Konan, Shiga

Konan, Shiga (湖南市; Konan-shi)
Ishibe-juku More Konan photos here.
Location	Shiga Prefecture, Kinki region, Honshu island, JAPAN
Population	54,170 (1,807 foreigners) (2014-06-01)
Area	{{{TotalArea}}} km²
City Centers	Kosei (Kousei), Ishibe
Major Sights	Jorakuji, Chojuji, and Zensuiji Temples
Major Gateways	JR Kusatsu Line Ishibe Station, Kosei Station
Train Stations	JR Kusatsu Line Ishibe Station, Kosei Station, Mikumo Station
Claim to Fame	Konan Sanzan are three temples with National Treasures.
Products
Neighbors	Yasu, Ritto, Koka, Ryuo-cho
Old Name(s)	Ishibe-cho, Kosei-cho
Keywords	Konan Sanzan, shukuba
Historical Persons
Links	Konan Articles | Konan Photos
Konan Tourist Information
Location	〒520-3288 滋賀県湖南市中央1-1　湖南市商工観光課内 Chuo 1-1, Konan-shi, Shiga 520-3288 JAPAN
Phone	0748-71-2331
Tourist Links	Tourist Ass.
Int'l Association	Konan International Association
Volunteer Guides	Tel: 0748-71-2331
Konan City Hall 湖南市役所
Address	東庁舎 〒520-3288 滋賀県湖南市中央一丁目１番地 Chuo 1-1, Konan-shi, Shiga 520-3288 JAPAN
Phone/Fax	East Office 0748-72-1290 West Office 0748-77-3101
Official Site	Japanese | English
Symbols	Flower:	Rhododendron
	Tree:	ウツクシマツ
	Bird:	Japanese Bush Warbler
	Others:	Utsukushi matsu pine tree
	Logo:	Blue water for Lake Biwa and green spot for Konan in the south
Sister Cities

This page is 70% complete. Last updated: Feb. 4, 2015

by Philbert Ono

Konan (湖南市; Konan-shi) is a city in southeastern Shiga Prefecture.

One of Shiga's smaller cities and landlocked, Konan was formed in 2004 upon the merger of Kosei and Ishibe towns. Ishibe-juku was the 51st post town on the Tokaido Road and there is an outdoor architectural museum replicating typical buildings from the old post town. The city also has three Tendai Buddhist temples noted for National Treasure buildings. They are collectively called "Konan Sanzan" (湖南三山) (Konan Temple Trio). For such a small city to have as many as three National Treasures is really something to boast about. Konan also has traditional crafts such as indigo dyeing and pottery called Shimoda-yaki.

"Konan" 湖南 means "South of the Lake" which might be misleading in Japanese since the city does not face the Lake Biwa and has no lake shore. (The lake's southern shore is dominated by Otsu.) The name is also sometimes confused with Konan-cho 甲南町, a former town in neighboring Koka city which also has Konan Station 甲南駅. Note that Konan is not pronounced like "Conan" (as in the barbarian). Konan is easily accessble via the JR Kusatsu Line from JR Kusatsu Station.

Sights

Jorakuji Temple	Chojuji Temple	Ishibe Shukuba no Sato
Fudo-no-taki Waterfall	Zensuiji Temple	Indigo Dyeing

• Jorakuji Temple 常楽寺 - A stone's throw from Chojuji Temple in Konan, Jorakuji Temple (est. 708) of the Tendai Buddhist Sect boasts two National Treasures with its main hall and three-story pagoda. It is one of the Konan Sanzan Temple Trio accessible by bus from JR Ishibe Station. Map

• Chojuji Temple 長寿寺 - Meaning "Long Life Temple," Chojuji's Hondo temple hall is a National Treasure. It belongs to the Tendai Buddhist Sect and one of the Konan Sanzan Temple Trio along with Jorakuji and Zensuiji Temples. Fall colors are also nice. Accessible by bus from Ishibe Station or walk from Jorakuji. Map

• Zensuiji Temple 善水時 - One of the Konan Sanzan Trio of Tendai Buddhist National Treasure temples in Konan, Zensuiji is accessible by bus from JR Kosei Station on the JR Kusatsu Line. Established in the 8th century, the temple's main Hondo Hall is the National Treasure. It is on the slope of Mt. Iwane. Near JR Kosei Station. Map

• Ishibe Shukuba no Sato 石部宿場の里 - Ishibe was the 51st stage town on the Tokaido Road where even Emperor Meiji once stayed (with an entourage of over 3,000). The town's Shukuba no Sato park recreates the old stage town. There is also a Tokaido Museum next to the park. Map

• Konki Senshoku indigo dyeing - Konki Senshoku is one of only three shops in Shiga which still produces indigo dye and dye fabrics traditionally. They grow their own indigo plants, dry the leaves in the sun, and extract the dye. They have been doing it for 200 years or so. Sady, the current master, Tsuneo Uenishi, has no successor. You can do indigo tie-dyeing with a cotton handkerchief (1200 yen), T-shirt, etc. Take a bus or taxi from Ishibe Station, Kosei Station, or Mikumo Station (closest station) on the Kusatsu Line. Get off at Shimoda and walk 50 meters. Parking also available. Call to make reservations: 0748-75-0128. Address: Shimoda 1530-1, Konan-shi, Shiga 湖南市下田1530-1 Map

• Konan Traditional Crafts Hall (Dento Kogei Kaikan) 湖南市伝統工芸会館 - Omi Shimoda-yaki pottery (近江下田焼) has dark-blue indigo colors. All pieces are handmade by one potter, Kazu Kosako (and his wife Chiharu). He is the last of his kind since there is no successor. Shimoda-yaki has a plain and simple design, made for practical, everyday use. They are ergonomic to fit well in your hands or to your lips. Shimoda-yaki originated around 1750 with clay found in Konan's Shimoda area. Shimoda potter aspirants took the clay to Kyoto to learn the craft, then returned to Shimoda and started making Shimoda-yaki pottery. Most of the Shimoda-yaki potters (as many as 14 of them) eventually went out of business and became extinct in 1989 when the last of them passed away. However, Kazu Kosako, who apprenticed under the last Shimoda-yaki potter, succeeded his master in 1995. For a small fee, you can paint your own Shimoda-yaki dish with a brush and a dye called absolite. Or you can try making Shimoda pottery (starting at 3500 yen). Your fired piece will be shipped to you after a few weeks. 5 min. by bus from JR Mikumo Station on the Kusatsu Line. Phone: 0748-72-7444 Address: 湖南市岩根1656 Web page Map

• Fudo-no-taki Waterfall 不動の滝 - Cool and convenient waterfall just next to the road in a lush setting. Take a taxi from JR Mikumo Station and go south. Map

• Nigori-ike Koen Park - Local park with a pond noted for cherry blossoms. Map

Event Calendar

• Jan. - Oni-bashiri at Jorakuji temple.
• Feb. 3 - Setsubun at Zensuiji temple.
• Early April - Cherry blossom festival at Nigori-ike Koen Park.
• May 1 - Ishibe Taisai Festival at Hieda Shrine
• July 23 - Atago Festival at Ishibe-juku.
• Aug. - Konan Summer Festival at Yasugawa Shinzui Koen Park.
• Nov. - Konan Sanzan temples display of National Treasures.

Travel Tips

• Buses run from Ishibe Station to Jorakuji and Chojuji temples. Go to Chojuji temple first which is slightly further than Jorakuji. Then you can later walk down the slope to Jorakuji (instead of walking up the slope in the reverse direction). If you also want to see Zensuiji near Kosei Station, you will have to start early in the day.

Getting There

By Train

The JR Kusatsu Line is the only train line serving Konan. From Kusatsu Station on the JR Tokaido/Biwako Line, take the JR Kusatsu Line to Ishibe Station, Kosei (Kousei) Station, or Mikumo Station. If you are on the Ohmi Railways, you can transfer to the Kusatsu Line at Kibukawa Station.

Train Lines & Stations

• JR Kusatsu Line: Ishibe Station, Kosei Station, Mikumo Station

Travel Time

• From Tokyo Station to Ishibe Station: 140 min. via JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi to Kyoto Station, then 18 min. to Kusatsu Station via Tokaido/Biwako Line, and 10 min. to Ishibe Station via Kusatsu Line.
• From JR Kyoto Station to Ishibe Station: 18 min. to Kusatsu Station via JR Tokaido/Biwako Line, then 10 min. to Ishibe Station via Kusatsu Line.
• From JR Maibara Station to Ishibe Station: 40 min. to Kusatsu Station via Tokaido/Biwako Line, then 10 min. to Ishibe Station via Kusatsu Line.
• From JR Hikone Station to Ishibe Station: 35 min. to Kusatsu Station via Tokaido/Biwako Line, then 10 min. to Ishibe Station via Kusatsu Line.
• From JR Kusatsu Station to Ishibe Station, Kosei Station, and Mikumo Station: 10 min., 14 min., and 18 min. respectively via JR Kusatsu Line.
• From Kibukawa Station to Kosei Station: 9 min. via Kusatsu Line.

Nearest Airports

• Kansai International Airport
• Central Japan International Airport (Centrair)
• Osaka International Airport

Getting Around

By train

The major sights and facilities along the train lines are as follows:

JR Kusatsu Line (草津線)

The line runs from Kusatsu Station (in Kusatsu) to Tsuge Station in Mie Prefecture.

• Ishibe Station (石部駅) - Former Ishibe-juku stage town on the Tokaido Road linking Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Also Jorakuji Temple and Chojuji Temple are reachable by bus. Bicycle rental near the station.
• Kosei Station (甲西駅) - Zensuiji temple and Konan City Hall are nearby. Bicycle rental at station.
• Mikumo Station (三雲駅) - Konan Traditional Crafts Hall

By bus

• Buses leave from Ishibe (infrequent), Kosei, and Mikumo Stations. Bus schedule in Japanese

By bus

Rental bicycles are available at or near the following train stations: Ishibe Station and Kosei Station.

Maps

Google Maps have placemarks in English.

View Larger Map

• Map of Konan City Hall -

Photos

Indigo dying	Zensuiji temple

More photos at Konan Photos.

Videos

Click on the video image to start playing the video.

More Shiga videos here.

History

• 2004
  • October 1: The towns of Kosei-cho and Ishibe-cho merged to form Konan city.

Miscellaneous

Recent Konan News and Weather

The latest five headlines for Konan from Shiga News are displayed below. Click to view the latest stories.

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More Konan news here.

Side Trips

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

• Kusatsu
• Koka

Related Articles

• Shiga Prefecture
• Shiga Prefecture Sights
• Shiga Prefecture Transportation

External Links

• shiga-ken.com