マナー│観音の里・長浜

Manners at Kannon No Sato Nagahama City in Shiga Prefecture has been called Kannon No Sato (Hometown of Kannon) due to the fact that over 100 statues of Kannon still remain in its villages.Amidst the rural landscape and Lake Biwa filled with its beautiful water, a culture of belief inherited from the past lives on.The deity Kannon has an indispensable presence to the people in the community who have been treasuring and protecting her for a long time.Follow these manners as you visit, and spend a moment to be touched by the smile of Kannon and the kindness of the locals.

step1 Check to see whether advance reservation is necessary.

Since the Kannon in the various villages are protected by the hands of the people living in those communities, visits basically involve advance reservation. Please call to make a reservation at least one week in advance. Reservations are not needed at Doganji Kannondo, Kokokaku/Yoshirokaku, Keisoku-ji Temple, and Shakudo-ji Temple. Please go to these temples directly while being mindful of visiting hours and possible closed days.

step2 On the day of your visit, be sure to arrive on time.

Most of the people in the community who support visitors to the temples do not actually live on the temple site. Thus, please be very careful about minding the reservation time. Furthermore, since many temples are located in villages, make sure to visit them quietly so as not to disturb the village residents. Confirm when making the reservation if car or bicycle parking is available.

step3 Be careful about photographing Kannon.

The temple is a holy place. Rather than just looking through your camera’s viewfinder or screen, why not try and calmly appreciate the time you have to face Kannon?