The Path Across the Shiga Mountains (shiga no yamagoe 志賀の山越え) led from Kitashirakawa 北白川 in the north-east of Kyoto, across the mountains to Ōtsu 大津 in Ōmi 近江, on the shores of Lake Biwa 琵琶. It was frequently taken by people travelling from the capital on pilgrimages to the temples in Ōtsu, and became an utamakura (poetic place name) with associations of both Spring and falling blossoms, and Autumn and scarlet leaves.