Visiting Omihachiman
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Visiting Omihachiman ~ A great place to live A great place to visit A great place to come back to ~ Omihachiman visibly and tastefully intertwines a beautiful natural environment, traditional culture and the lives of today’s residents who inherited these blessings. a commerce-oriented town was built by Hidetsugu Toyotomi A land where Oda Nobunaga dreamed of unifying a nation and Spring under the cherry blossoms Summer and clear water Sagicho Matsuri Hachiman Moat in early summer Foot of Mt. Azuchi Chomeiji Temple After unifying the nation by force, the great commander After the death of Oda Nobunaga, Hidetsugu Oda Nobunaga from Japan’s years of civil war built Toyotomi, the nephew of the preeminent daimyo Azuchi Castle with pronounced beauty and splendor Hideyoshi Toyotomi, built his mountain fortress of in the thriving fiefdom of the Sasaki Rokkaku Clan Hachiman Castle with the intention of developing that ruled over Omi. The way Oda Nobunaga believed trade and business in the area. The moat he had built in himself and did what he intended resembles a served both as a defense and means of transportation. magnificent cherry tree in bloom. It was a genius idea that went as smooth as water. Hachimanbori Matsuri Autumn tinged in gracious beauty Mt. Hachiman in winter Winter dusted with snowflakes Omihachiman Doll Festival Kuwanomidera Temple (Hinamatsuri Doll) The savvy merchants of Hachiman set out for With its latticed windows, artistically pruned Edo (Tokyo), Osaka and ports overseas from the pine trees peering from behind walls and Hachiman Moat. They built themselves a name characteristically Japanese architecture, the and reputation by placing the utmost importance Preservation District of Omihachiman speaks of on trust and conducting business in ways that life long ago. The teachings and love that the benefited society rather than exclusively thinking forefathers had for this land have been passed down about personal profit. through the changes in landscape and population like a thick layer of snowflakes on the ground. the Manyo Verses Stepping back into the ages of A land where faith has not changed in centuries ㉗Kuwanomidera Temple ㉘Oshiojinja Shrine and Forest The cry of the cuckoo recalls a night long ago in the Oiso Forest. (Kiinokami Norimitsu/Tale of Heike) Now that I’m 40, just how long will I be able to enjoy the snow of the Oiso Forest to the east? This temple was built at the behest of the The forest associated with this shrine has (Mabuchi Kamo) Emperor Tenji (626 ‒ 671) and is the 46th appeared in literature since the Manyo sacred point of worship on the Saigokuyakushi Verses and is designated a Historic Site Pilgrimage. Its name roughly means “fruit of of Japan. Nestled amongst the woods, the the mulberry tree” and comes from recounts shrine revers Mt. Kinugasa (Mt. Kannonji) The cuckoo’s call from the Oiso that the first monk, Jokei, who is accredited as a deity of safe childbirth, long life, and with starting silkworm breeding in Japan, good hunting and harvests. Forest would be welcome this brought back mulberry seedlings from the night as spring would be near. Tang Dynasty. The main hall and the scroll Tel 0748-46-2481 painting depicting the temple’s origin are (Norinaga Motoori) designated Important Cultural Properties. Admission Adults: ¥300, Children: ¥150 Hours 9:00~17:00 (Until 16:30 between December and February) Tel 0748-46-2560 、 0748-46-4025 ㉙Kamojinja Shrine ㉚Sasakijinja Shrine ㉛13 Iwatoyama Buddhas This shrine was built by the Emperor Shomu This shrine originally worshipped the Shinto These 13 Statues of Bhuddha were carved in 736 on the site of the first-ever nationally- deity of a powerful and influential family in the into a large bolder on the southern side of Mt. managed pasture. For this reason, the site Gamo area by the name of Sasakiyama, but Mitsukuri at the behest of Prince Shotoku (572 has a special connection with horses. The having lost their status over the years, the name ‒ 622). The site is flooded every April by the shrine is also associated with the 8th century was rewritten with characters to reflect that in faithful who are rewarded with a 1,000 days scholar and statesman Makibi Kibi and is the mid Heian Era. The main worship hall heads of blessings for one day of pilgrimage in what said to have miraculous powers for enabling a list of 8 structures designated Important is known as a sennichikai. There is great marriage, granting pregnancy and ensuring Cultural Properties of Shiga Prefecture. The panoramic view from the summit. safe childbirth. During the Kamo Matsuri in shrine is best remembered for the flowers that Tel 0748-46-4234 May, horses race around the grounds as part bloom at different times of the year and the (Azuchi Station Tourist Information Center) of a ritual dating back more than 1,000 years. Sasaki Matsuri that is held in April. Tel 0748-33-0123 Tel 0748-46-3564 Masako Shirasu in Omi A treasured hamlet of Sites heralded by essayist Masako Shirasu in her “Kakurezato” and “Omiyamakosho” An essayist who profoundly loved Omi and wrote about its beauty with Masako Shirasu(1910-1998)delicate sensibility Masako Shirasu was the second daughter born to Aisuke Kabayama, an Advisor to the Emperor. She was the first woman in history to perform Noh on stage and wrote extensively about Japanese culture, counting within her circle of intellects the top art critics of her time, Hideo Kobayashi and Jiro Aoyama. Shirasu also traveled to many places on her own accord and, with her profound yet delicate sensibility, described the natural and cultural beauty she encountered in ways that still attract many readers today. 32Chomeiji Temple 33Kannonshoji Temple 34Kannonji Castle Ruins 35Kyorinbo Temple This temple is the 31st sacred point This temple is the 32nd sacred point Found on Mt. Kinugasa, these This old temple sits quietly in the of worship on the Saigokuyakushi of worship on the Saigokuyakushi ruins belong to the castle of the rural hamlet of Ishidera. The stone Pilgrimage. According to temple Pilgrimage. It is said to have been Rokkaku Line of the Sasaki Clan, garden is said to be the work of legend, this was the site where some, built by the Prince Shotoku in 605, who ruled over Omi in Japan’ the 16th century tea master Enshu 1,800 years ago, Sukune Takeshiuchi, at the request of local fishermen. s Middle Ages. The castle was Kobori and exhibits an elegance a grand minister under the Emperor Inside is found a 6 m tall statue of amongst the largest of its kind in characteristic of the Azuchi- Keiko, prayed for a long life and was a thousand-handed thousand-eyed Japan as it encompassed the entire Momoyama and Early Edo Eras. It rewarded by living well over 300 Buddhist saint made of sandalwood mountain, and is today recognized is highly reputed for its autumnal years. Hearing this story, the Prince from India. as a National Historic Site and one foliage and bamboo forest. Shotoku (572 ‒ 622) named this temple of Japan’s Top 100 Castles. The Admission Free (Inner Temple: ¥300) Admission Adults: ¥500, Children Chomeiji or literally the “temple of Tel 0748-46-2549 stone walls and foundation still 7 - 15: ¥200 long life.” The main worship hall, 3-tier stand today. * Normally open only on weekends and pagoda, bell tower and the hall where holidays. Open on weekdays between fire offerings are made are connected Nov. 1 and Dec. 15. Parking (cars x 50, and there is a magnanimous view of buses x 4) by reservation only. Lake Biwa from the grounds. Tel 0748-46-5400 Tel 0748-33-0031 Oda Nobunaga Nobunaga’s heroic campaign to squelch the chaos and unify Japan began here. Shiga Prefectural Azuchi Castle ①Azuchi Castle Ruins ②“House of Nobunaga” ③ Archeological Museum Akira Naitoⓒ Azuchi Castle was said to have been an This full-scale replica of the 5th and 6th Built in an architectural style typical of architectural masterpiece. It was built by the floors of Azuchi Castle was created complete Western Europe, this museum is located in Daimyo Nagahide Niwa over a 6-year period, with interiors for the Japanese Pavilion a landscaped park in the foothills. Exhibits under orders from Oda Nobunaga in 1576. at the 1992 World’s Fair in Seville, Spain. cover a wide gamut of local history from All that remains today are the stone walls The splendor of the gold leaf, dolphin roof Japan’s Yayoi and Tumulus Periods, and and foundation. The ruins and grounds are ornaments and interior murals were extolled present a plethora of interesting facts designated a Special Historic Site of Japan. at the time in Europe by missionaries. about Oda Nobunaga and Azuchi Castle. Admission Adults: ¥500, Children 7 - 15: ¥100 Admission Adults: ¥500, Children 16 ‒ 21: ¥300, Admission Adults: ¥400, Children 16 ‒ 21: ¥250, Hours 9:0 0 ~ 1 7 : 0 0 (Last admission: 16:00. Children 7 - 15: ¥150 Children 15 and below: Free (Separate price added Varies by season.) Hours 9:00 ~ 17:00 (Last admission: 16:30) for special exhibits.) Closed Open year-round Closed Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), Hours 9:00 ~ 17:00 (Last admission: 16:30) Tel 0748-46-4234 (Azuchi Station Travel Office) New Year’s holiday Closed Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), Tel 0748-46-6512 New Year’s holiday *Pay-one-price tickets include the Shiga Prefectural Tel 0748-46-2424 Azuchi Castle Archeological Museum. *Pay-one-price tickets include the House of Nobunaga. ④Azuchi Castle Museum ⑤Jogonin Temple ⑥Seminario Site Akira Naitoⓒ The museum explains everything you This temple was built by Oda Nobunaga This is where the first Christian want to know about Azuchi Castle via as part of the Azuchi fiefdom.