Kongorinji

Locally knownKnown to people who live here. Not in the international guidebooks.

Researched and written by Hinato

KongorinjiKotosanzanautumn colourNational TreasureJizo

Photo: Yanajin33 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · original

Ask where to send a first-time visitor for a temple or shrine in Shiga, and Kongorinji comes up more than once.

Kongorinji is the middle of the three Kotosanzan temples strung along the foot of the Suzuka mountains, all founded in the Nara or Heian period, all Tendai, and all famous for the same thing in the same three weeks of November. Its approach is the one that makes the reputation: a long stone path climbing through maples, lined with hundreds of small stone Jizo figures in red bibs and paper windmills placed by families for children who died.

At the top the main hall, a National Treasure from 1288, survived the burning of the Omi temples by Oda Nobunaga in 1573 because it stands far enough up the hill. The local name for the colour here is chi-momiji, blood maple, for how dark the red goes. Outside November the temple is nearly empty and the walk up is the same walk.

Before you go

Opening hours

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (reception until 4:30 PM)

Closed: Open year-round

Admission

¥600 adults | ¥300 junior high school students | ¥200 elementary school | ¥500 with a disability certificate

Best time to visit

Early–late November for autumn colour, peaking mid-month

Time to allow

1.5–2 hours

Finding your way there

Getting there in detail

Matsuoji 874, Aisho Town, Echi District. By car from Kotosanzan Interchange on the Meishin Expressway; buses are limited and a car is the practical approach. Admission ¥600 adults, ¥300 junior high school students, ¥200 elementary school, ¥500 with a disability certificate, with group rates for 30 or more. The approach is a long stone path with a steady climb.

Beyond the guidebook

**Early to late November, peaking mid-month.** All three Kotosanzan temples turn together and the shuttle traffic between them is heavy on November weekends. **The Jizo along the approach are not decoration.** Hundreds of small figures with red bibs and paper windmills, placed by families for children who died. Walk it slowly. **The main hall survived Nobunaga.** He burned the Omi temples in 1573 and this hall, from 1288, was far enough up the slope to be missed. It is a National Treasure and the interior is open. **Chi-momiji.** The local name for the colour, meaning blood maple. It goes darker here than at the other two temples and that is what the name records. **Do all three if you have a car.** Saimyoji, Kongorinji and Hyakusaiji are within 20 minutes of each other along the mountain foot, and a combined visit is the standard way to spend a November day in eastern Shiga. **Outside November it is empty.** Same approach, same hall, no one there.

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