Kogarashi blown down from the Hira Mountains on the opposite bank crosses Lake Biwa and sprays on Chomeiji-san at an altitude of 333 m.  On the hillside, around 240m above sea level, there is Chomeiji Temple, which is the 31st temple in 33 places in Saigoku.  Climb the 808 long stairs leading from the foot of the mountain to the main hall, and you will have a panoramic view of Lake Biwa.  The color of the autumn leaves is exceptional in the cool and clear air.  Lake Biwa is one of the 20 ancient lakes in the world, second only to Lake Baikal in Russia and Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.  Prince Shotoku is said to be the founder of Chomeiji Temple, but it seems to have been an older sacred place born from the worship of nature in Japan.

対岸の比良山系から吹き下ろした木枯らしが琵琶湖を渡り、標高333mの長命寺山に吹き付けます。その山腹、標高240m辺りに西国三十三カ所第31番札所の長命寺があります。麓から本堂に至る808段の長い階段を登りきると、琵琶湖が一望に見渡せます。ひやりと澄んだ空気の中、紅葉の色は格別です。琵琶湖は世界古代湖20のなかのひとつで、ロシアのバイカル湖、タンザニアのタンガニーカ湖に次ぐ湖です。長命寺も聖徳太子が開祖と言うことですが、もっと古く、日本の自然崇拝の中から生まれた聖地だと思われます。