Chikubushima Island

Chikubushima Island is a small island on Lake Biwa Shiga, located near Kyoto, Japan. Chikubushima Island features famous scenery, temple, shrine and forest. Chikubushima Island is a small island on Lake Biwa which has 0.14 sq km and 2km around and is one of the ‘Biwako-Hakkei’ (8 most scenic spots of Lake Biwa). From the ancient time, Chikubushima Island has been believed to be a sacred place where the gods reside. The island is covered by thick forest and people can only access to the south side of the island, where there are a shrine, a temple and a few shops/cafe. People work for shrine and shops travel from the main land as nobody lives on the island. You can access Chikubushima Island by boat either from Nagahama Port or Imazu Port. Return cruise: 2,980 yen from Nagahama Port, 2,520 yen from Imazu Port Admission to Chikubushima Island: 400 yen Time schedule from Nagahama Port Departure from Nagahama Port Arrival at Chikubushima Departure from Chikubushima Arrival at Nagahama Port 9:00am 9:30am 10:50am 11:20am 10:15am 10:45am 12:05pm 12:35pm 11:30am 12:00pm 1:20pm 1:50pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:35pm 3:05pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:50pm 4:20pm Tuskubusuma Jinja Shrine and Hogonji Temple Tuskubusuma Jinja and Hogonji Temple were originally one complex of a shrine and a temple  but later divided into two due to political reasons. It was established by Monk Ghoki by the order of Emperor Shomu in 724. It worships the oldest Benzaiten (a guardian god in Buddhism) in Japan. Tuskubusuma Jinja Shrine Honden (Main Hall) was a special guesthouse in Fushimi Castle to invite the Emperor and was transferred to here in the 16th century. You can see the Azuchi-Momoyama Culture in this building and it is designated as a national treasure. There is a stone Torii gate down the cliff where you write your wish on a piece of tile and throw it aiming to go through the Torii gate. It is believed that your wish makes true if you make it. Honden (Main Hall) - National Treasure, Tuskubusuma Jinja Torii Gates of Tuskubusuma Jinja Hogonji Temple Hogonji Temple are connected to Tsukubusuma Jinja by a corridor called ‘Funa-Roka’ which was built from a ship owned by Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi and is designated as a national important cultural property. Karamon Gate was a gate for Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s mausoleum and transferred from Kyoto. It is designated as a national treasure. Another national important cultural property Kannon-do worships a thousand-hands Kannon, which is open for public only once for 60 years. Three-Story Pagoda, Hogonji Temple Karamon Gate - National Treasure, Hogonji Temple | | |