My Trip to Nagahama, Shiga Part 2: An island where gods reside
Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, has several islands that can be reached by cruise ship. One of those islands is Chikubu Island, which can be accessed via a 30-minute, round-trip cruise from Nagahama Port for ¥3,200.
Chikubu Island has long been known as an island where gods reside and has gathered people’s faith as a power spot. When I was young, I never had the opportunity to visit places like this, so I was really excited to go.
On a sunny day, I headed to Nagahama Port through Hokoen Park, where I often saw stray cats taking walks. Even though there weren’t many people around, it seemed like a comfortable place for wild animals.
I found a restaurant called “Bubuan” in the area just past Hokoen Park and decided to have lunch there. The restaurant is quite old, but the staff were very polite and the dishes I ordered, “grilled mackerel soba” and “noppei,” both typical foods from Shiga Prefecture, were delicious. If you ever travel to Shiga, be sure to try them out.
After a satisfying lunch, we made our way to Nagahama Port to catch a cruise to Chikubu Island. The boat ride offered stunning views of the lake, and after 30 minutes, we arrived at the island. We had about 90 minutes to explore the area before the boat departed.
Chikubu Island is home to Hougonji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine, one set of the three famous Benzaiten temples in Japan. However, if you’re not interested in power spots or collecting temple/shrine stamps, you might not find the island particularly enjoyable. The climb up to the temple and shrine can be challenging for those without much stamina due to the steep stairs. Nonetheless, considering how rare it is to visit an island in the middle of a lake with a temple and shrine, I highly recommend stopping by if you have the chance to visit Lake Biwa.
At Tsukubusuma Shrine’s Ryujin-doh, I participated in “kawara-nage”, a tradition where you write your wishes on a piece of pottery and throw it towards the Torii gate that protrudes from the lake. Legend has it that if the pottery passes through the gate, your wishes will come true. I threw two pieces of pottery, one with my name on it and one with my wish, but sadly, only one made it through. Despite my failed attempt, it was still a fun and unique experience.
If you have time to spare, the port on Chikubu Island offers souvenir shops and tea houses to enjoy. Make sure to bring plenty of coins so that you won’t need change.
The boat ride back to Nagahama Port was just as enjoyable, with the island slowly shrinking into the distance as we sailed away.
Overall, Chikubu Island was a refreshing and memorable addition to our Shiga trip.
