Ishiyamadera is the 13th location on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage of 33 Buddhist Temples. In its wide grounds there looms the wollastonite Natural Monument, from which the name “Ishiyama” (“stone mountain”) is taken. The temple is home to a large number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, including a two storied pagoda and a variety of religious texts, Buddhist statues and scrolls.
It is said that the “The Tale of Genji,” one of Japan’s most famous texts, was conceived by its author Murasaki Shikibu when looking at harvest moon reflected in Lake Biwa during a stay at Ishiyamadera Temple. The landscape that has come to represent the mysterious power of Lake Biwa and water itself has now become a vital element of the culture of water and lifestyle.