Eigenji Temple is the head temple of the Eigen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen, and is famous as a spot for fall leaves, blistering crimson from trees nurtured by the deep waters of the Echigawa River. It is said that the monks here incorporated the sound of the pure waters flowing in the gorge into their Zen training. Inside the grounds you can find water call "Senjisui" ("cleaning ear water"), which people use to wash the dirt of the earthly world from their ears before heading to the temple.
Okueigenji offers mountain village scenery amid the waterways of the Echigawa River, the water source for Lake Biwa itself, and here this water drawn up from the deep and distant valley floor is still used in everyday life. High quality trees nurtured by this abundant water have also been turned into high quality wood by master woodsmen in the region and spread out across Japan.