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) 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)
5) Guests can enjoy local cuisines at a reasonable price at the downtown.
6) Peak Season: The destination spots may slightly change due to a seasonal situation, after getting an approval from the guests
7) 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
Hello, Yoshi. Reached home safely.
Thank you for the lovely photographs. I was able to download them. You may want to use some of the photographs, if you wish to. Thanks again for your help. Subramanium
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah-pI_GRbL6bu0r6Rj2mCFo8aAUx?e=XUxzOB
[In English]
"Massively Wonderful Research Tour around KOHOKU" with Yoshi, a Licensed Tour Guide
Hi, Yoshi
The "research tour" conducted by your guide was perfectly fruitful.
Since I have had an interest in Lake Yogo and its surrounding hamlets, I've been eager to make the on-the-spot research there. That's why I asked your help, since you were born and grown at a small village of Kawanami (the north-west of Lake Yogo) and have abundant knowledge about KOHOKU.
My "research tour" was 2days. On the 1st day, you kindly showed me every spot in your home-village of Kawanami and around the Lake, spending no less than 5 hours. I thought afresh Kawanami was wonderful, walking round the fantastic hamlet and seeing its beautiful landscape. And I felt happy enough to be able to have a good chance to exchange greetings with many village people there. And I was lucky to hear very interesting stories as well about their lives and scenes of olden days from a nice old man who has lived there all his life. On the 2nd day, you guided me around the nearby town of Kinomoto, which used to be a post-station town with a long history, didn't you? You brought me to that historically famous old battlefield, Shizugatake, the amazing view from which I'll never forget. And when we walked around the area along the Niu river, I was impressed a lot, imagining about the days of old hamlets that have already disappeared from a map, due to a dam construction schedule. All the spots that you guided were so colorful and informative. Thank you, Yoshi.
And you've been very kind to take actively a proper care of incorporating additional spots that I wanted to visit, even after the initial itinerary. If I had no help of your guide and did it myself, I definitely couldn't visit such wonderful places. I was fully satisfied with your nice guiding around KOHOKU. Thank you, again, Yoshi!
[In Japanese]
Yoshiさん、こんにちは。
今回は、とても充実した調査ツアーになりました。
私は余呉湖および余呉湖周辺の集落について興味があり、ぜひ現地調査をしたいと考えていました。
そこで、余呉湖の北西に位置する川並で生まれ育ち、湖北地方について十分な知識をお持ちであるYoshiさんにこの地域を案内していただくことになりました。
調査は2日間行いましたが、１日目は川並および余呉湖の湖周を一日かけてじっくりと案内していただきました。
川並はとても良い場所で、その美しい町並みと風景、歴史をめぐりながら、昔から村に住んでいらっしゃる人々と挨拶を交わし、とても興味深い昔の川並の風景や生活についてお話を聞くことができました。
2日目は川並から少し離れて、宿場町の歴史を持つ木之本、かつて激しい戦があった賤ヶ岳、ダム計画により地図から消えた村の跡地、など余呉湖周辺の歴史を巡る調査となりました。
どのポイントも非常に興味深く、とても勉強になるツアーでした。
また、最初にツアー日程の提案をいただいてからも、私の見学したい場所の希望を積極的に取り入れてくれました。
一人で調査していたら、行くことのできなかった場所、巡りあえなかった場所に訪れることができて大変満足しております。
Yoshiさん、誠にありがとうございました！
Haruka. N
https://kohokutour.com/2022/10/15/re-the-1st-guest-of-kohoku-tour-%e7%a7%81%e3%81%ae%e3%83%84%e3%82%a2%e3%83%bc%e3%81%ae%e7%ac%ac%ef%bc%91%e5%8f%b7%e9%a1%a7%e5%ae%a2%e3%80%80/
Haruka san, the "Research Tour" with you around KOHOKU was so pleasant and a good lesson for me, too. I was honored to be with a hard-working student like you. Thank you, From YoshiOct., 28 (Fri.), 2022
Yoshi is an excellent guide! He is a hard-working and wonderful ambassador for his country. Yoshi takes his work seriously and is scrupulously prepared. His care for his clients really shows. He went above and beyond for us. Yoshi is very well-informed about so much, including Japanese history, current Japanese affairs, and the flowers and trees of Japan. He is interesting, energetic, kind, and hospitable. Our only wish was that we had more time with Yoshi! We are grateful we met him.
Dear Julie san and Ron san. Thank you very much for your nice feedback. As our mission as a tour guide is, of course, to insure our customers' satisfaction, I've believed (as a former Quality Engineer) that we have to do our maximum effort, sacrificing our short lunch and rest time. I'm so glad to know that you kindly felt a touch of it. Again, I was extremely happy to be able to have an opportunity to go around the best spots with you and Ron san yesterday. Thank you, PS: I will try not to be a "Crybaby" any more. From Yoshi Apr., 19 (Fri.), 2019; 22:23
Yoshi was very knowledgeable on all the places he took us for the two days we were in Osaka. He picked us up at our hotel. Planned the day according to what we wanted to see and the activities we were interested in. I have a bad knee and stairs were a problem, he made a lot of effort to accommodate this. For this I am very impressed. He definitely went over and beyond. Our family had a great time and will be beyond. Thank you Yoshi San! -- Sheila Cemer Houston Texas
Sheila san and your handsome family members: Thank you very much for your lavish word to this amateurish tour guide. I have to appreciate you, giving me the opportunity to go around here and there in the merchants' city under brisk winter sky. I'll never forget the fantastic memory with you and your family. PS: Have you successfully been able to open all the pictures that I took for your family?
Very lucky to have Yoshi san as our guide who took care of us from the time he picked us up from the hotel until he send us back to the hotel. I'm very impressed and appreciative when he accomodated to our slow movement. He planned well according to what we wanted even at the short notice of visiting Nara Women's University. Really love the Kimono experience and picnic under cherry blossoms at Osaka castle. Our family especially my daughter had a lovely and wonderful time. Thank you Yoshi san for understanding and being an amazing tour guide for us. - Siti, Malaysia
Siti san, Zainal san, alias sweet Sumo wrestler, and a promising No.1 journalist in Malaysia, Farah san, I thank you very much for selecting such an amateurish tour guide like me for your memorable tour tripping around Kansai district, Japan. I was relieved that the weather on the days during your trip was relatively good (not so cold and not so warm), and we could make it in time when the cherry blossoms that all of you must have eagerly anticipated started. You were able to dabble at OHANAMI (Cherry viewing) at Osaka Jyo park, eating Takoyaki, weren't we? The gift that charming Farah san surprisingly gave me must have become one of my most important treasuries. Thank you so much. PS : As I promised so, I'm going to send all the photos that I took for your wonderful family through e-mail in a few days. From Yoshi
