Overview
Ishiyama-dera is the head temple of the Tōji-ha branch of Shingon Buddhism, located in the Ishiyamadera neighborhood of Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture. Its full name is Ishiko-san Ishiyama-dera, and its honzon is a hidden image of Nyōirin Kannon. Founded by the priest Rōben, it is the 13th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route.
Highlights
- ●A Main Hall and Tahōtō pagoda designated National Treasures
- ●The wollastonite rock, a natural monument that gave the temple its name
- ●Its place as the 13th site on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage
- ●The devotional hall enshrining the Nyōirin Kannon honzon
History
The temple is said to have been founded in 747, with the priest Rōben as its founder. Its mountain name is Ishiko-san and its honzon is Nyōirin Kannon. Since Washio Kōhen became abbot in 1910, the abbacy has been held hereditarily by the Washio family of the former nobility. In 2015 it was recognized as a component asset of a Japan Heritage designation centered on Lake Biwa and its waterside landscape.
Access
Situated in the Ishiyamadera area of Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, the temple can be reached by public transport from the surrounding urban area.
Best season
The precinct's character shifts with each of the four seasons, and worship and strolling the grounds can be enjoyed year-round.
Map
34.9604, 135.9056 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Enter the precinct through the gate and note the layout of the halls
- 2Pay respects to the Nyōirin Kannon honzon in the National Treasure Main Hall
- 3Visit the wollastonite natural monument and the Tahōtō pagoda
- 4Take in the pilgrimage atmosphere of a Saigoku Kannon site
Did you know?
💡 The temple's full name is Ishiko-san Ishiyama-dera, taking its name from the wollastonite rock in its grounds.
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