⛩️ Tendai Sect, Kongōrin-ji Temple

One of the Lake Eastern Three Mountains, renowned for its autumn leaves in Shiga Prefecture, is equally famous as Higashi-Omi's Baekje Temple and Nishimeiji in Kōra Town. It is a Tendai sect temple founded in 741 during the Nara period, promoted by the Bodhisattva Gyōki who established numerous temples to spread Buddhism. In 1288, during the mid-Kamakura period, the main hall, Daibikaku, was built to commemorate the victory over the Mongol invasions and has been designated as a national treasure representing Kamakura period architecture. There is also a three-story pagoda established in 1246 and the Nitenmon gate built during the Hōjō period, both designated as important cultural properties. In addition to the halls and pagodas, there are many Buddhist statues designated as cultural properties, including the seated statue of the third Tendai patriarch, Jige Daishi, and Japan's oldest traditional Daikokuten and half-seated Daikokuten statues. The temple enshrines the principal deity, a sacred Kannon Bodhisattva, which is said to have been initiated by Gyōki Bodhisattva wielding a knife, and can only be viewed during the opening ceremony held once by each generation of the temple's abbot. As a famous spot for autumn foliage, from early to late November each year, the Japanese maple trees begin to change color, gradually transforming the entire mountain into shades of red, creating a breathtaking view within the temple grounds. The main hall and three-story pagoda adorned with autumn leaves make the area resemble a picturesque landscape, attracting a large number of visitors. The temple also features three gardens built during the Momoyama period, early Edo period, and mid-Edo period, where the autumn leaves are celebrated as "leaves dyed red like fresh blood," making it one of the most renowned scenic gardens among the Lake Eastern Three Mountains.

Famous autumn foliage spot in Shiga. A temple located in the central position of the Koto Sanzan. It features the main hall, Daibikaku, which is designated as a national treasure, along with 13 items classified as important cultural properties. The garden's autumn leaves, designated as a scenic spot, are renowned for their beauty, described as "maple leaves seemingly stained with fresh blood."