Otsu, Shiga / 石山寺
Ishiyamadera Temple
The 13th stop of the Saigoku 33 Kannon pilgrimage, founded by Roben in the late Nara period at the wish of Emperor Shomu. The wollastonite rock that gave the temple its name, a natural monument, rises in the wide grounds. The main hall and the Tahoto pagoda are National Treasures; the pagoda, said to have been donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1194, is the oldest tahoto in Japan. The Tsukimitei, symbol of "Autumn Moon at Ishiyama" in the Eight Views of Omi, overlooks the Seta River. Each spring and autumn the "Ishiyamadera and Murasaki Shikibu" exhibition is held.
Last official check
26 Sept 2026
Traveler reports
0
Reports open in Phase 2
Next scheduled check
25 Dec 2026
Decide before you go
A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.
- Getting there
- Car
Before you go
Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.
- Opening hours
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Closed
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Admission
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Getting there
10 minutes by car from Seta-Higashi or Seta-Nishi IC on the Meishin Expressway.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Parking
120 spaces.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Payment
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Accessibility
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know
Address: Otsu, Shiga (Japanese address: 滋賀県大津市)
Official site: https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/94/?active=spot
Location
Smaller pins are other spots nearby.
Nearby spots
- No photo yetSeta River and Lake Biwa River CruiseShigaLess than 1 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetZeze Castle Ruins ParkShiga4 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetMiidera Temple (Onjoji)Shiga8 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetKusatsu-juku HonjinShiga8 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetBiwako Otsukan (Yanagasaki Lakeside Park)Shiga8 km away (straight line)
Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.
Crowds
- Crowd level
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Best time to visit
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Peak time
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest days
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest season
The "Ishiyamadera and Murasaki Shikibu" exhibition is held every spring (March 18-June 30) and autumn (September 1-November 30) in the Hojoden.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Latest traveler report
- None yet
Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).
You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps
Verification log
- 26 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/94/?active=spotAccess, parking, seasons, description, address and coordinates read from a tourism organization's site.