Gesshin-ji

Gesshin-ji is a Buddhist temple in Otsu featuring a traditional Japanese garden with stone pathways winding between wooden structures and carefully placed stone elements. The grounds are compact enough to explore at a leisurely pace, with different corners revealing various garden arrangements.

The building began as a residence for renowned painter Kansetsu Hashimoto during the early 20th century. Its later transformation into a temple represents a shift in how this space dedicated to artistic creation eventually took on spiritual significance.

The temple preserves spaces where a celebrated painter once lived and worked, creating a connection between artistic creation and spiritual life. Walking through, visitors sense how creative practice and religious devotion shared the same buildings.

Visitors must arrange a reservation before entering, so advance planning is necessary. The location sits just a short walk from the train station, making it fairly easy to reach.

The grounds preserve an old well curb that once provided water to travelers on a major historic road route. This small relic connects the spiritual practice of the place with the practical history of travel and human movement.