At Ōtsuki Taisha in the municipality of Rittō, an impressive piece of architectural history meets a lively dance tradition. The shrine’s main building is a single-bay structure in the Nagare-zukuri style, dating from the Muromachi period, and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Every year on May 5, the Hanagasa Dance is performed at Ōtsuki Taisha in the municipality of Rittō: children dance in colorful costumes and large flower hats to the music of flutes and drums.

Culture and Traditions Passed Down

The Hanagasa Dance is one of the Ōmi-Konan-Sanyare dances, which are inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The fixed date of May 5 gives the tradition a clear place in the annual calendar. If you’d like to see the dance, check the event details before your trip.

A festival at Kusabira Shrine in the municipality of Rittō is also associated with a special ritual: on May 3, narezushi made from small fish is offered as a Shinto offering. The tradition is said to date back to ancient times. At Daihō Shrine in the municipality of Rittō, another tradition has endured: a dispute over water rights is said to have once been settled there, after which children were made to wrestle sumo. A sumo festival is still held there today. The story and the festival connect a tale passed down through generations with a continuing tradition.

Trade and travel are also part of the history of the municipality of Rittō. During the Edo period, Ōsumi-ke in the municipality of Rittō was a main branch for selling the medicine Wachūsan under the name “Zesaiya.” The house also served as a halfway stop between the post stations of Kusatsu and Ishibe, where court nobles and daimyō, among others, would rest. At the Old Wachūsan Honpo in the municipality of Rittō, the entire residence is designated a National Historic Site of Japan; the shop, production area, kitchen, living quarters, entrance area, estate, main gate and retirement residence are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The garden at the Old Wachūsan Honpo in the municipality of Rittō was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2001.

Hiking Destinations and Nature in the Municipality of Rittō

There are more hiking destinations in the municipality of Rittō. The Kinshōzan hiking trail in the municipality of Rittō passes historic sites such as Kinshōji and the Komazaka Stone Buddha. The mountains along the Kinshōzan hiking trail in the municipality of Rittō include Ryūōzan and Keikanzan, whose names refer to the zodiac. Along the Kinshōzan hiking trail in the municipality of Rittō, the naturally formed rock formations Mimi-iwa and Tengu-iwa stand out for their unusual shapes; they offer expansive views.

The Komazaka Stone Buddha in the municipality of Rittō stands at the site of the former Komazaka Temple in the Kinshō Mountains. The figure in the municipality of Rittō is carved into granite and designated a National Historic Site of Japan. Another description of the Buddha in the municipality of Rittō mentions a granite surface measuring about 6 × 4.5 meters and suggests that it may date from the Nara period. This tentative attribution is part of the monument’s history in the municipality of Rittō, as is its connection to the former temple.

In the municipality of Rittō, Kupon Falls tumbles down three cascades and is just over 20 meters high in total. A hiking trail in the municipality of Rittō passes Ōno Shrine, the waterfall and Naki Jizō before reaching the Konze-no-Sato Rittō roadside station; this route takes about 80 minutes. From the Konze-no-Sato Rittō roadside station in the municipality of Rittō, it takes about 45 minutes on foot to Kinshōji and about 80 minutes to the forecourt of the Batō Kannon Hall. Walking times for trails in the municipality of Rittō are estimates and may vary in practice.

There are two ways to reach the Konze-no-Sato Rittō roadside station in the municipality of Rittō: on foot via Ōno Shrine, Kupon Falls and Naki Jizō, or by the seasonal Konze Megurichan bus. The seasonal Konze Megurichan bus runs in the municipality of Rittō every year in spring and autumn on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. It departs from the south exit of Tehara Station three times a day for destinations in the municipality of Rittō; the journey takes about 20 minutes to Konze-no-Sato Rittō and about 30 minutes to Kinshōji. These journeys to destinations in the municipality of Rittō cannot be compared directly because they use different modes of transport and start from different points. Check the timetable before your trip.

Local Cuisine and Other Activities

In the municipality of Rittō, Agurinosato Rittō brings agriculture and consumers together with facilities for processing, sales and hands-on experiences. You can try making udon, soba and bread there. The restaurant at Agurinosato Rittō in the municipality of Rittō uses fresh farm produce and processed products as ingredients. If you’re planning to dine at the restaurant or take part in a hands-on activity at Agurinosato Rittō in the municipality of Rittō, confirm availability in advance.

Forest Adventure Rittō, a forest outdoor park with adventure and canopy courses, is located in the municipality of Rittō. Forest Adventure Rittō in the municipality of Rittō also offers programs for educational groups, team building and corporate training. Operations and opening hours at Forest Adventure Rittō in the municipality of Rittō may vary, so check with the operator before your visit. The Rittō History and Folklore Museum in the municipality of Rittō explores Rittō’s historical heritage through exhibitions and related programs. The municipality of Rittō thus offers a variety of ways to explore: architectural and local history, nature trails, and hands-on activities involving food and the forest.

Discover more destinations: Kōka, Konan, Moriyama, Kusatsu, Higashiōmi, Ōmihachiman, Nagahama, Maibara

For the broader travel overview: Shiga Prefecture.