●●Gichuuji 1-5-12 Baba, Otsu city, Shiga prefecture　

A temple located about 300m north of JR Zeze station and Keihan Line Zeze station. The name of Gichuuji comes from the fact that they buried Kiso Yoshinaka (1644-84) who entered the capital nominating a soldier of the Heike subjugation and accomplished heroic death in the ground of Awazu followed by Minamoto no Yoritomo's force in his return. It is said that Sasaki Rokkaku, who was a govener of Omi province, buit it in the end of Muromachi period.

Though it was a small mound which buried Kiso Yoshinaka until the middle of Edo priod, Mtsuo Basho (1644-94) who loved the beautiful scene around often visited here and when he died in Osaka later, according to his will during the lifetime they buit a tomb here.

There are a lot of poem monuments such as Bosho's farewell poem, "'Being tired of a journey-- dream runs amuck in a barren field" in the precincts, and a lot of people visit here as a great poem sign. In addition, Choujitsudou (morning sun temple), Okinadou (the old man temple), Mumeian (an anonymous hermitage) and library stand in the main hall of a Buddhist temple, and whole precincts are designated as a historic spot of the country.

 

Public Transportation : Get off at Zeze station on JR Biwako line and walk 10 minuts

Get off at Keihan Zezestation on Keihan Raiway Ishizakiyama line and walk 10 minutes

　　　Car : 5 minutes from Meishin Expressway Otsu IC