観音正寺
Kannonshōji Temple
High on Mount Kinugasa, Kannonshōji is a solemn pilgrimage stop with sweeping lake views and centuries of warrior prayers echoing through the pines.
Attractions
Temple, Sacred Site, Pilgrimage Temple, Scenic View
MK Guide Recommends
One of the 33 temples of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Kannonshōji Temple stands atop Mount Kinugasa above the Azuchi plains, offering solitude, historical depth, and panoramic vistas over Lake Biwa. Believed to have been founded in the 6th century by Prince Shōtoku, the temple later became a place of devotion for warriors, including the famed Oda Nobunaga. Although much of the complex was destroyed during Nobunaga’s Azuchi era, it was rebuilt and remains an active place of worship. The climb up is not for the faint of heart—via stone steps or a winding forest road—but the reward is a quiet, forest-wrapped hall filled with incense and the weight of generations.
Facilities & Services
Main hall with seated Kannon statue
Pilgrimage site (Saigoku #32)
Panoramic views from temple grounds
Steep approach via hiking path or toll road
Small gift shop with goshuin and omamori
Cha Cha Maru
A small, countryside tea house in Hino serving Japanese sweets and tea in a calm, traditional setting.
Steak Kitchen Boston Common
A long-running neighborhood steakhouse in Rittō serving carefully prepared beef and Western dishes in a relaxed, dependable setting.
Garden Museum Hiei
An open-air art garden on Mount Hiei featuring sculpture, seasonal flowers, and expansive views of Kyoto and Lake Biwa.
Wagashiya Anpan Yūki
A specialty wagashi bakery in Ōtsu dedicated to anpan made with traditional Japanese sweets craftsmanship.
Table Mother