Chikubu Island

Chikubushima is a mysterious island of faith located off the northern shore of Lake Biwa. Since ancient times, Asaihime-no-mikoto has been enshrined here and worshipped as a water goddess and as a deity that protects the safe passage of ships.

Even today, Chikubujima is home to Hogonji Temple, which enshrines “Dai-benzaiten,” one of the three great benzaiten in Japan, and Tsukubusuma Shrine (Chikubujima Shrine), and is one of the most popular power spots in the Kansai region on Lake Biwa, attracting many visitors.

Chikubushima is the second largest island in Lake Biwa, with a circumference of approximately 2 km. Although it is a small island, the island itself is made of one huge piece of granite.

The island’s name is derived from “saiku (いつく) island,” and “itsukushima” changed to “tsukubusuma,” which became “chikubusushima.

There is also a theory that the kanji character for “Chikubushima” was named after the island’s shape, which resembles a sho, a musical instrument used in gagaku (court music) and other Japanese court music.

Chikubushima is one of the eight scenic spots on Lake Biwa and appears in the Heike Monogatari (Tales of the Heike) and Yagyoku (Songs of the Heike) as a beautiful island, and even after more than 1,000 years, its appearance continues to fascinate people.

Hogonji Temple is home to the Karamon Gate, a national treasure, and the Kannondo Hall, an important cultural property. In addition, there is a restored “three-story pagoda,” the “main hall” of the Tsukubusuma Shrine, a national treasure, and the “Dragon God Worship Center,” which is popular for making wishes come true.

The interior of the main hall of the Tsukubusuma Shrine is decorated with beautiful Momoyama Period ornaments.

At the “Ryujin Worship Center,” visitors are told that their wishes will come true if they throw a straw rope through the torii gate facing Lake Biwa and pass through the gate.

The 30-meter-long “Funarorou (boat corridor)” connecting the Kannon-do Hall and the main shrine of Tsukubusuma-jinja Shrine is designated as a national important cultural property, as it is said to have been built using lumber from the boat tower of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s “Nihonmaru” (a Japanese warship).

The Karamon Gate of Hogonji Temple is the only remaining structure of the Gokurakubashi Bridge of Osaka Castle.

To visit the main hall of Hogonji Temple, visitors must climb a steep 165-step stone staircase, which is called the “Prayer Staircase,” and is believed to be where pilgrims walked while praying. From the top, a magnificent view of Lake Biwa unfolds.

Chikubujima is a place with a rich history and a mysterious atmosphere. Please visit and experience its charm. Flush toilets are available on the island. Since it is weather dependent, it is recommended to check the cruise and weather forecast in advance.

Chikubu Island

Chikubujima is a sacred island in Lake Biwa, where God lives. It is approximately 2 km in circumference and 0.14 square km in area. Chikubujima is designated as a national scenic and historic site and was registered as a Japanese Heritage Site in 2016.

Upon landing on Chikubu Island, visitors can climb 165 stone steps to Hogonji Temple. Hogonji Temple is dedicated to Benzaiten (Sarasvati) and is known as one of the “Three Benzaiten Temples” along with Enoshima and Itsukushima.

Hogonji’s Kannon-do Hall is the 30th of the 33 sacred sites of the Kannon in the western part of Japan, and is visited by many people.

There are stores and coffee shops along the approach to the temple, but there are no residences. The temple has been worshipped by people since ancient times and is still known as an island of mystery and romance.

Crossing the boat corridor, visitors will find the Tsukubusuma Shrine. In the main hall of the Tsukubusuma Shrine (a national treasure), Momoyama art, the remains of Fushimi Castle, can be seen. In particular, the sliding door paintings and ceiling paintings are said to be the work of Kano Mitsunobu.

In the hall of worship, which also appears in the Tale of the Heike, the Kawarake-throwing ceremony is held. It is said that if you write your wish on a small unglazed plate and throw it toward the torii gate standing on the rocky shore, your wish will be fulfilled when you pass through the gate.

Chikubu Island Highlights

Gyoki, a high priest of the Nara period (710-794), enshrined statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, which is said to be the beginning of the Chikubu Island faith. Hogonji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine exist separately, and in the past, God and Buddha used to reside in the same place.

The main shrine of Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Karamon gate of Hogonji Temple are designated national treasures. Unique wish-granting activities are also popular, such as the Kawarake-throwing at the Ryujin worship place of the Tsukubusuma Shrine and the Benten-sama’s Happy Wishing Dharma in the main hall of the Hogonji Temple.

Access to Chikubushima

Chikubujima is accessible by regular flights from Nagahama Port, Imazu Port, and Hikone Port. Free parking is available at each port. A fee is required to enter Chikubu Island. It takes about one hour to visit the highlights of Chikubu Island.

From Nagahama Port or Imazu Port, it takes about 30 minutes to get to Chikubujima, and you can board a regular cruise of Biwako Kisen, “Chikubujima Cruise. The trip from Hikone Port to Chikubujima takes 40 minutes and is operated by Omi Marine.

Chikubujima is an uninhabited island located in the northern part of Lake Biwa. The island is approximately 2 km in circumference and 0.14 km² in area. Chikubujima is designated as a special protected area in Lake Biwa National Park and is also a national scenic and historic site.

It was also recognized as a Japan Heritage Site in 2015 as part of the “Lake Biwa and Its Waterside Landscape - Water Heritage of Prayer and Life.

Chikubushima Island is located approximately 2 km south of Katsurago Ozaki and is composed of granite monoliths. The entire island is surrounded by sheer rock walls and thick coniferous forests. Its beautiful scenery has long been known, and it has been selected as one of the eight scenic spots of Lake Biwa.

The bottom of the lake is also deep, especially near the western shore, which is the deepest part of Lake Biwa. Chikubushima Port is located on the south side of the island, where temples and shrines such as Hogonji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine and souvenir stores are clustered.

Several strange rock formations exist around Chikubujima, and a series of cliffs and sheer rocks can be seen around Chikubujima. On the east side, there is Niozaki, where the main shrine of Tsukubusuma Shrine, the shrine worship hall, and the memorial tower for Emperor Shomu are built.

Further east, there is a cliff called Byeongpu-iwa, and a small island is adjacent to it to the northeast. On the north side of the cliff, there is a cave called “Yeonggulu,” which is used as a place for ascetic practices. In addition, Benten Beach, the only sandy beach, stretches to the northwest of Chikubu Island.

Chikubu Island combines natural beauty and historical value; in 2015, the tabunoki forest was designated a natural treasure by Shiga Prefecture. We invite you to visit Chikubu Island and enjoy its charms.

About the geography and vegetation of Chikubu Island

Chikubu Island is an island made of granite that was formed about 57 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period. At that time, the Japanese Archipelago had not formed and was the eastern margin of the Eurasian continent. Later, during the formation of the Japanese Islands, granite appeared on the ground.

The granite of Chikubu Island has pronounced joints and many fractures. As a result, sheer cliffs surround the island. The action of earthquakes and lake waves has caused the bedrock to collapse, forming caves of various sizes.

A large colony of cormorants exists in the northern part of the island, numbering some 20,000 birds. The effect of the cormorant droppings has caused the trees to die and the landscape to be damaged.

In the past, the entire island was covered with evergreen trees, and according to a vegetation survey conducted in 1972, the tall tree layer at that time consisted of Japanese cypress, kojii, yabunikkei, and motinoki.

In the sub-tree layer, evergreen trees such as Japanese cinnamon, Japanese linden, Japanese white ash, and camellia japonica, which had adapted to a dim environment where sunlight was difficult to reach, grew predominantly.

The shrub layer was dominated by yabunikkei, aoki, yabutsu camellia, and chimakizaza, while benishi fern was abundant on the forest floor, followed by yabunikkei, yabu myoga, itabikazura, fuyugi, aoki, janohige, and inode.

Chikubu Island was also famous as a large breeding ground for egrets. In particular, the colony of the egret and goblin species of egrets, including the great egret, chusagi, little egret, and amasagi, was the only one in the Kohoku region, and was considered important as Nagahama City’s bird of the year. Due to the increase in the number of cormorants, they are not seen now.

Other birds that inhabit the area include mountain goats, white-eyes, and pygmy woodpeckers in the shoyo (evergreen forest) that remains within the precincts of the Tsukubusuma Shrine and Hogonji Temple. In the past, falcons were confirmed to breed here, but no breeding has been confirmed recently.

Damage Caused by Breeding Cormorants

Chikubu Island has limited human traffic, which is concentrated around the port, souvenir stores, and temples and shrines. On the other hand, the northern part of the island is a large colony of cormorants.

There are approximately 20,000 cormorants, and most of the trees have died due to the damage caused by the cormorants’ droppings. This situation is spreading to the south as well. The landscape of Chikubu Island is not the same as it once was with the sinking of the green trees.

The number of breeding cormorants increased rapidly and remained at about 30,000 to 40,000 until 2007. To cope with this serious situation, measures were taken on Chikubu Island, such as roping trees and using bombers and eye balloons to intimidate them. In addition, since 2004, cormorants have been exterminated, with more than 10,000 being removed annually.

Protecting the environment of Chikubu Island and managing the river otter is an important issue. Although Shiga Prefecture is working to reduce the number of cormorants, the number of birds inhabiting areas other than Chikubu Island is increasing, and habitat dispersal is progressing.

About the Lake Bottom Site

Between Chikubushima and Katsuragome Ozaki, there is a lakebed site (Katsuragome Ozaki Lakebed Site). This site extends to a depth of about 70 meters below the bottom of Lake Biwa, and about 140 pieces of earthenware and ceramics were salvaged from the lake after being caught in fishermen’s nets. These artifacts have retained most of their original forms and are thought to date from various periods ranging from the early Jomon Period to the Yayoi Period and the Middle Ages.

There are several theories about how the remains were formed. For example, it is thought that the village may have been submerged by a tsunami, sunk by a ship, sunk for ritual purposes, or moved by a nearby landslide.

Because the depth and currents of the lake bottom ruins constrain human submersible surveys, robotic exploration is planned. These ruins are unique in the world, and the cause of deposition remains a great mystery.

About the History of Chikubu Island

Chikubu Island has long been the object of worship, and it is said that the worship of Chikubu Island began in the Nara period (710-794) when Gyoki Shonin enshrined statues of the Four Heavenly Kings on the island.

In the southern part of the island are Chikubushima Shrine (formerly Benzaiten Shrine) and Hogonji Temple. Chikubushima Shrine was renamed from Benzaiten Shrine when the Shinto and Buddhist Separation Order was enacted. Chikubujima used to be a sacred place where Shintoism and Buddhism were united, and it is said that there was some confusion at the time of the separation. The Bensaiten of Chikubushima is considered one of the three major Benten shrines in Japan, along with Ejima Shrine on Enoshima and Itsukushima Shrine on Itsukushima.

During the Warring States Period, Hisamasa Asai, lord of Kotani Castle in Omi Province, was temporarily imprisoned on Chikubujima due to a dispute over his family’s viceroyalty, and was forced to live in seclusion. There is also a record that Nobunaga Oda made a pilgrimage to the temple from his base along the shores of Lake Biwa, and Hogonji Temple is closely associated with Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

The folklore concerning Chikubujima includes the legends of Tatamihiko-no-mikoto (the god of Mt. Ibuki) and Asaihime-no-mikoto. It is said that Chikubujima was created as a result of a height competition between Tatamihiko-no-mikoto and Asai-hime-no-Mikoto, in which Tatamihiko-no-mikoto lost and cut off the head of Asai-hime-no-Mikoto.

Chikubujima also appears in “Tamura Zoshi” and “Suzuka Zoshi,” both of which are based on the tale of Sakagami Tamuramaro’s expedition to the east, and depicts the island in connection with Benzaiten and Suzuka Gozen.

In the Middle Ages, Chikubujima was considered a sacred place associated with earthquakes in western Japan. According to the “Keiran Jikayoshu,” Chikubu Island is said to be the pillar of the Vajra Jewel born from a place called Kinrinrin, the vajra seat on which the Buddha sat when he attained full enlightenment.

The island also has a dragon pit called Ben-no-Iwaya, from which a fish dragon named Takefu Myojin is said to emerge and travel around the island to calm the island.

Chikubu Island was also called “Shisowa no Shima” (Island of Crystal Rings) in the Middle Ages, and appears in literary works such as “The Tale of the Heike” and “Genpei Seikatsuki” (The Tale of the Heike). In “Keiran Jikayoshu,” it is said that when approaching Chikubu Island by boat, the island echoes with a “ryan-ryan” sound.

Culture

Chikubujima has long been an object of worship and is featured in Noh plays, Heikyoku, and early modern Japanese music.

The following are some of the performing arts and music associated with Chikubujima:

Noh: “Chikubujima” (Aragami Monogatari, a side Noh play)
Heike Biwa (Heikyoku): “Chikubujima-mode” (Pilgrimage to Chikubujima)
Jikyoku and koto music: “Chikubujima” (composed by Kikuoka Kenkyoku, Yaezaki Kenkyoku with koto accompaniment), “Chikubujima” (Yamada-style koto music, composed by Chiyoda Kenkyoku)
Ischu-bushi: “Chikubujima” (Composed by Uji Wabun II)
Nagauta: “Chikubujima” (composed by Rokuzaemon Kineya XI)
Jobanjinbushi: “Chikubujima” (composed by Kishizawa Koshikibu V)

In 2016, the Agency for Cultural Affairs recognized Lake Biwa and its waterside landscape - a water heritage of prayer and daily life - as a Japan Heritage site, of which Chikubujima is a part.

The following cultural assets also exist on Chikubu Island:

National Treasure: Main Hall of Tsukubusuma Shrine, Karamon Gate of Hogonji Temple, and Preface to the Lotus Sutra
Important Cultural Properties: Kannon-do Hall, Passage, Five-storied Pagoda of Hogonji Temple, Juroku-arhatzu (Sixteen Arhats), Shaka-samon-zo, Nyoirin-kannon, Yidaraigo-zo, Big Dipper-zo, Fugen-juroku-jo, Yidaraigo-zo, Tachi sword in the shape of a hair-drawer, copper water jar, Kukai’s Catalogue, Lotus Sutra Segregated Merits on paper, Chikubu Island documents, bronze seal
Designated by the prefecture: Benzaiten (Sarasvati), wooden statue of Fudo Myoo, Mahāpannya Harakotakitāra Sutra
City Designation: Seated wooden statue of Benzaiten

These cultural assets enrich the culture of Chikubu Island.