Sakamoto Historic Town and Mt. Hiei

Highlights

• Walk through quiet stone-walled streets in the historic town of Sakamoto
• See the beautiful Japanese landscape garden and Buddhist arts at Shigain-monzeki, a former residence of retired head monks of Enryakuji
• Visit the Hiyoshitaisha shrine complex sprawling in a deep cedar forest
• Ride on the Sakamoto Cable, Japan's longest funicular railway
• Visit the World Heritage site of Enryakuji on the top of Hiei-zan
• Worship at the quiet cavernous hall of Konpon-chudo
• Spectacular view of Biwa-ko from the top of Hiei-zan (on a clear day!)

Description

The tour starts from JR Kyoto Station taking a train north for 15-20 minutes to Hieizan-Sakamoto Station. After passing through two tunnels, glittering Biwa-ko will come into sight through the train window on your right, and luxuriant green of the range of Hiei-zan, on the left.

Leaving the station, we walk uphill through the historic town of Sakamoto along mossy stone walls, seeing temples, shrines and numbers of small streams from Hiei-zan. The first destination is Shigain-Monzeki, which was the town's main "satobo" (residence for retired monks of Enryakuji temple) where the imperial-blooded head monks resided. You see here a traditional Japanese landscape garden and pieces of Buddhist art. What waits for us next is 2,100 years old Hiyoshitaisha shrine complex, which is known as the headquarters of about 3,800 Hiyoshi or Hie shrines throughout Japan, and as a guardian shrine of the former capital of Kyoto. In the tranquil precincts nestled in calm and deep cedar forest, you will feel that religions in Japan have an intimate relation with nature. After Hiyoshitaisha we have lunch at a nearby Japanese restaurant or soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant. It is also possible to go up to Enryakuji first, and have Buddhist vegetarian dishes at a restaurant in the temple.

The tour then heads up to Hiei-zan by taking a scenic ride on the Sakamoto Cable which is the country's longest funicular railway. After a 10-minute walk from the top station, we will arrive at To-do (Eastern-pagoda) area of the Enryakuji temple complex. Enryakuji was established in the 8th century as the home of the Tendai School, which is now one of the most important sects of Japanese Buddhism. Important buildings of the complex are concentrated in this To-do area, with its icon of Konpon-chudo, the main hall. Worship in mystic atmosphere at the quiet cavernous hall of Konpon-chudo is sure to be one of the highlight experiences of this tour. In the dark inner chamber below behind the worship floor, there are three lanterns which are said to have been burning perpetually for the past 1,200 years ever since the founder Saicho lit them.

<Note: The whole building of Konpon-chudo is now covered up for the renovation work, which is scheduled to continue until 2026. We are still able to enter the building.>

After visiting a few smaller halls in To-do, we walk along the path through cedar forest to Sai-to (western pagoda) area. The tour ends up at JR Kyoto Station after a 70-minute public bus ride direct from Sai-to. (In winter, after visiting several halls in To-do, we go down Sakamoto by funicular and head back to JR Kyoto Station by bus and JR.)

Itinerary

JR Kyoto Station (Departure)

Trains

Sakamoto-hieizanguchi Station

Walk

Strolling around the Sakamoto historic town
- Shigain-Monzeki
- Hiyoshitaisha Shrine
- Lunch

Funicular

Strolling around the Enryakuji temple complex
- To-do area
- Sai-to area (Weather permitting)

Public Bus

JR Kyoto Station (Return)

<In winter (from early December to late March)>

JR Kyoto Station (Departure)

Trains

Sakamoto-hieizanguchi Station

Walk

Strolling around the Sakamoto historic town
- Shigain-Monzeki
- Hiyoshitaisha Shrine
- Lunch

Funicular

Strolling around To-do area of the Enryakuji temple complex

Funicular & Public Bus (Walk instead of public bus on weekdays)

JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station

Train

JR Kyoto Station (Return)

Tour includes

• English-speaking tour conductor (licensed guide interpreter)
• Admission fees to the temples and shrines shown in the itinerary
• Fare for all transportation listed in the itinerary
• Insurance
• Local tax

Tour does NOT include

• Lunch (Please take whatever you would like at the lunch venue)

Remarks

• If you stay in Shiga Prefecture, our departure and return point may be changed into a more convenient place.
• Packing light and wearing comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended. On this tour we will walk a lot and parts of paths in temples and shrines are gravel. There are coin-operated lockers in JR Kyoto Station.
• Be sure to be prepared for all weather conditions depending on the season. It's freezing cold in the mountain in winter and the sunlight is blazing in summer.
• We can end the tour at Demachiyanagi or Sanjo-Keihan Station as well as JR Kyoto Station.
• Seats in public transportations are not guaranteed.
• Itinerary may change without earlier notice due to weather and transport conditions or any unforeseen circumstance(s).