The area of my hometown, KOHOKU, i.e., the northern region of Lake Biwa, is well-known as a treasure house of Buddhism culture property, which have been protected by the village folks for more than 1200 years.
The region used to be a very strategic place connecting from local regions to Kyo (now Kyoto) or Nara, both of which were the capital of Japan in those days. So, the cultural interactions there were so active to create unique Buddhism culture mixed with local Buddhism in Kyo, Hokuriku, Hieizan (比叡山) and the Mountain worship center of Kodakami-yama (己高山) at the northern district of KOHOKU. This is why the Kannon worship had widely spread from Heian period (since 794 AD.) Almost all hamlets of KOHOKU have continued keeping their protective deity through many generations, among which an Eleven-faced Kannon (十一面観音) at Kogen-ji (向源寺), which is a national treasure, is famous for the most beautiful statue, the extreme masterpiece of Japanese history of sculpture.
I think visiting around such Kannon temples at KOHOKU in autumn season may be the greatest entertainment, especially for the people of mature age!
[Note] The photo is cited from the Internet.
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