MK Guide Recommends

Set along the western shore of Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine is Shiga’s oldest Shinto shrine, with a history stretching back over 2,000 years. Its most iconic feature is the vermilion torii gate standing in the water just offshore—framing sunrises and mirror-still reflections in ethereal symmetry. Dedicated to Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami, a deity of longevity and guidance, the shrine is a place where locals and travelers alike come to pray for long life, safe journeys, and personal clarity. The grounds are modest but spiritually resonant, with wooded paths, ancient stone lanterns, and ritual echoes carried in the lake breeze. For photographers, pilgrims, and seekers of the sublime, Shirahige is where the land pauses before the water—and time feels suspended.