Sometimes I can't believe that this amazing temple in Otsu is not just as famous as better known temples in Kyoto! A short train journey from Kyoto will take you to Ishiyama-dera, a large temple that is both beautiful and interesting. In Japanese "ishi" is "stone", and "yama" is "mountain". The small mountain the temple complex occupies has many attractions, but one of them is an unusual grey wave-like rock formation called a wollastonite. You can see many coins lying in the rock's cracks and crevices, thrown by temple visitors. There are several attractive buildings near the rock formation, including a twelfth century pagoda.
- 1 min read
Ishiyama Temple in Otsu
Shiga Prefecture's stony mountain temple
![Cathy Cawood Cathy Cawood](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/1713/240x240!/61d020bdef751f611f5e3c02.jpg)
By Cathy Cawood
Community writer
![A red torii standing at the edge of a rocky cliff](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75985/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75985.jpg)
A red torii standing at the edge of a rocky cliff
![Visitors throw coins onto the unusual rock formations](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75986/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75986.jpg)
Visitors throw coins onto the unusual rock formations
![Many beautiful buildings stand in the temple's extensive grounds](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75987/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75987.jpg)
Many beautiful buildings stand in the temple's extensive grounds
![Rock formations viewed from above](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75988/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75988.jpg)
Rock formations viewed from above
![View of the Seta River from the temple grounds ](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75989/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75989.jpg)
View of the Seta River from the temple grounds
![The graceful curve of a shrine roof surrounded by rocks and new maple leaves](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75990/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75990.jpg)
The graceful curve of a shrine roof surrounded by rocks and new maple leaves
![Steps between strange rocks lead to Ishiyama-dera's elegant 12th century pagoda](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75991/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75991.jpg)
Steps between strange rocks lead to Ishiyama-dera's elegant 12th century pagoda
![Vermilion red draws the eye above a rock face](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75993/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75993.jpg)
Vermilion red draws the eye above a rock face
![Large flat rocks are a good place to sit and enjoy the view - if they are not wet!](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75994/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75994.jpg)
Large flat rocks are a good place to sit and enjoy the view - if they are not wet!
![The fantastic rocks have a wave-like formation](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75995/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75995.jpg)
The fantastic rocks have a wave-like formation
![A small moon viewing tower rising above tumbled rocks ](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/13140-75996/1000/shiga-ishiyama-temple-in-otsu-75996.jpg)
A small moon viewing tower rising above tumbled rocks
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