Prefecture 滋賀県
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