Enryakuji Temple
The head temple of Tendai Buddhism and a World Heritage Site located atop Mount Hiei.
Gichu-ji Temple
The burial place of famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho, of Narrow Road to the Deep North fame. The temple is 300m away from JR Zeze Station è³æé§ , one stop from Otsu on the JR Tokaido Line. Entrance is Â¥200.
Ishiyama-dera
This temple was founded in 749 and the hondo main hall is the oldest building in Shiga Prefecture built 850 years ago. Inside the hondo, in the room on the right, is the "Genji Room" where it is believed Murasaki Shikibu wrote her famous book "Tale of Genji", considered to be the world's first novel. The temple precints are quite large, with a 750 year old pagoda and Muyu-en Garden among other things. The pathway leading to the temple is lined with cherry trees, making it especially beautiful in the spring and autumn. For those traveling on the Saigoku 33 Kannon Temple Pilgrimage, Ishiyama-dera is number 13.