Buddhist temple
Kawaraya-ji
瓦屋寺（かわらやじ）
Higashiōmi, Shiga Prefecture
A temple of the Rinzai sect, Myōshin-ji school, on a mountain in Takebe Kawarayaji-chō, Higashiōmi, also called Kawaraya Zenji. Its principal image is a Senju Kannon said to have been made by Prince Shōtoku; as it is a hidden buddha, worshippers pray before its omaedachi (stand-in) image in the main hall.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal image: Senju Kannon (hidden buddha)
History and things to know
According to temple tradition, it began when Prince Shōtoku had the roof tiles for Shitennō-ji made from the earth of this mountain, enshrined a Senju Kannon on the summit and opened the “Kawara-dera.” It lost its halls to war fires in Eiroku 11 (1568), but at the beginning of the Edo period Zen Master 香山祖桂 revived it as a temple of the Rinzai sect, Myōshin-ji school, and seven of its buildings, including the main hall, are nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Properties.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Before you visit
The main approach is a steep mountain path of about 1,000 stone steps (about 30 minutes on foot). Visitors by car are advised to drive up the Enmei forest road from behind Yōkaichi Station to the parking lot.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 瓦屋寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.