Onjō-ji in Ōtsu City, Shiga Prefecture, is the head temple of the Tendai Jimon school and is commonly known as Mii-dera.
Temple buildings spread across the slopes of Mount Nagara southwest of Lake Biwa, including the National Treasure Kondō Main Hall, the bell tower famous for the “Evening Bell at Mii-dera” from the Eight Views of Ōmi, and Tō-in, associated with Chishō Daishi Enchin.
Because the temple has been rebuilt after repeatedly enduring religious persecution over its long history, it is also known as the “Phoenix Temple.”
Rather than focusing on a single building, visitors can understand the entire grounds by following the center of worship, cultural properties, pilgrimage sites, and viewpoints overlooking Lake Biwa in sequence.
What Is Onjō-ji (Mii-dera)? Head Temple of the Tendai Jimon School
The temple’s official name is Nagarasan Onjō-ji, while Mii-dera is its widely used common name.
Revived by Chishō Daishi Enchin during the Heian period, it has preserved its faith and culture as the central temple of the Tendai Jimon school.
The Official Name Onjō-ji and the Common Name Mii-dera
The names are often written together as “Mii-dera (Onjō-ji),” and local transportation signs and tourist information also use the name Mii-dera.
Knowing that Onjō-ji and Mii-dera refer to the same temple makes station names and maps easier to understand when finding your way there.
The temple is located in Onjōji-chō, Ōtsu City, where the land rises from the urban area on the Lake Biwa side toward Mount Nagara.
The Temple Revived by Chishō Daishi Enchin
Mii-dera was revived as a Tendai branch temple by Chishō Daishi Enchin, who became the 5th head of the Tendai school.
Tō-in, where Enchin stored scriptures and ritual implements brought back from Tang China and established a training hall for the transmission of esoteric teachings, is essential for understanding the faith of Mii-dera.
When walking through the grounds, continue beyond the Kondō to Tō-in, which conveys Enchin’s achievements, for a fuller picture of the temple’s role.
The Phoenix Temple That Survived Religious Persecution
Although Mii-dera was burned during conflicts such as the Genpei War and the upheavals of the Northern and Southern Courts period, it was rebuilt with the support of worshippers.
The name “Phoenix Temple” reflects not only the beauty of its buildings but also its history of restoring the temple complex whenever it was lost.
Today’s buildings combine reconstructions and relocations from different periods, allowing visitors to see the temple’s changing history in one place.
Top Things to See at Onjō-ji (Mii-dera): National Treasure Kondō and Temple Buildings
The National Treasure Kondō stands at the center of the grounds, surrounded by the bell tower, Reishō-dō, the Issaikyō-zō sutra repository, Tō-in, and other buildings.
Rather than photographing each building alone, consider its religious role and the background of its reconstruction to deepen your understanding.
The National Treasure Kondō Is the Center of the Temple
The present Kondō is a Momoyama-period building reconstructed by Kita no Mandokoro, the principal wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Divided into the outer, middle, and rear worship areas, it preserves the traditional form of a Tendai main hall with an earthen-floored inner sanctuary.
Because the principal image is a hidden Buddhist statue, it is important to appreciate not only what is visible but also the building’s layout and the worship space itself as cultural properties.
The Bell Tower and the Evening Bell at Mii-dera
The bell tower southeast of the Kondō is an Important Cultural Property and houses the temple bell known for the “Evening Bell at Mii-dera,” one of the Eight Views of Ōmi.
The sound of the bell has been passed down as a symbol of Mii-dera and is also why the temple is described as “Mii-dera of Sound.”
Visitors may also be able to ring the bell, so follow the on-site instructions if you wish to do so.
Continue to Tō-in and the Three-Story Pagoda
Tō-in is an important precinct within Mii-dera that includes the Daishi-dō, Kanjō-dō, and three-story pagoda.
The Daishi-dō enshrines statues of Chishō Daishi and others and conveys the history of the training hall that housed scriptures and ritual implements brought from Tang China.
Because it stands one level above the area around the Kondō, check the stone steps and elevation changes along the approach and wear comfortable walking shoes.
The Evening Bell at Mii-dera: Remembering the Temple Through Sound
The bell at Mii-dera adds the dimension of sound to a temple visit otherwise focused on architecture.
Connecting the culture of the Eight Views of Ōmi with annual observances reveals that the bell tower is more than an auxiliary building.
A Celebrated Scene Among the Eight Views of Ōmi
The “Evening Bell at Mii-dera” is one of the Eight Views of Ōmi, which represent scenery around Lake Biwa.
The name treats the sound of a bell at dusk as part of the scenery, bringing together the visible landscape and the resonance heard by the ear.
On the grounds, consider not only the bell tower’s appearance but also its relationship to the Kondō and the surrounding quiet to better imagine the meaning of this scenic tradition.
New Year’s Eve Bell-Ringing and Prayer
In some years, Mii-dera holds a New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony.
The ringing of the New Year’s Eve bell is a religious observance held at the turning of the year.
If you plan to participate, check that year’s program and reception procedures in advance.
Kannon-dō and Pilgrimage Worship: Walk to the Southern Grounds
Mii-dera is also a temple on the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, and Kannon-dō is an important destination for pilgrims.
The Kondō and Kannon-dō serve different roles, so visiting both when time allows reveals the breadth of worship at the temple.
Kannon-dō, the 14th Temple of the Saigoku Pilgrimage
Kannon-dō is the 14th temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
Its principal image, a seated Nyoirin Kannon statue, is kept hidden, so an ordinary visit centers on experiencing the hall’s atmosphere and the prayers of a pilgrimage temple.
If you would like a goshuin temple seal or sutra inscription, check the reception location and hours on site and avoid arriving just before the gates close.
Be Mindful of Elevation Changes Across the Grounds
Mii-dera spreads across a mountainside, and stone steps and slopes connect the Kondō, Tō-in, and Kannon-dō.
Instead of rushing to see everything, choose the buildings you most want to visit and take breaks so you can appreciate the cultural properties at a relaxed pace.
Stone steps and paved surfaces may become slippery in rain, so watch your footing and do not enter restricted areas or take unauthorized shortcuts.
Recommended Mii-dera Route: Learn Each Building’s Role in Sequence
On a first visit, proceeding from the temple center to the area associated with Chishō Daishi and then to the pilgrimage temple makes the layout easier to understand.
The following table organizes what to see on the grounds by role.
| Area | Main Buildings | What to Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Central Precinct | Kondō and Bell Tower | Principal image and famous bell |
| Tō-in | Daishi-dō and Three-Story Pagoda | Enchin’s faith |
| Pilgrimage Area | Kannon-dō | Pilgrimage culture |
Begin at the Kondō to Understand the Temple’s Center
After entering the grounds, first visit the Kondō and worship with an awareness that Mii-dera is the head temple of the Tendai Jimon school.
Proceeding to the bell tower after viewing the Kondō architecture lets you see how the hall and bell are positioned close together.
The designated cultural property repository opens at 9:30 a.m., and reception ends at 4:00 p.m., the same time as general admission to the grounds.
Allow Plenty of Time from Tō-in to Kannon-dō
After the Kondō area, continue to Tō-in to see the group of buildings that conveys the revival of Mii-dera by Chishō Daishi Enchin.
If you also plan to visit Kannon-dō, consider the distance and elevation changes and begin moving well before reception closes.
Check on-site notices if special viewings or Buddhist services suspend entry to the interior of some halls.
Mii-dera Opening Hours, Admission Fees, and Access
Opening hours and admission fees are as follows.
Check the opening hours and admission fee before your visit.
Opening Hours and Admission Fees
Regular visiting hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with reception closing at 4:00 p.m.
Admission is 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for junior and senior high school students, and 300 yen for elementary school students, and the temple is open year-round.
Group discounts are available for 30 or more people, and visitors who present a disability certificate are exempt from their own admission fee.
Walk from Mii-dera Station
By public transportation, the simplest route is a 7-minute walk from Mii-dera Station on the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line.
You can also walk from Ōtsu-shiyakusho-mae Station, or take a Keihan Bus from Ōtsu Station or Ōtsukyō Station and get off at the “Mii-dera” bus stop.
Train and bus services may change independently of temple information, so check the transportation operator’s timetable on the day of your visit.
Use the Paid Parking Lot When Driving
Visitors arriving by car may use the temple parking lot, where the parking fee for a standard passenger car is listed as 600 yen.
Nearby roads and parking lots may become crowded during events and tourist seasons, so allow plenty of time to arrive.
Avoid driving into cultural property areas or parking outside designated spaces, and follow staff directions and on-site signs.
Summary: Explore Faith and Cultural Properties at Onjō-ji (Mii-dera)
Onjō-ji (Mii-dera) is the head temple of the Tendai Jimon school revived by Chishō Daishi Enchin, and its buildings convey a history of persecution and restoration.
Viewing the National Treasure Kondō, the bell tower housing the Evening Bell at Mii-dera, Tō-in, and Kannon-dō according to their roles makes it easier to understand the temple’s appeal, where architecture, sound, and pilgrimage overlap.
Check the opening hours, fees, special viewing information, and transportation details, and plan a visit that lets you comfortably walk the stone steps and slopes.
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