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
- 29,000 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
Hello Yoshi san,
Thank you for forwarding the photos. I can access them and will download to my home computer later today.
I have been catching up with my work tasks and am writing this from my office, but they do look very nice.
We very much enjoyed our trip to Kanazawa and as you say, it was a good place to pair with Kyoto to see both
a former capital and a smaller town.
I think you are too modest with yourself rating as an amateur! We felt very well taken care of by you and the van driver.
And you arranged our very busy schedule and made sure that we were well taken care of. Only an expert could have
kept us on time AND given us such a complete look at Kyoto's sights. So, thank you so much for your time and for forwarding
the photos. We had an excellent time everywhere on our Japan vacation and will remember Kyoto especially well due to your good work.
Arigato gozaimasu Yoshi sensei!
Thank you,
Good day!Thank you very much for giving me such lavish words! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed a lot in Kanazawa and now you went back to your sweet home without any problems.I was so lucky to be able to share the same time with the warm-hearted family from GA.Thank you again, and you have a good weekend, please!
Thank you, Yoshi-san, for the lovely photographs and the care you took in arranging them.
I would be honored if you put any photographs you wish on your website.
Regarding my "nicest comment”. There are many nice observations I could make regarding the tour,
but let’s see if the following review meets your needs:
“Knowledgeable, gracious and patient, Yoshi was a wonderful tour guide, who gave me a deeper understanding
of Japanese Culture and History, especially how Kyoto played an important role in creating the modern Japan.
we admire.”
【日本語訳】
ヨシさん、素敵な写真と、それらを観光地毎に整理していただいた丁寧なご配慮に感謝します。
ご希望の写真があれば、どうぞご遠慮なく貴方のウェブサイトに掲載していただいて結構です。
「最高のコメント」についてですが、今回の貴方のツアーに関して良い点はたくさんありますが、以下のレビューが お客様のニーズに合っているかどうか、一度ご確認願います。
「知識豊富で、親切で、忍耐強いヨシさんは素晴らしいツアーガイドでした。日本の文化と歴史、
特に京都が私たちが尊敬する近代日本を築く上で重要な役割を果たしたことを深く理解することができました。」
Vincent san, thank you again for giving me the "Nicest words" for my website. (I intended to let me use the "Nicest words" you kindly commented on Oct. 02; 10:56. I'm not bold enough to request an gentleman to give me the "Nicest words"...( ^)o(^ ) )As I said so, I felt sorry that Beverly san could not attend all the tour. On the other hand, we were able to try a bit adventurous tour, too, such as climbing up the steep staircase to the 3rd floor of that oldest pagoda (Hokan-ji) or ramble around the Gion area, right? (I somehow was feeling as if I was walking with my old friend from US...(^^♪ )With your kind permission, I added your photos on the tour and the "Nicest words" as attached above.Thank you again, Vincent san and Beverly san, for sharing your time with me. I'll never forget about the autumn days in the ancient capital of the far eastern country.Yoshi【日本語訳】ヴィンセントさん、私のウェブサイトへ「最高のお言葉」をくださり、改めてありがとうございます。（私は、10月2日10時56分に親切にコメントしていただいた「最高のお言葉」を使わせていただくつもりでした。私は、初めて出会った紳士へ「最高の言葉」をお願いするほど大胆な男ではございません…( ^)o(^ ) ）そうは言っても、ベバリーさんがツアーのすべてに参加できなかったのは残念でしたね。一方で、あの最古の仏塔（法観寺）の３階まで急峻な階段を登ったり、祇園をぶらぶら歩いたりと、ちょっとした冒険もできましたよね？（なんだかアメリカの旧友と歩いているような気分でした… (^^♪)）ご許可をいただきましたので、ツアー中の写真と「最高の一言」を上記に添付させていただきました。ヴィンセントさんとビバリーさん、一緒に時間を過ごしてくださり、改めてありがとうございました。極東の国の古都で過ごした秋の日々は決して忘れません。ヨシ2025年10月11日（土）Oct. 11 (Sat.), 2025
Good morn Yoshi San.
We are glad you got back not so late. And you have gone the extra mile to provide us with a great tour day.
And thank you for the recommendations in Osaka. We look forward to the pics and take your time.
You take care and appreciate your unending energy and perseverance to make us have a great trip.
Thank you very much for sharing your precious time with this amateurish and clumsy old tour guide!
Mr. Yoshi San! Thank you so much for showing us so much of Kyoto! The information you prepared for us was
very kind and we appreciated learning so much about the temples and shrines as we went to see them.
You made the tour a very enjoyable experience! Thank you again for everything and we look forward to seeing
the pictures you took when you have a chance to send them. 😊
Lucy, Tiffany, Jorge
I was so happy to be able to share the same time on 12 (Fri.) with the handsome family from the Lonestar state.Please have a safe journey home. I really wish your Japan tour would become wonderful memories!
Dear Yoshi san,
Hope you are doing well and kept busy.
We returned home late Sunday. We are both very tired. Need a bit of time to recuperate. Thank you very much for the wonderful "memories" and the detailed description.
Best regards,
Patty and YukKiyomizudera temple
Nanzenji temple
Ginkakuji temple
Shisendo temple (1 of 2)
Shisendo temple (2 of 2)
Manshuin temple (1 of 2)
Manshuin temple (2 of 2)
Dear Patty san & Yuk san:Welcome back to your sweet home! That’s really a long journey, wasn’t it? You must be thinking that there are no better places than your home now. Take enough rest! July 03Yoshi
