Nishioumi-ji Road (西近江路)

Nishioumi-ji Road is a highway that stretches from Oumi Province (Shiga Prefecture) to Echizen Province, and was the road connecting Hokuriku area in the ancient and middle ages. It was also called Hokkoku Kai-do Road, Hokkokuwaki Oukan, Hokkoku Oukan or Hokkoku Waki-do Road. In 1887, it became a prefectural road and the name of Nishioumi-ji Road was established. Since the ancient times, the route had heavy traffic, connecting the ancient capital and Hokuriku area, and large armies moved along the road during the Jinshin Uprising, FUJIWARA no Nakamaro's Uprising, Genpei War and the attack on Asakura by Nobunaga ODA. This was also a route for international exchanges, used, for example, by Kenbokkaishi (emissaries sent to Bo-Hai) during the Heian era.

Route

(Ancient times)
Going over the Ozeki Pass - Anata Station (Otsu, Anata City) - Wani Station (Wani Nakahama, Otsu City) - Mio Station (Mio, Azumikawa-machi, Takashima City) - Tomoyui-no-eki Station (Koaraji, Kaizu, Ura and Sekitei of Makino-cho, Takashima City) - Arachi no seki (Hikita, Tsuruga City)
(Modern times)
Otsu-juku/Fudanotsuji (Fudanotsuji, Otsu City) - Koromogawa-juku (Koromogawa, Otsu City) - Wani-juku (Waninaka, Otsu City) - Kido-juku (Kido, Otsu City) - Kita Komatsu-juku (Kita Komatsu, Otsu City) - Kawarashi-juku (Shinjo, Shin Asahi-cho, Takashima City) - Imazu-juku (Imazu, Imazu-cho, Takashima City) - Kaizu-juku (Kaizu, Makino-cho, Takashima City) - Tsuruga-juku (Moto-machi, Tsuruga City)

Cultural assets in the vicinity

Biwa-ko Lake Canal (Heritage of Industrial Modernization)
Miinobansho' at Onjo-ji Temple
National treasures at Onjo-ji Temple: Kondo, Shinrazenshindo, Kojo-in Temple Kyakuden (visitors' quarters), Kangakuin Kyakuden, Kenponchoshoku Fudoo Statue (Ou Fudo), Shinra Myojin Zazo, Enchin Zazo (Okotsudaishi), Chisho Daishi Zazo (Chuson Daiji), Gobushinkan, Chisho Daishi related materials
Important cultural assets at Onjo-ji Temple: Shoro dome, Daishido of To-in Temple, Kanjodo of To-in Temple, Sanju-no-to Tower, Bishamondo, other buddha statues, drawings, crafts, documents and many others.
(Scenic and historic spot) Gardens of Kojo-in Temple
Omi Otsunomiya Nishigori Iseki Ruins (National historic site)
Karasakinouya' view at Karasaki-jinja Shrine (historic site designated by the prefecture)
Sakamoto-jo Castle Ruins
Shojuraigo-ji Temple
(National treasure) Kenponchoshoku Rokudoe (15 scrolls)
(Important cultural assets) Kyakuden, five Buddhist statues, five paintings, etc.

(Scenic spots designated by the prefecture) Gardens
Kinugawa Haiji-ato Ruins (National historic spot)
Katatano Rakugan' in Ukimi-do Hall of Mangetsu-ji Temple
Shokannon Zazo (Important Cultural Asset)
Ono-jinja Shrine: The main buildings of Onono Michikaze-jinja Shrine and Onono Takamura-jinja Shrine (Important Cultural Assets)
The main building of Teno-jinja Shrine (Important Cultural Asset)
Hiranobosetsu' view at Hira-sakei mountain range
The main building of Shirahige-jinja Shrine (Important Cultural Asset)
Ukawa Shijuhattai Sekibutsugun (48 stone statues of Buddha)
Oomizo Jinya-ato Ruins
Kamo Inariyama-kofun tumulus (Historic site designated by the prefecture)
Vories buildings in Imazu (the old Imazu Branch of Hyakusanjusan Bank, buildings of Imazu Church, old Imazu Post Office building)
Water front of Kaizu, Nishihama and Chinai of Takashima City (Important Cultural View)

[Original Japanese]