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Location: Otsu, Shiga
Opens at: Opens 09:00
Goshuin: 4 Goshuin
Miidera (Onjōji) stands at the foot of Mount Hiei near Lake Biwa, a short distance from Kyoto. Founded in the 7th century and later rebuilt after repeated wars and fires, it is the head temple of Tendai Jimon Buddhism, famed for its national treasures,...
Why you should go
- The temple's name 'Mii-dera' (Temple of Three Wells) comes from the sacred spring used to give the first bath to three emperors: Tenchi, Temmu, and Jito.
- The temple bell was supposedly stolen by the warrior monk Benkei and dragged up Mount Hiei, but it cried out in the local Omi dialect 'I want to go back!' Enraged, Benkei threw it down, leaving scars still visible today.
- A wooden dragon sculpture on the sacred spring building had to have spikes driven into its eyes by the artist himself because it kept escaping at night to terrorize locals by flying to Lake Biwa.
