Kyorinbo
17/10/2025 / Last updated : 17/10/2025 d.d Temple / Shrine

Omihachiman, Kyorinbou　　近江八幡　教林坊

2025 june 1 Come the morning Oribe no sato Motosu springs to life. There is a queue waiting for the shop to open at 8.30am. This, we discover, is for a morning set breakfast for 500 yen. I suspect it is a good deal. So, despite the poor facilities, it is perhaps a good spot for an overnight stay after all. We leave, to take the long drive to Omihachiman by Lake Biwa. The morning broke bright and clear but by the time we are skirting Lake Biwa the opposite shore is wreathed in cloud and there is a stiff wind off the water. Omihachiman In Omihachiman, we met the […]
Gate of Ishiyamadera
26/08/2024 / Last updated : 26/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Ishiyamadera　石山寺

April 9th. 2024 Ayama michi no eki appears modern, at first, but is basic in the toilet department. On a very wet night, it is possible to park close to the facilities so exposure to the unkind elements is limited. Probably due to its basic nature, it is not popular in the morning and few cars drop in. Its only redeeming feature is that it is generous with rubbish bins. Leaving Ayama, we head for Lake Biwa but by chance notice Ishiyamadera. This name rings bells with D. so we stop and are pleased we did. Ishiyamadera The temple dates from the Heian era 1096 CE. and we realize as […]
Miidera
19/05/2022 / Last updated : 13/07/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Hirafuku and Mii-dera cherry blossoms　平福、三井寺

Following the Sakura Front 2022 4th. April Chugoku Expressway Wake in the Hirafuku Michi no eki after a long drive on the Chugoku Expressway. What a wonderful road this is, broad curves winding up and down with almost no traffic. It is possible to see a long distance both ahead and behind on both carriageways and not another vehicle in sight. The only drawback is the absurd 60kph speed limit. Hirafuku Michi no eki　道の駅平福 Hirafuku Michi no eki is a reasonable place to stay. It has a restaurant and provides an interesting walk around the old post town. There are castle remains on the hilltop across the valley, two huge […]
27/05/2019 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sanjusangendo and La Collina at Omihachiman　三十三間堂、近江八幡

October 2017, Sanjusangen-do　　三十三間堂 After an uneventful and unexpectedly quiet night, being right on Route 9., we left Gareria Kameoka around 9am. for the drive into Kyoto.We follow R9 into the city and find the free car park in front of Sanjusangen-do. This parking is for the temple and free for 40 minutes but although we stayed for an hour and a half the attendants did not seem bothered at all. The temple is one of the very famous Kyoto temples and is well worth a visit. A very long main hall houses the thousand Buddhist images flanking the main large seated Kannon. Of these 1000 images 124 were made in […]
Hieizan Enryakuji Kaidanin
27/04/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Criss-crossing Lake Biwa to Hieizan Enryakuji　琵琶湖、比叡山延暦寺

Day 84, November 2016, Lake Biwa Ohashi Yet another chill morning, the sun is up but not very effective, as we set off for Hieizan. The countryside is flat and the roads straight, as we approach Lake Biwa. The landscape is mainly agricultural with large factories dotted about. Closer to the lake, we can see the mountain peaks rising above the clouds on the other side.  After crossing the toll bridge, to the Kyoto side, we stop at the michi no eki ‘Lake Biwa Ohashi kome Plaza‘  to take a look at the lake. Sadly, the lake cannot really be seen. After taking the wrong exit out of the car […]