Mangetsuji Temple Ukimido "Floating Hall"

Ukimi-do is one of Lake Biwa’s most iconic scenic spots and is celebrated as "Katata no Rakugan," one of the Eight Views of Omi. Its elegant pavilion floating on the lake has inspired famous poets such as Matsuo Basho, Takahama Kyoshi, and others, as well as artists like Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai. The temple’s official name is Mangetsu-ji, a Zen temple of the Rinzai Daitoku-ji school founded in the late Heian period by the monk Genshin to pray for safe navigation and the salvation of all beings. Inside Ukimi-do are enshrined over 1,000 Amida Buddha statues known as the "Sentai-butsu." Although the original structure collapsed during the Muroto Typhoon in 1934, the current building was reconstructed in 1937 and later restored in 1982 to preserve its historic atmosphere. From JR Katata Station, transfer to an Ohmi bus, get off at "Katata Demachi," and walk about 5 minutes.