Kongorinji Temple

Kongorin-ji Temple is one of the Kotō Sanzan (the Three Great Temples of Eastern Shiga), along with Hyakusaiji and Saimyo-ji. This Tendai Buddhist temple is said to have been founded in the mid-Nara period by the monk Gyoki under an imperial prayer order from Emperor Shomu. From the Meishin Expressway Kotō Sanzan Smart IC, it is conveniently accessible in about one minute after exiting and turning right at the traffic signal. The principal image was carved by Gyoki and is revered as the "Living Kannon," attracting deep devotion. The main hall, Daihi-kaku, is a National Treasure and is considered one of the representative Japanese-style (Wayō) buildings of the Kamakura period. The Niten-mon Gate and the three-story pagoda are also designated Important Cultural Properties. The temple also houses many Important Cultural Property Buddhist statues, including a wooden Eleven-Faced Kannon. The temple garden, often praised as the finest among the Kotō Sanzan, is designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. Three gardens were created to surround Meiju-in, which was once used as a scholastic hall, each offering its own distinctive scenery. The tea room known as Suiun-kaku is also celebrated for its beauty, said to be among the finest in the Kotō area. In autumn, the richly colored maple leaves are known as "Chizome no Momiji" (Blood-Dyed Maples), a name connected to the principal image, and they captivate visitors each year.