A 1-Night, 2-Day Autumn Trip Through Shiga, Connecting Kotō and Kohoku
This 1-night, 2-day model itinerary for enjoying autumn in Shiga takes you around the three Kotō Sanzan temples on the east side of Lake Biwa on Day 1, followed by a visit to the Metasequoia Avenue in Makino, Takashima, on Day 2.
By comparing temple autumn foliage and history with the straight-lined scenery created by roadside trees, you can experience Shiga in autumn from different perspectives.
Because the 2 areas are far apart, the itinerary is designed primarily for travel by car, with driving time and sunset in mind.
Kotō Sanzan Is the Collective Name for 3 Tendai Buddhist Temples
Kotō Sanzan refers to 3 temples: Saimyō-ji, Kongōrin-ji, and Hyakusai-ji.
All three stand on the western foothills of the Suzuka Mountains and are known for their approaches, gardens, halls, pagodas, and autumn foliage arranged around the mountain terrain.
Even when visited on the same day, each has distinct highlights such as moss and gardens, stone steps, and stone walls. Seeing them in sequence makes their individual character easier to appreciate.
Focus on Temples on Day 1 and the Avenue on Day 2
On the first day, take time to explore 2 of the three Kotō Sanzan temples, adding the 3rd only if you have enough time and energy.
On Day 2, travel northwest along Lake Biwa and spend time around the Metasequoia Avenue and Makino.
Making all 3 temples mandatory can turn the visits into a rush, so set your priorities according to foliage conditions and crowd levels.
Check Official Information for Autumn Foliage Conditions
Foliage color varies with temperature, elevation, and sunlight, and the pace of change differs from temple to temple and tree to tree.
Metasequoia trees also change color at a different time and in different shades than maples.
When choosing your travel dates, do not rely only on past peak foliage periods. Check the photos and updates published by each temple, Takashima City, and local tourism associations.
| Schedule | Main Area | Key Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Inukami, Echi, and Higashiōmi | Kotō Sanzan autumn foliage and historic architecture |
| Overnight Stay | Hikone, Ōmihachiman, or another area | Rest with the next day's journey in mind |
| Day 2 | Makino, Takashima | Metasequoia Avenue and highland scenery |
Start Day 1 at Saimyō-ji for Moss and Autumn Foliage
Starting at Saimyō-ji, the northernmost of the Kotō Sanzan temples, makes it easier to continue to Kongōrin-ji next.
Within the temple grounds, you can see the National Treasure main hall and three-story pagoda, as well as the nationally designated scenic garden Hōrai Garden.
Instead of looking only at the autumn leaves, take time to observe the layered scenery of green moss, stone steps, and the colors of wooden architecture.
View the Main Hall and Three-Story Pagoda as Architecture
Saimyō-ji's main hall and three-story pagoda are National Treasures that preserve Kamakura-period architecture. The main hall is known for having been designated National Treasure No. 1.
Look beyond the overall forms of the hall and pagoda to the curves of the roofs, the timber framework, and the distance between the buildings and surrounding trees. These details reveal the spatial design of a mountain temple.
Photography may be restricted inside buildings or around cultural properties, so check the signs on site.
Look for Hōrai Garden and the Fudanzakura Cherry Tree
The nationally designated scenic Hōrai Garden harmoniously combines a pond, stone arrangements, and plantings.
Saimyō-ji is also known for its fudanzakura cherry tree, which can bloom in autumn. If the timing is right, you may enjoy its contrast with the fall foliage.
Flower and leaf conditions change with nature, so do not assume they will always be visible. Appreciate the garden as it appears on the day of your visit.
Set a Comfortable Walking Pace at the First Temple
The approach and temple grounds include slopes and stone steps.
Rushing uphill in the morning can leave you tired later, so watch your footing and maintain a steady pace.
Wet fallen leaves are particularly slippery. Stop walking before taking photos.
Visiting hours and admission fees may change, so check the official information before departure.
At Kongōrin-ji, Climb the Stone Steps Toward Deep-Red Scenery
After Saimyō-ji, head to Kongōrin-ji.
The approach from the temple gate to the main hall lets you experience the temple's history and mountain terrain firsthand.
In autumn, the temple is known for foliage called “blood-red maples” because of its deep crimson color, although the shades vary with the light and the stage of the season.
Rather than expecting the color to match the name exactly, observe the changing appearance of the entire approach.
National Treasure Main Hall and Important Cultural Property Three-Story Pagoda
Kongōrin-ji has a National Treasure main hall built in the Kamakura period and a three-story pagoda designated as an Important Cultural Property, allowing you to sense the passage of centuries behind the autumn foliage.
Another highlight is the gradual appearance of the buildings as you proceed along the approach, not just their frontal views.
To protect the cultural properties, stay behind fences and restricted-area signs, and do not touch the buildings or trees.
Walk Quietly Along the Approach Lined with a Thousand Jizō Statues
Small Jizō statues line the area around the approach, creating a scene of prayer distinct from the autumn foliage.
Remember that this is a place of worship before it is a tourist attraction. Avoid loud conversations and occupying one spot for a long time.
Be considerate of others when photographing people.
Do not touch offerings or objects on the temple grounds, and stay on the designated paths.
Do Not Push Yourself if the Stone Steps Feel Difficult
Unlike a walk through a flat park, the Kotō Sanzan temples have many slopes and steps.
If Kongōrin-ji uses up your energy, take a break and consider leaving the 3rd temple for another visit.
Match your pace to your companions. If you have concerns about your knees or feet, ask the temple in advance about parking and worship routes.
Read the Autumn Landscape Shaped by Stone Walls and Gardens at Hyakusai-ji
If you still have enough time and energy, continue to Hyakusai-ji on the southern side of the Kotō Sanzan area.
The approach with its remaining stone walls and the gardens evoke the temple complex that once spread across the mountainside.
Mountain shadows make it dark early in the evening, so allow enough time not only to arrive before entry closes but also to return to the parking lot while it is still light.
Imagine the Temple's History from the Stone-Walled Approach
At Hyakusai-ji, the stone walls and former monastic residence sites along the approach convey the former scale of the temple grounds.
Instead of looking only at the current buildings, use the placement of the stone walls and the elevation changes to imagine where people once lived, studied, and prayed.
Viewing the autumn leaves as a frame for this historic landscape can leave an impression that goes beyond photographs.
Notice the Water's Surface and Changes in Elevation in the Garden
In the garden, reflections of trees in the pond, stone arrangements, and the mountains behind them guide your gaze.
When the wind is light, the autumn foliage may reflect on the water, but the view changes with the weather.
If people are gathered at a particular photo spot, wait your turn and share the space quickly without blocking the path.
Look Back on the Differences Among the 3 Temples
Try putting your impressions into words: moss and National Treasure architecture at Saimyō-ji, the long approach and deep-red foliage at Kongōrin-ji, and stone walls and gardens at Hyakusai-ji.
However, there is no need to define their highlights rigidly.
By comparing the scenes and sounds that actually stayed with you, you can discover your own appreciation of the Kotō Sanzan temples.
Choose Where to Stay Based on the Next Day's Journey Toward Takashima
After Day 1, choose accommodation in Hikone, Ōmihachiman, the west side of Lake Biwa, or another suitable area.
The best location depends on whether you prioritize dining and lodging options or a shorter drive the next morning.
Roads and parking lots may be crowded during the autumn foliage season, so it is safer to reach your accommodation and rest before dark rather than trying to cover more distance at night.
Decide in Advance How to Cross Lake Biwa
Possible routes from Kotō to Takashima include going around the north side of Lake Biwa or using a bridge.
Efficiency varies with your departure point and accommodation location, so check road information on the day.
Add time for breaks, traffic, and parking waits rather than relying only on your navigation system's estimated arrival time.
Have Dinner and Refuel Early
Because you will be traveling from the morning the next day, refueling and preparing drinks the night before can help you make a calm start.
Store and facility hours may change, so do not assume they will remain open late.
If you feel tired, do not add more activities. Prioritize sleep so you are ready to drive.
Day 2: Metasequoia Avenue and the Scenery of Makino
The Metasequoia Avenue in Makino, Takashima, follows a prefectural road running through the Makino Pickland agricultural park.
About 500 trees line approximately 2.4 km, creating scenery that harmonizes with the distant mountains.
Rather than seeing it only from the car, use the designated parking area and walk around to appreciate the height and depth of the avenue.
Use Makino Pickland as Your Base
If traveling by car, use the Makino Pickland parking lot and avoid stopping or parking on the road.
For public transportation, bus access from JR Makino Station is provided, but service details may change, so check the timetable.
Combine your visit with shopping or a break, and spend time in a way that reduces the burden on the local community.
Remember That the Tree-Lined Road Is Used by Local Residents
The Metasequoia Avenue is not a promenade reserved for photography; it is a working road used by local residents.
Running into the roadway, taking photos for a long time at a crosswalk, or standing in the center of the road is dangerous.
Both pedestrians and drivers should watch their surroundings, slow down, and make avoiding obstruction their top priority.
Enjoy Changes in Color with the Light and Viewing Direction
Metasequoia is a deciduous tall tree, changing from green to yellow-brown and reddish-brown in autumn.
The colors vary with the direction of the light and the amount of cloud cover, so they may not match vivid photographs.
Instead of looking only straight down the avenue, view it from the side to calmly observe the spacing between the trunks and how the trees overlap with the mountains.
Build a Plan That Can Adapt to Crowds and Weather
Visitor numbers may rise at the Kotō Sanzan temples and the Metasequoia Avenue during the autumn foliage season.
Starting early can help, but there is no need to force yourself to drive on mountain roads in the dark.
Decide in advance what to cut first—such as limiting the temple visits to 2 or shortening your stay at the avenue—so you can adjust safely.
Prepare Comfortable Shoes and Warm Layers
You will need slip-resistant shoes for temple stone steps and paths covered with fallen leaves.
Wind around the lakeshore and Takashima can lower the perceived temperature, so bring an easy-to-remove jacket, rain gear, and drinks.
Use a bag that leaves both hands free, and stop walking when checking your photos.
Separate the Information to Check on the Day
For the temples, check visiting hours, reception, and parking guidance. For the Takashima area, check foliage conditions, roads, buses, and parking information.
Some years may have autumn foliage events or temporary transportation arrangements, but do not reuse old information unchanged. Refer to official announcements for your travel date.
Canceling is also an option if you are unwell or the weather is poor.
| Source to Check | Main Information | Example Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Each temple's official source | Visiting, temple grounds, and transportation | Reduce the number of temples visited |
| Official Kotō Sanzan source | Locations of the 3 temples and surrounding information | Change the order of visits |
| Takashima City and tourism association | Current avenue conditions and etiquette | Adjust the length of your stay |
| Road and weather information | Traffic, restrictions, and rain | Start the return journey earlier |
Summary: Enjoy Autumn Foliage at Historic Temples and the Tree-Lined Road Without Overloading Your Schedule
For a 1-night, 2-day autumn trip through Shiga, an easy-to-plan route is to choose temples suited to your energy level from Saimyō-ji, Kongōrin-ji, and Hyakusai-ji on Day 1, then head to the Metasequoia Avenue in Takashima on Day 2.
At Kotō Sanzan, respect the places of worship and cultural properties. At the avenue, take care not to block the road used by local residents.
Check official sources shortly before your trip for foliage progress, temple visiting information, and road conditions. Keep the itinerary flexible and enjoy the diverse autumn scenery created by moss, stone steps, gardens, and roadside trees.
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