Koka City

Shiga
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Located in southeastern Shiga, Koka City is the world-famous home of the "Koka Ninja" and a cultural city renowned as the production center of "Shigaraki-yaki," one of Japan's six ancient kilns. It's packed with unique Japanese charms found nowhere else, such as trick experiences at authentic ninja houses and tanuki figurines overflowing in the town. Surrounded by deep mountains, the terrain is also suitable for tea cultivation, allowing visitors to enjoy high-quality products like "Asamiya Tea." For history fans, craft enthusiasts, and overseas fans interested in ninjas through anime and movies, it is an exciting area to touch Japan's "authentic wisdom and skills."

Favorite

(English subtitle)A Journey through the beauty of Koka

Koga City

Scarlet village of Shigaraki 'thought'

Koga City

Scarlet village of Shigaraki 'work'

Koga City

甲賀流忍者TRIP（英語）

Koga City

【滋賀県公式観光PR動画】シガリズム甲賀エリア

Biwako Visitors Bureau

【Vlog 29】The road to becoming a real Koka ninja!

Biwako Visitors Bureau

Koka City

Address: 810 Konan-cho Noda, Koka-shi, Shiga
Website: https://koka-kanko.org/
Operator: Koka City Tourism Association

Koka City Spots List

Shigaraki Kohgen Railway
Shigaraki-yaki Meizan Pottery
Shigaraki Tanuki Village
Koka-ryu Ninja House
MIHO MUSEUM
Shigaraki Town

Shiga

Shigaraki Kohgen Railway

The "Shigaraki Kohgen Railway," connecting JR Kibukawa Station with the pottery home of Shigaraki, is a local railway running leisurely through peaceful Shiga satoyama landscapes. From the train window, you can view rich nature changing with the seasons, tea plantations unique to Shigaraki, and historic brick chimneys, making the railway journey itself an attraction. The sight of the train running through autumn leaves or winter snowscapes is deeply emotional, healing the hearts of rail fans and others alike. At the terminus, Shigaraki Station, giant tanuki figurines welcome you, making you feel the excitement of a craft town from the moment...

Shiga
Sightseeing
Activities
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Shiga

Shigaraki-yaki Meizan Pottery

"Meizan Pottery," an established Shigaraki ware kiln continuing since the 1600s, is a workshop that continues to create innovative works suited to modern lifestyles while respecting tradition. Within the vast grounds, a climbing kiln that lets you feel history, a sophisticated gallery, and a space for pottery experiences are fully equipped. Especially, sake vessels and interior goods utilizing the warmth of Shigaraki's earth are highly regarded by international travelers for their simple and powerful beauty. Observing artisans' work up close and actually touching the earth to create a work will be the best opportunity to feel Japanese craft culture closely...

Shiga
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
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Shiga

Shigaraki Tanuki Village

Located in Shigaraki, Koka City, "Tanuki Village" is Japan's largest display and sales spot for Shigaraki-yaki tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines. The sight of thousands of tanuki in various sizes is breathtaking, and their humorous expressions are extremely popular as photo spots for international travelers. The facility offers extensive "pottery experiences" and "painting experiences" where you can actually touch the clay, allowing you to learn about traditional Japanese crafts while having fun. With a tour of climbing kilns and a restaurant serving local ingredients, it's an entertainment facility where you can enjoy the village of Japanese crafts with all five senses,...

Shiga
Sightseeing
Activities
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Shiga

Koka-ryu Ninja House

This house, once the headquarters of the Koka Ninja, is the only authentic ninja house still in existence, built during the Edo period. Although the exterior looks like an ordinary private house, the interior hides numerous surprising gimmicks to prevent enemy intrusion, such as "Don-den-gaeshi" (revolving walls), "hidden stairs," and "pitfalls." These mechanisms, which tell the story of the ninjas' high wisdom and physical ability, can actually be experienced, making it the best experience spot for adventurous international travelers. You can deeply learn the true image of the world-famous "NINJA" while touching real history.

Shiga
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
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Shiga

MIHO MUSEUM

Located deep in the mountains of Koka City, "MIHO MUSEUM" is an art museum designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei, where you can truly experience "Shangri-La." The building, which appears after passing through cherry tree avenues, a tunnel, and a suspension bridge, has the majority of its structure buried underground, maintaining perfect harmony with the surrounding nature. Inside, numerous ancient art pieces from along the Silk Road are exhibited, allowing you to enjoy world-level art within a sacred atmosphere created by light and space. Merging architecture, art, and the nature of the four seasons, this place continues to fascinate art...

Shiga
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
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Shiga

Shigaraki Town

"Shigaraki Town" in Koka City is the production center of Shigaraki ware, one of Japan's six ancient kilns. Throughout the town, humorous "Tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines" welcome tourists. The townscape, with its climbing kilns and old brick chimneys, lets you feel the history of traditional Japanese crafts. Many workshops offer pottery-making experiences, and the time spent creating your own original work is highly regarded by travelers seeking cultural experiences. Shigaraki ware, with the simple and powerful warmth of the earth, is loved as vessels coloring Japanese dining tables, making it an attractive town to deeply learn about the connection between...

Shiga
Sightseeing
Spring
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Autumn
Winter

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