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Island · Hikone, Shiga
Chikubu Island
A small sacred island in the north of Lake Biwa, with Hogon-ji Temple dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten, and Tsukubusuma Shrine, whose main hall and the Karamon gate are National Treasures.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Chikubu Island in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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Discover
About Chikubu Island
Chikubu is an island of about 2 km in circumference in the northern part of Lake Biwa, covered in forest and ringed by rocks, belonging to the city of Nagahama. It has been considered sacred for more than a thousand years and has no residents: visitors arrive by boat, climb the steps to the temples, and return on the next boat.
From the pier the main stairway ascends more than 160 steps to Hogon-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of music, wisdom and fortune, and one of the three most famous Benzaiten sites in Japan. The site has a three-story pagoda and small pavilions. The Karamon gate, lacquered and carved wood, is a National Treasure and, according to tradition, came from a palace of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
A covered corridor, the Funarōka, said to be made from the wood of one of Hideyoshi’s ships, links the temple to Tsukubusuma Shrine, whose main hall with paintings and carvings from the late 16th century is also a National Treasure. From the shrine’s terrace visitors throw small clay dishes called kawarake, with a written wish, trying to make them pass through a stone gateway at the water’s edge.
Boats depart from the ports of Hikone, Nagahama and Imazu. From Hikone the crossing takes about 40 minutes, and the stop on the island usually lasts 1 to 1½ hours until the return boat. Schedules are reduced in winter, and boats may not run in strong winds.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 3 hours from Hikone, including the round-trip crossing and 1½ hours on the island.
Best time
From spring through autumn when there are more boats. Check the outbound and return schedules in advance because the time on the island depends on the next boat.
How to get there
Boat from Hikone Port in about 40 minutes; from Hikone Station to the port take a bus or about a 25-minute walk. There are also boats from Nagahama and Imazu.
Tip
Check the return boat schedule as soon as you land and climb to Hogon-ji first. Throw the kawarake from the shrine terrace before descending.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Chikubu Island
How do you get to Chikubu Island?
By boat from the ports of Hikone, Nagahama, or Imazu. From Hikone, the crossing takes about 40 minutes.
How long do visitors stay on Chikubu Island?
Generally 1 to 1.5 hours, until the next return boat.
What is the kawarake on Chikubu Island?
Small clay dishes on which you write a wish. From the shrine terrace you throw the dish trying to make it pass through a stone gateway at the water’s edge.
Do boats to Chikubu run year-round?
They operate year-round, with reduced schedules in winter, and may not run in strong winds. Check ahead.
Beyond the guide
