Keisoku-ji temple (鶏足寺) was re-built by the Venerable, Saicho (767-822 AD), and named after footmarks of a chicken left on accumulated snow. The monk found an Eleven-headed Deity of Mercy in burned-out ruins, and then opened tremendous area of many Buddhist temples. So, the area is said to have been called “MAHOROBA”, the most supreme of all lands.
Though the temple became deserted now, visitors can still touch and feel the healing of mind at the West Pure Land of Amida Buddha. So, the breath-taking beauty of hundreds of colored leaves at moss covered rock steps attracts so many people in foliage season of fall, just like the old days. Visitors can drop by KOKO-KAKU museum (己高閣) and YOSHIRO-KAKU museum (世代閣) nearby, where the principle image of standing image of Eleven-faced Kannon and other important cultural properties are exhibited.
Keisoku-ji Area
Local Guardian Deity for the Folks at Kinomoto (Jizo Budda; お地蔵さん)
Shizugatake
Shizugatake Mountain, the height of which is 421 m, and is a fine spot just between Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo. The name is renowned for one of the important battles in Japanese history, together with the Seven heroes of Hideyoshi’s side, which is often called “The Seven Spears” (七本槍). In Apr., 1583 AD, Hideyoshi and Katsuie fought at around the mountain and the lakeside of Yogo, for the next heir after Nobunaga. They say that Hideyoshi’s side had 60,000 military forces and Katsuie had 40,000. Though Katsuie’s side had the upper hand at first, but soon Hideyoshi upturned the military situation. The fierce battle was clearly settled within one day, making the small lake crimson red with the soldiers’ blood.
The local people here have a custom to climb up to the top of the mountain in early Apr., in order to comfort the braves of the both sides who fought at the hazard of their lives.
Overview
- Shiga
- 25,000 JPY
- 11 Hours
- 1~5 people
Itinerary
Meeting Point
JR Kinomoto Station- Kinomoto Guardian Deity for the Folks (Big Jizo Buddha)
- Keisokuji-temple (From the Middle of Nov. to the Middle of Dec.)
- Shakudoji-temple (From the Middle of Nov. to the Middle of Dec.)
- Koko-kaku (A Treasure House, Taking Custody of the Principle Image of Eleven-headed Deity and Other Important Properties)
- Yoshiro-kaku (A Treasure House, Taking Custody of the Buddist Statue of Curing All Illness, Buddist Paintings, etc.)
- Hokkeji-ruin (Renowned for the Encounter of Mitsunari ISHIDA with Hideyoshi HASHIBA Here)
- Shizugatake Old Battlefield
Ending Point
JR Kinomoto Station
What to Expect
Keisoku-ji was re-built by the Venerable, Saicho (767-822 AD), and named after footmarks of a chicken left on accumulated snow. The monk found an Eleven-headed Deity of Mercy in burned-out ruins, and then opened tremendous area of many Buddhist temples. Though the temple became deserted now, the breath-taking beauty of hundreds of colored leaves attracts so many people just like the old days.
Inclusions & Exclusions
[Inclusions]
Guide Fee
[Exclusions]
1) Admission / Entrance Fee (For Tourists): Approximately 500 (Five Hundred) JPY Each for One Day.
2) Transportation (For Tourists): Less than 1,000 (One Thousand) JPY Each at a Maximum for One Day.
3) Lunch and/or Dinner (For Tourists): Less than 1,500 (One Thousand and Five Hundred) JPY Each at a Maximum.
4) Any Unexpected Cost (For Tourists): Less than 1,000 (One Thousand) JPY Each at a Maximum.
Important Information
1) The tour consists of one day excursion, starting 8:30 AM to 19:30 (7:30 PM).
2) Meeting Schedule: At a guest staying hotel in Nagahama area or JR Kinomoto Station :
- 8:30 AM at your staying hotel in Nagahama area or JR Kinomoto station (Start)
- 19:30 PM at your staying hotel in Nagahama area or JR Kinomoto station: Arrive (Tour end)
3) The tour is a bit flexible, depending upon the guest’s interest, since it is an excursion-style, taking advantage of walking and public transportations such as a city bus and / or a taxi.
4) The season for appreciating autumnal foliage at Keisoku-ji area is from Middle of Nov. to Early Dec.
5) Lift service for the summit of Mt. Shizugatake is available as follows;
From 23, Apr., to 30, Nov. (Round-trip: 900 JPY)
(Others: Out of service)
6) Guests can enjoy local cuisines at a reasonable price at the downtown.
7) Peak Season: The destination spots may slightly change due to a seasonal situation, after getting an approval from the guests
8) Two-days or three-days tour is also available for other specific regions in KOHOKU, on your request.
Remark
[Cancellation Policy]
1) Free cancellation – 10 days prior to meeting time
2) 50% Refund – 9 to 3 days prior to meeting time
3) No Refund – Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Book Now!
Reviews
Thank you again for all your help in making our visit to Nara so interesting and enjoyable.
Yes, I did receive your very excellent photos, they will be a wonderful memory of our family trip.
John
Thank you, John san, for your kind reply. Now I can get sound sleep....(^^♪Yoshi
Hello Yoshi,
I hope you are well. We just arrived back to our homes in Indiana and Michigan late yesterday, so today was the first time I had to open up the files you sent. Great pictures! Thank you!
We had a great trip and certainly enjoyed the time we had with you as our guide. Our visits to Hiroshima and Osaka were excellent as well.
Finally, you are welcome to use our pictures on your website or any other way that helps your work.
Brian
Kyoto Imperial Palace (Oct., 19)
Tenryu-ji temple at Arashiyama park (Oct., 19)
The bamboo forest at Arashiyama park (Oct., 19)
Nonomiya jinjya shrine at Arashiyama park (Oct., 19)
Nara Life Song Church in Tenri city (Oct., 20)
Higashimuki Shopping Street in Nara city (Oct., 20)
Todai-ji tem in Nara city [1 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Todai-ji tem in Nara city [2 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Kintetsu Nara sta. [1 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Kintetsu Nara sta. [2 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Brian san, thank you very much for your permission to use your nicest photos on my small website.Please relieve your weariness of a long journey and have a nice weekend!
(1) Sep., 30 (Mon.)
Good afternoon.
Thank you very much. The photos are well received, and I am happy to see all we have done in the past visits during our stay in Japan.
I know George and Malakai will have the best photos to show to their wives and kids and tell the stories of their trip in Japan.
Thank you very much for your accompany during our stay. We enjoyed each day learning and eating well and in good health until we left Japan.
Currently, all of us are now in Port Moresby together with George and Malakai and they will be leaving tomorrow for Kavieng.
Thank you very much for your continuous support.
Best regards
Marina San.
Thank you.
(2) Oct., 04 (Fri.)
Dear Yoshi san,
Good morning and thank you for the pictures. We arrived safely in PNG. I take this time to thank you for the opportunity to have you as
our guide through the beautiful attractions around Kyoto. We are thankful and very much appreciated the tour and your time.
Wishing you a pleasant day and success in your endeavors as a guide.
Kind regards,
George
ATTN.: 1) Dear MALAKAI KOMAI san 2) Dear GEORGE MICHAEL YOWAI san3) Dear MARINA MEOMBI sanGood day. I thank you very much for sharing your precious time with this clumsy tour guide on Sep. 23 (Mon.) and 24 (Tue.)(I thought you could go back to your sweet home safely on Sep., 26(Thu.))Thank you very much for giving me a permission to post some photos on my website.I strongly hope that all of your days in Japan this time will be unforgettably good memories.I was so glad to be able to meet all of you. I'll never forget the nicest gests from PNG.From Yoshi / KOHOKU TourSep., 28 (Sat.), 2024; 21: 30PM
Yoshi
Thank you so much for the photos, we don’t have that many family photos, so we appreciate it very much. Thank you again for taking us on such an amazing tour through Japan. We believe we were able to see a lot of what Japan offers, thanks to you. I hope you were able to get lots of rest after our adventure. 
We will treasure these photos forever, and be counting down the days until we can visit you and Kaoru-San again. Emmett was very sad to leave Japan, and I’m sure he will want to visit again!
-Wakana, Rob, and Emmett
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Yoshi
Thank you so much for your time and hospitality!
We had an amazing time in Japan and the big part of it was thanks to you! (^^♪
Rob
【Translation into Japanese (日本語)】
ヨシ
日本旅行の写真を送ってくれてありがとう！
私たちは、そんなに多くの家族写真を撮っていないのでとっても嬉しいわ。
先日は、日本の素晴らしいところへ連れて行ってくれてありがとう。再度御礼するわ。私たち、貴方達のおかげさまで日本の素晴らしいところを見たり、美味しいものをいただいたりすることができたと思うわ。ありがとう。どうか十分にお疲れをとってね。
私たち、貴方が送ってくれた写真をずっと宝物にすることにするわ。そして、貴方と薫さんのところへまたお訪ねすることができるまで指折り数えることにするわ。エメットは日本を離れるときにとても寂しそうだったわ。彼はきっとまた日本へ行きたいというに違いないわ。
和香奈、Rob、Emmett より
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ヨシ
貴方が私たち家族のために多くの時間を割いてくれたこと、そして「おもてなし」をしてくれたことに感謝しているよ。
日本で、とっても素晴らしい体験をすることができたよ。そしてその大部分は貴方達のおかげだった。
ありがとう
Robより
【July 20 (Sat.), 2024 Yogo, Shiga pref.】
【July 21 (Sun.), 2024 Fukui pref. (1 of 2)】
【July 22 (Mon.), 2024 Fukui pref. (2 of 2)】
【July 23 (Tue.), 2024 Kyoto】
【July 24 (Wed.), 2024 Nara】
【July 25 (Thu.), 2024 Osaka】
[clink url="[Motion Picture] Sightseeing Tour around Shiga, Hokuriku and Kansai with the Families of My Niece (【動画】姪っ子家族との滋賀・北陸そして関西旅行） - KOHOKU Tour"]
Good day. I thank you very much for sharing your precious time with me and Kaoru during your memorable tour around our hometown, Hokuriku area and Kansai (Kyoto, Nara and Osaka). Toshi told us that you safely went back to your sweetest home. It's our utmost pleasure, too, that Riina and Stephen kun kindly dropped by our home on 20th (Sat.) on the way to their happiest honeymoon.【Translation into Japanese (日本語)】こんにちは。私の故郷（湖北）、北陸、そして関西地方をめぐる想い出深い旅行へ私と家内も時間を共有させていただいてありがとう。Toshiは先日貴方達が無事にご自宅へ到着したと連絡をくれたよ。RiinaとStephen君も２０日（土）、新婚旅行の途中に我が家へ立ち寄ってくれたことも私たちにとってとっても嬉しいことだったよ。
(1) July, 07 (Wed.)
That would be perfectly fine to send the pictures when you are ready. We will definitely let you know. That was a very nice article on your website. Leia especially thanks you for your kind compliments. We will take note of your recommendations for Nara and Osaka. We are very fortunate and blessed to have met you. Ramon, Leia and Victor
(2) July, 12 (Fri.)
Good morning from North Carolina, Yoshi-San,
We are safely home and are reminiscing our wonderful trip to Japan. Thank you for making our visit to Kyoto so memorable. We learned so much from you.
I finally downloaded all your photos of us. Thank you for these memories. I appreciate that you labeled the photos with the places they were taken.
With much gratitude,
Ramon, Leia and Victor
Ramon san, Leia san and Victor san. Good evening. It was a HEAT day today in Kyoto, too! Incredible! You selected Sapporo ramen, didn't you? That's very good! When you visit Nara and Osaka tomorrow, do not miss to see Ashura, a guardian god of Hachi Bushu (or Eight Legions, Protectors of Buddhist Teachings) in Buddhism, at the national treasure house of Kofuku-ji temple. And you must be amazed to see the HUGE power of Hideyoshi, when you visit Osaka-jo castle! Please enjoy! Yoshi
