Fujigasaki Ryujin Shrine: A Lakeside Dragon God Spot in Shiga

IMPORTANT: The shrine grounds are currently closed to visitors.

The hillside behind the shrine collapsed and cracks remain in the slope, so the approach is barricaded because of the risk of further landslides and falling trees. The deity has been temporarily transferred to Gosha Shrine in Maki, Omihachiman City, where worship and goshuin stamps are handled. There is no timeline for reopening (as of August 2026). Please check the latest information before you set out.

Standing on the shore of Lake Biwa in Maki, Omihachiman City, Fujigasaki Ryujin Shrine is a little known power spot honoring a dragon god. It is an outer shrine of the nearby Gosha Shrine. On the lake side are the Fujigasaki dragon god and Benzaiten, while the Myotoku dragon god is enshrined between great rocks on the mountain side. A sacred rock wrapped in a straw rope blends with the lake spreading behind to create a mystical air. It is said to offer blessings tied to the flow of fortune and to wealth, and it is popular with those who wish to pray quietly.

Highlights

• A grand panorama of Lake Biwa unfolding behind the rope wrapped sacred rock, with a view of Okishima.
• A small vermilion gate that stands out against the lake, beautiful enough to make you reach for your camera.
• The Fujigasaki dragon god on the lake side and the Myotoku dragon god enshrined between great rocks on the mountain side, each worth visiting in turn.

Enjoying the Seasons

On clear days the lake surface sparkles and the contrast between the gate and the sacred rock stands out all the more. At dusk the sun setting over Lake Biwa is dreamlike, and the spot shows a completely different face depending on the hour you visit.

Access and Basic Information

• About 20 minutes by car from Omihachiman Station on the JR Biwako Line. The nearest station is some distance away, so traveling by car or motorbike is the realistic choice.
• The shrine sits at the end of a narrow side road off the lakeside road. Some stretches are only wide enough for a single car, so watch for oncoming vehicles as you proceed.
• There is parking space at the adjacent Maki swimming beach, from which the shrine is a short walk.

Practical Travel Notes

• Currently closed (as of August 2026): the approach is barricaded after a landslide, and you cannot worship at the site itself. Worship and goshuin are handled at Gosha Shrine in Maki, where a written goshuin is offered beside the offering box of the main hall.
• It is a small site, so once reopened allow about 20 to 30 minutes including worship and photos.
• Clear, calm days are best. If you are aiming for sunset scenery, it is a good idea to check the sunset time in advance.
• The rocks can be wet from the waves and slippery, so take care with your footing. On stormy or windy days it is best not to push it and to hold off.
• Nearby are real spots such as Okishima, an inhabited island on Lake Biwa, and Chomeiji, a temple on the Saikoku Kannon pilgrimage, so the visit pairs well with a drive along the lakeshore.

A Quick Tip

The rocks along the shore can be slippery, so wear comfortable shoes and take care for your footing while you enjoy the spectacular view. There are no shops, so bringing drinks in advance is reassuring.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: It is a small site, so a visit including photos takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Access: It is about 20 minutes by car from JR Omihachiman Station; as it is far from the nearest station, going by car or motorcycle is realistic.
• Parking: You can use the parking of the adjacent Maki swimming area, from which it is a short walk.
• Safety: The rocks can be wet and slippery from waves, so take care, and refrain in bad weather or strong wind.
• Best time of day: A calm, clear day is recommended, and if aiming for sunset, check the time of sunset in advance.
• Nearby: Combine a lakeshore drive with the inhabited island of Okishima and Chomeiji temple on the Saikoku pilgrimage.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Location: Maki-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture
• Whether you can visit (as of August 2026): The hillside behind the precincts has collapsed, so the approach path is closed and it is not possible to worship at the site itself. Worship takes place instead at Gosha Shrine (Maki-cho, Omihachiman City), where the deity has been temporarily transferred
• Admission: Free of charge
• Access (by car): About 20 minutes by car from Omihachiman Station on the JR Biwako Line. Turn off the lakeside road (Sazanami Kaido) onto the narrow lane heading toward Lake Biwa, and you will arrive after about 2 minutes
• A note on the road: The lane at the entrance is narrow, with sections only wide enough for a single car. Using a car navigation system or a map app is the surest way to get there
• Public transport: The site is some distance from the nearest station and bus services are limited, so coming by car or motorbike is the realistic option
• Parking: There is a free parking area just before the shrine. You can also park on the side of the adjoining Maki swimming beach
• Goshuin stamps: Pre-written stamps are available beside the offertory box in the main hall of Gosha Shrine, where the deity has been temporarily transferred. The offering is whatever you feel is appropriate. Stamps are not written on the spot
• How long to allow: 20-30 minutes including visiting both shrines and taking photographs
• Underfoot: The rocks along the lakeshore can be wet from the waves and slippery in places. Reaching the inner shrine means slipping between the rocks, so comfortable shoes you do not mind getting dirty are a safe choice
• If it rains: There is no covered shelter. On windy days the lake surface turns rough, so do not push it and come back another day
• Strollers and wheelchairs: With rocky ground and narrow passages throughout, visiting with a stroller or wheelchair is difficult
• To avoid the crowds: It is a quiet spot to begin with, but on weekend evenings photographers gather and it can be harder to enjoy the calm
• What to bring: There are benches on the beach where you can rest in the lake breeze, but there are almost no shops nearby. Bring drinks with you
• Combine it with: Okishima, the inhabited island floating on Lake Biwa, and Chomeiji Temple of the Saigoku Sanjusansho pilgrimage are both in Omihachiman City and can be worked into a drive along the lakeshore

📚 Sources

This article was edited with reference to guidance from Fujigasaki Ryujin Shrine on the shore of Lake Biwa in Maki, Omihachiman City, and its parent Gosha Shrine, along with local information on the nearby lakeshore road and the Maki swimming area. Local explanations were consulted for the enshrinement of Fujigasaki Ryujin, Benzaiten, and Myotoku Ryujin. The closure of the approach after the collapse of the hillside, the temporary transfer to Gosha Shrine, and the goshuin being offered beside the offering box of Gosha Shrine's main hall were confirmed from Japanese pilgrimage information sites and a visitor report from April 2026. Parking, road conditions, and the status of the closure may change, so please check local official information before you set out.

The origin of the shrine's name and the contents of the "Brief History of Fujigasaki Shrine" (Tengi 2, or 939, Fujiwara no Tota Hidesato's slaying of the giant centipede, and the origin of the place name), the two-shrine structure of Fujigasaki Shrine and Myotoku Ryuo Shrine, and the relationship between the enshrined deities Fujigasaki Ryujin and Myotoku Ryujin are compiled from publicly available information on the shrine's history. From a blog article published by Kyukamura Omihachiman we confirmed the directions - turning off the Sazanami Kaido onto a lane for about 2 minutes - the fact that the inner shrine lies in a cave in a cleft in the rocks, and the benches on the beach. The parking area, the way to worship at the inner shrine (opening the wire mesh and going inside) and the fact that goshuin stamps are pre-written and issued at the outer shrine come from information published on websites for worshippers. That the approach path is closed because of the collapse of the hillside behind the precincts, that the deity has been temporarily transferred to Gosha Shrine, and that goshuin stamps are issued beside the offertory box in the main hall of Gosha Shrine were confirmed from worship information websites and from the report of a visitor who went there in April 2026. Restoration work and whether visits are possible are subject to change, so please check the latest information before you set out.