Enryakuji Shakadou Fort

History

See Enryakuji for more information.

Visit Notes

Shakadō-toride is the site of the Shakadō, Enryakuji’s Buddha Hall, which is the oldest building at the temple, having been relocated from off-site after the rest of the temple was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga (barring Ruridō, a small, hidden hall, but Shakadō is still thought to be older). Other temple structures were rebuilt in the Edo period or later, and so though much of the core of the temple has been reconstructed, in the case of the Shakadō an older ‘borrowed’ structure was used instead. Around the hall there is the mountain and the hall seems to sit in a hollow in the earth. The western ridge, which is the boundary by the way between Kyōto and Sakamoto, appears like a ridge which was used as dorui (earthen ramparts). This area can be considered the heart of the temple’s western wing. Above the Shakadō is the Ninaidō, twin halls connected by an overhead walkway, associated in legend with Saitō Benkei, the Heian period warrior monk. The ‘Saitō’ in his name is not the regular family name Saitō (斎藤), but refers to this western wing of the temple (西塔). Apparently Benkei could lift the Ninaidō over his shoulders like a pair of weights. Another fanciful yarn involving the famous sōhei sees him pinching a large bell from rival temple Miidera, only to kick it back there again from Enryakuji when the bell wouldn't sound properly.

Gallery

Castle Profile
English Name	Enryakuji Shakadou Fort
Japanese Name	延暦寺釈迦堂砦
Founder	Saichō
Year Founded	778
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	UNESCO World Heritage Site, has Important Cultural Properties, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Shakadou (Buddha Hall) (Relocated), Dorui
Features	palace
Visitor Information
Access	Yase-Hieizanguchi Station on the Eizan Line; Eizan Cable Car; Eizan Ropeway; Hike for 30 minutes to Enryakuji or bus; or, Sakamoto-Hieizanguchi Station on the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line; Sakamoto Cable Car; or, Direct Bus via Kyoto Bus no. 51 or Keihan Bus no. 57 from Kyoto Station to Hieizan-cho.
Visitor Information	Yase Route is 1,420 yen in total, including Eizan Railway and shuttle bus one-way; Sakamoto Cable Car is 870 yen; direct bus is 770 yen.
Time Required	30 minutes
Location	Ôtsu, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 4' 27.16" N, 135° 50' 1.61" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2022
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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