Hitomi’s rationalised list of radio tower(RT) locations¹ mentions six in Shiga Prefecture, three of which are in Ōtsu City; today I visited two of these locations to look for clues!

Ishiyama-dera

This is listed in the ‘Rajio Nenkan’ as Ishiyama-dera keidai (大津市石山寺境内), inside the grounds of Ishiyama Temple. Ishiyama Temple is about 10 minutes walk south of Ishiyamadera Station on the Ishiyama Sakamoto Line, which runs south from the centre of Ōtsu City.

I talked briefly to the temple office but they said they had no knowledge of a pre-war radio tower, and no records from that period. However, while the temple grounds are extensive, there is one location that seems to me a likely candidate for the original location, this is the small park area in front of the temple’s main gate. The temple office did confirm that this small park does indeed belong to the temple and is thus ‘境内’ (keidai).

Possible RT base?

This small park, by the bus stop, contains a few commemorative monuments, what looks like the local jizo-san shrine-let, a couple of fairly conventional tōrō lanterns, and the rather more mysterious octagonal base pictured above. Most of the extant RTs have a square plan but the Maruyama Park (Kyoto) RT has an octagonal base, though significantly larger, and the Hakusan Park (Niigata) is octagonal, so it can’t be ruled out on the basis of its geometry.

The mystery base is located next to a small, modern breaker box, which suggests that there is an accessible electricity supply, something else an RT would have needed.

The park is also home to a fujidana wisteria trellis, again this is a common feature in other small parks that contain RTs. However, I found no sign of anything that might have performed the role of a flagpole support, the final element of the common ‘RT -fujidana- flagpole’ trinity.

Fujidana wisteria trellis

Whiles I was unable to confirm any new RT-related information, I recommend Ishiyama-dera as worth a visit, it’s quite impressive!

Volcanic rock formations

Cool log-cabin style temple-y building. Under this is a magic cushion that, when you sit on it, will bring you luck in childbirth!

Another cool temple-y building - it has round bits, which is pretty unusual!

Nagara Park

The other listed RT location is Nagara Park (長等公園). This is a large park about 15 minutes walk south of Biwako-Hamaōtsu station.

As far as I could see the parts of the park near the entrance have all been redone in the past few decades and there is virtually nothing left from its prewar history (though it opened in 1902). The area around the entrance is fairly steep and the only place that looks like it might have been useful for rajio taisō gatherings is the current ‘gateball field’ (ゲートボール場).

Gateball field … grim

This area has one strange feature…

“Strange feature”

As far as I could see this the only feature in the park less than about 50 years old, but what exactly it is/was, I have no idea. However, its placement in the middle of the top edge of this open area surely has some significance. Obviously, further investigation is required!