Chikubushima is the sacred island of Lake Biwa, a steep green islet off the lake’s northern shore that has drawn pilgrims for more than a thousand years as one of Japan’s foremost sanctuaries of Benzaiten, goddess of music, water and fortune. Its stone stairways climb from the ferry dock through Hogonji temple — a stop on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage — to Tsukubusuma Shrine, whose National Treasure worship hall and the ornate Karamon gate preserve carvings and structures transferred from Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s vanished Fushimi Castle, and visitors cast kawarake clay discs from the cliff-edge toward a torii below, a wish granted if the disc sails through.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Northern Lake Biwa, Shiga |
| Hours | Ferry-linked visits, ~75–85 min on the island |
| Admission | Entry ¥600 + ferry ~¥3,000–3,400 return |
| Time needed | Half day with crossings |
| Best time | Clear days spring through autumn |
What to See
- Tsukubusuma Shrine, National Treasure halls from Fushimi Castle.
- The ornate Karamon gate, a Momoyama masterpiece.
- Hogonji temple and its pilgrimage stairways.
- Kawarake disc-throwing through the cliff-edge torii.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Nagahama , the main ferry port.
- Pair with a Lake Biwa cruise itinerary.
- Read our Shiga overview .
Getting There
- By ferry: from Nagahama or Imazu ports, ~25–30 minutes each way.
- Timing: ferries are infrequent — check the return schedule before landing.
Tips
Island time is fixed by the ferry timetable at roughly 75–85 minutes, which is enough for the full circuit if you climb steadily — the 165 stone steps from the dock are the day’s main exercise. Buy kawarake discs at the shrine (write a wish on one, throw the other) and aim calmly: sailing one through the torii below is harder and more satisfying than it looks.
