Let's find out the ROOTS of Genuine Japanese Culture at KOHOKU!

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.

Guests can use a lift service from the base to the summit of the mountain from Apr. to the end of Nov.

Lift Service to the Summit of the Mountain

Kinomoto Town along Old Hokkoku Street

Kinomoto town has been prospered as a post station town from olden days, since the town located at the intersection on Hokkoku street to Kyo and Hokkoku wakiokan, a short but an important bypass to Edo via Ogaki in an adjacent domain. Old people here used to say that it took almost one day from Imajyo in Echizen to Kinomoto, crossing over Tochinoki mountain path in the northernmost KOHOKU. There used to be many inns for tourists and “Honjin” accommodation facility for higher class samurais and court nobles. There are other historic heritages such as the site where more than several hundreds cows and horses were dealt since Muromachi period (more than 550 years ago.)

And Kinomoto is also known as a temple town of the Biggest Jizo statue in Japan (6 m tall.), which has been believed as the Buddha for eyes. That’s why there is a place for thanking for our old glasses, and the spot you can experience the perfect darkness under the floor of the temple. You must appreciate your eyes’ power once you crawl in the darkest world.
The origin of winking frogs is that these cute living creatures are sacrificing themselves for those who suffer from some diseases of eyes, too.
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for the days of the temple’s sacred festival in late of our summer holidays. It is of course not to pray in front of the Buddha, but to buy toys at the street stall along the approach, the cheap toys were easily broken within a day, though. Good old memories.

Kinomoto is also renowned for good Japanese Sake and Soy Sauce, which is made from fermented soy beans. There are 2 famous Sake breweries, both of which has more than 480 years history. As for Soy Sause, there are 3 breweries along the street, all of which has more than 150 years history. The reasons why Kinomoto is called as “The town of Brewage” are mainly
1) The best qualified water sprung from the Ibuki mountains
and
2) Its climatic conditions.

Local Guardian Deity for the Folks at Jyoshin-ji Temple (Jizo Buddha)

Old Hokkoku Street

Old Japanese Sake Breweries

Old Soy Sauce Breweries

Retro-cool Restaurants and Shops

High-status Shrine

 

Overview

• Shiga
• 18000 JPY
• 7Hours
• 1 ~ 5people

 

Itinerary

• Meeting Point

  JR Kinomoto Station
• Kinomoto Guardian Deity for the Folks (Big Jizo Buddha)
• Remains of "Honjin" Accommodation Facility along Hokkoku Street
• Old Japanese Sake Breweries
• Old Soy Sauce Breweries
• Remain of the Marketplace where Cows and Horses were Dealt
• Old Tradesmen's Houses (MACHIYA) along Hokkoku Street
• Lunch at a Local Food Restaurant
• Shizugatake Mountain
• Stroll around OTO Hamlet, at the Base of Shizugatake
• Ending Point

  JR Kinomoto Station

What to Expect

1. To taste retrospective street scenery and “Unobtrusive but Elegant” culture of the old post station and temple town
2. To recall the military deployment and the strategy of the both sides at the fierce battle in the Provincial War Era
3. To enjoy viewing a part of Northernmost Lake Biwa and the small but mysterious Mirror Lake of Yogo from the summit of Shizugatake Mountain

Inclusions & Exclusions

[Inclusions]

Guide Fee

[Exclusions]

1) Transportation & Lift service (For Tourists): Less than 1,500 (One Thousand and Five Hundred) JPY Each at a Maximum for One Day.

2) Lunch and/or Dinner (For Tourists): Less than 1,500 (One Thousand and Five Hundred) JPY Each at a Maximum.

3) Any Unexpected Cost (For Tourists): Less than 500 (Five Hundred) JPY Each at a Maximum.

   

Important Information

1) The tour consists of one day excursion, starting 10:00 AM to 17:00 (5:00 PM).

2) Meeting Schedule: At JR Kinomoto Station

10:00 AM at JR Kinomoto station (Start)
17:00 PM at 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.

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

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