Boarding procedures

Please be present at the Port at least 20 minutes prior to departure. Weekends and holidays can be more crowded than weekdays so please allow some extra time to your arrival. Please check-in at the ticket window.

Reception and transfer to the beach

Departure to Chikubushima from the Nagahama Port will begin. Enjoy the beautiful scenery from the open deck or relax indoors for about 35 minutes on the cruise to Chikubu Island.

Arrival at Chikubushima

On the island, there are Hogonji Temple, which enshrines Dai-Benzaiten, one of Japan’s three greatest Benzaiten (goddess), and Tsukubusuma-jinja Shrine, which worships the Dragon God. Climb the 165 stone steps called “Prayer Stairs” leading to the Main Hall of Hogonji Temple as you encounter the sunlight filtering the trees on a beautiful sunny day. At the Main Hall, you can dedicate a wish written on paper into a Daruma doll. In addition, there are many sights of historical value, such as the Karamon Gate, which is a national treasure, and the Boat Corridor (Funa-roka), which has been designated as an important cultural property.

Free time at Chikubushima (85~90 min)

<Hogonji Temple/ Main Hall> Dai Benzaiten, one of Japan’s three greatest Benzaiten(goddess), is enshrined as the principal object to worship in the Main Hall of Hogonji temple. Hogonji Temple is designated as the 30th temple of Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. You can dedicate a wish written on paper into a Daruma Doll. <A three-story Pagoda> The three-story Pagoda is said to have been destroyed by lightning in the early Edo period, and was restored in 2000 for the first time in about 350 years. Built based on ancient construction methods, it took 6 years to complete its current appearance. It is modeled after a Buddist stupa that holds the remains of Buddha. <National Treasure Hogonji Temple “Karamon Gate” and important Cultural Property “Kannondo”> The Karamon Gate, designated as a national treasure, is said to be a representative remnant of the gorgeous Momoyama-style Karamon Gate. Beautiful carvings of phoenixes, rabbits, pine trees and peonies, and vivid patterns of the ceiling still remain today. Inside the Karamon Gate, there is a Kannon-do Hall built in the Kamakura period that enshrines a Senju(Thousand-armed) Kannon Buddhist saint. The statue of Senju Kannon is considered a secret Buddha, and as a matter of principle, the door is to be opened every 60 years(therefore, not opened to public). Since 2013, the roofs of Karamon, Kannondo, and Funaroka have been completely replaced, repainted and lacquered, and decorated with gold-plated metal fittings. The project was completed in spring of 2020 and is in beautiful shape up until now. <Tsukubusuma Shrine(Chikubushima Shrine)> In similarity to the Hogonji Temple, it enshrines Benzaiten, Ryujin (Dragon God), and Ubusunagami(God of Birth). At the end of the Main Shrine is the Ryujin Worship Place, where you can write your wishes on a set of two unglazed plates. You can pray for the wish to come true by throwing the pottery towards the entrance gate facing the lake.

Departing from Chikubushima

Arriving at Nagahama Port

Leaving the Chikubushima behind, we will be departing for Nagahama Port! It will take approximately 30 minutes to Nagahama port. How was the magical and mysterious spot of Chikubushima? Please continue to enjoy sightseeing around Lake Biwa.