Otsu

Ōtsu is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Ōtsu is known as the main port of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It briefly served as the capital of Japan during the Asuka period.

This large Heian Era temple in the foothills of the mountains between Kyoto and Shiga has beautiful views over Otsu City to Lake Biwa. Its formal name is Onjo-ji, but it is usually called Miidera, which means the temple of three wells. There is a building containing the scrolls of the entire Buddhist scriptures and a legendary bell. These photos were taken on a cold day in spring. Sadly it was too early to catch the full glory of this temple's famous cherry blossom season.