Shizugatake has views over Okubiwako and Chikubushima to the north and south, Mt. Ibukiyama to the east and Lake Yoko to the north, and is known as one of the Eight Views of Lake Biwa. On the way up the Shizugatake Lifts fringed iris bloom in May with beautiful pale purple flowers.

Kinomotojuku has flourished for being located in front of Jizoin Temple. It has always thronged with travelers and people coming to the temple to pray. In Kinomotojuku you can see the old merchant townscape and enjoy scenery as it was in the past. Take a stroll and see what you can discover!

It is said that once, long ago, many celestial maidens descended from the heavens in the form of swans and played in the water on the southern bank of Lake Yogo. A passing man fell in love with them and had his dog steal away one of their feathered garments. As a result, one of the young celestial maidens was unable to return to the heavens. She became a human woman and married the man, and they had four children. Eventually, however, she found her feathered garment, put it on, and flew back to the heavens. This is the willow from that legend on which the maidens are said to have hung their feathered garments.

The banks of Lake Yogo feature such facilities as a path for taking walks, and you can also rent bicycles. Furthermore, more than 10,000 spectacularly beautiful hydrangeas bloom here from late June to early July. Due to the calm, reflective surface of Lake Yogo it is sometimes known as the “mirror lake,” and it is also the mysterious and mythical spot that gave rise to the legend of the robe of the celestial maiden.