Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-05 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Ishiyama-dera, in Ōtsu, is a temple of the Tōji branch of Shingon Buddhism, and stop 13 on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage — three stops before Kiyomizu-dera, stop 16. Its principal image, a Nyoirin Kannon, is a hidden Buddha kept from view. Its full name is Ishikō-san Ishiyama-dera.
Ishiyamadera Station on the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line is about 750 m away in a straight line, and Zeze Castle is about 4 km off. We have not checked opening hours or fees, so check local information before you go.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Ishiyamadera29n4272 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera27n4272 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera24n4272 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera23n4272 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera16n4272 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera13n4272 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera02s5s3200 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyama temple — Bariston · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera25n3200 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ishiyamadera05n3200 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
What this place is
Ishiyama-dera (石山寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Ishiyamadera neighborhood of the city of Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It belongs to the Shingon-shu Tōji-ha sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon is a hibutsu image of Nyōirin Kannon. The temple's full name is Ishiko-san Ishiyama-dera (石光山 石山寺). The temple is the 13th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-05 · 参拝料金・時間 | 大本山 石山寺 公式ホームページ
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Ishiyamadera (Ishiyama Sakamoto Line), about 750 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
Traveler reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share how it went.