On Lake Biwa, in Shiga Prefecture, ascetic Buddhist monks at the remote Isaki-ji Temple walk a narrow wooden beam and leap seven meters into the water in a rite of passage that displays tradition and devotion. The temple is a branch of Kyoto’s Enryaku-ji Temple, the headquarters of Tendai Buddhism.
The monks finish a 100-day practice of walking routes along Mount Hiei called kaihogyo (circling the mountain), and, on Aug. 1, come to Isakiji Temple to celebrate the Sennichikai festival and perform isaki no saotobi (jumping from a beam at Isaki). They walk along a narrow beam, clasping their hands in prayer and leaping into Lake Biwa.
It’s an exciting spectacle of Japanese religion and culture. The tradition dates back over 1,000 years when monks would throw bowls into the lake in front of passing fishermen and dive into the water to collect donations.
Isakiji Temple
Photo by: 近江八幡観光物産協会 An Isakiji monk in perfect form.
Also known as Ikiya-san, this serene temple shares its mountain name with Chomei-ji Temple, one of the esteemed 33 temples in the Saigoku region. Surrounded by forests and water, legend says during the Nara period, En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, discovered the site and chose it as his training ground.
Lake Biwa
Photo by: iStock/ NaturePhotograph Lake Biwa’s evening mist.
Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. It is an ancient lake, considered the 13th oldest in the world. Due to its proximity to Kyoto (only 14 minutes by car), Lake Biwa is culturally significant to Japanese culture, appearing in history, art and media. The city of Omihachiman stretches across the shore of Lake Biwa and the Suzuka Mountains.
Most tourism is seasonal, but there are many recreational water sports that visitors can experience at Lake Biwa, such as fishing, canoeing and swimming.
