Mangetsuji (Ukimido)
満月寺 (浮御堂)

Mangetsuji, best known for its Ukimido “floating hall,” is located on the edge of Lake Biwa. The hall that sits over the water on wooden stilts is a view that’s been famous since the Edo period. Many famous poets and artists, such as Matsuo Basho, Kobayashi Issa, Takahama Kyoshi, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Katsushika Hokusai, visited here and left behind poetry and artwork. The temple dates back to the 10th century.

Sunset and early morning are especially beautiful here, with the hall reflected in the lake and calm waves hitting the shore.