Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Kongōrin-ji, also known as Matsuo-dera after its location, is a Tendai temple in the town of Aishō, Shiga, whose main image is Kannon Bosatsu. Founded in the early Heian period, it forms with Saimyō-ji in Kōra and Hyakusai-ji in Higashiōmi the Kotō Sanzan, “the three mountains east of the lake”. Its main hall is a National Treasure and holds many statues from the Heian period onwards that are Important Cultural Properties, and its garden is a Place of Scenic Beauty.
Saimyō-ji is about 2.5 km away. We have not checked opening hours, fees or a public-transport route.
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
- Kongourinji hondou 01 — VanishingDuck at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Periodo kamakura, jie daishi seduto, 1286 — sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kongōrin-ji Sentai-Jizō — Yanajin33 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kongōrin-ji Garden — Yanajin33 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kongourinji,金剛輪寺 - panoramio — z tanuki · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 金剛輪寺 - panoramio — z tanuki · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 金剛輪寺 - panoramio - z tanuki — z tanuki · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- Fumonzan Matsuo-ji Temple 20210907 06 — 先従隗始 · CC0 · source · resized
What this place is
Kongōrin-ji (金剛輪寺), also known as Matsuo-dera (松尾寺) (from its location) is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect located in the town of Aishō, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The honzon of the temple is Kannon Bosatsu. The temple was founded in the early Heian period and together with Saimyō-ji in Kōra and Hyakusai-ji in Higashiōmi the temple forms a group of three temples known as Kotō-sanzan (湖東三山; lit. '"three mountains east of the lake"'). The complex includes a Main Hall that is designated as National Treasures, which contains many statues from the Heian period onwards which are Important Cultural Properties and a garden designated as National Place of Scenic Beauty.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
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