Spots List | V-Trip Japan

Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei

"Enryakuji Temple," spreading across Mt. Hiei with Lake Biwa below, is a World Heritage site known as the mother mountain of Japanese Buddhism. Established by Saicho, this sacred site features the Konpon Chudo hall where the "Inextinguishable Dharma Lamp" has burned for over 1,200 years without ever going out, along with over 100 temple buildings scattered across the vast mountain. Walking through the precincts surrounded by deep forests, one feels the dignified sacred air and the weight of long history, providing deep spiritual inspiration to visitors. From ascetic training experiences in the lodgings to the spectacular view of Lake Biwa...

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Shiga

Otsu City

Otsu City, the capital of Shiga Prefecture, is a city where history and nature harmonize brilliantly, having once been Japan's capital (Otsu-kyo). Home to the World Heritage site "Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei," it has flourished since ancient times as a gateway to sacred sites. Located at the southern tip of Lake Biwa, it offers extensive lake-based entertainment, such as the massive "Biwako Flower Fountain" and cruises on the sightseeing boat Michigan. Despite its excellent location just 10 minutes by train from Kyoto, you can luxuriously enjoy quiet temple tours, hot springs, and lakeside strolls, making it ideal for travelers...

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Higashiomi City

Located in eastern Shiga, Higashiomi City is a city where rich rural culture and history breathe within a vast area stretching from the Suzuka Mountains to Lake Biwa. It is dotted with spots where you can deeply learn about Japan's spiritual culture and commercial history, such as ancient temples associated with Prince Shotoku and the townscape of Gokasho, the roots of Omi Merchants. The city also features attractive regional events like Eigen-ji Temple with its beautiful autumn foliage and the powerful "Yokkaichi Giant Kite." With thriving natural activities like cycling and camping, it is a profound area where you can...

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Mangetsu-ji Temple Ukimido

"Ukimidō" at Mangetsu-ji Temple in Katata, Otsu City, is a Buddhist hall built jutting out into Lake Biwa, known worldwide as "The Descending Geese of Katata" from the Eight Views of Omi. Established in the Heian period to pray for safety on the lake, this hall appears mystical as if floating on the water and is extremely popular with international travelers as a photo spot. Walking the corridor surrounding the hall, you can overlook a vast panorama of Lake Biwa while directly feeling the breeze from the lake. The scenery woven by the pine tree avenues and historic architecture symbolizes...

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Kita Biwako Hotel Grazie

"Kita Biwako Hotel Grazie," standing on the lakeshore in Nagahama City, is an attractive hotel with a sophisticated design reminiscent of Venice, Italy. The panoramic view of Lake Biwa spreading before your eyes is overwhelming, and the sight of the sky and lake dyed orange at sunset is especially engraved deeply in the hearts of visitors. Located very close to Nagahama Port, it is extremely convenient as a sightseeing base for Chikubushima. You can enjoy French, Italian, and Japanese cuisine utilizing fresh local ingredients, providing a comfortable stay that merges the historical atmosphere of a regional Japanese city with high-quality...

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Ogoto

Located on the west bank of Lake Biwa, "Ogoto" is a hot spring area spreading at the foot of Mt. Hiei, boasting a history of approximately 1,200 years. The alkaline simple spring water, known as "hot water for beautiful skin," elegantly heals the fatigue of travel. Many ryokans feature open-air baths overlooking Lake Biwa, promising a blissful time as you gaze at the sunrise or the night moon over the lake. With good access to Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei, it is also ideal as a base for pilgrimage. It is Shiga's premier hot spring resort area, filled with heartwarming...

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GLAMP ELEMENT

Located at the foot of Mt. Ibuki in Maibara City, "GLAMP ELEMENT" is one of Japan's largest glamping facilities. Stylish tents and cabins arranged around a large pond offer hotel-level comfort and the liberating feeling of nature simultaneously. Luxurious BBQs enjoyed on private decks and canoeing on the pond provide extensive outdoor experiences. At night, you can spend romantic time around a campfire while gazing at the starry sky, making it ideal for travelers who want to luxury-refresh in Japanese nature away from city bustle.

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Kaizu-osaki Peninsula

Located in northwestern Lake Biwa, "Kaizu-osaki" is a scenic spot counted as one of the Eight Views of Lake Biwa. In spring, about 800 cherry trees along the lake bloom for about 4km, selected as one of Japan's "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots." The dynamic scenery woven by cherry blossoms viewed from a cruise ship and the steep reefs in the background is an overwhelming beauty found nowhere else. Besides driving and cycling, kayaking on the quiet lake surface is also popular. The unique silence of Oku-Biwa and the brilliance of highly transparent water provide healing and inspiration to visitors.

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Hikone Castle

A National Treasure representing Shiga Prefecture, "Hikone Castle" is a very precious fortification where the Edo-period keep remains as it was. Its white castle walls and graceful curved rooflines are beautiful, and the architecture combining military function and artistic beauty fascinates castle lovers worldwide. Inside, there are complex structures to deceive enemies and the beautiful daimyo garden "Genkyuen," where you can experience the scenery the feudal lords saw. With performances by the popular character "Hikonyan," it's a historical sanctuary you must visit in Shiga, where heavy history and modern friendliness coexist.

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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...

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Lake Biwa

Boasting the largest area in Japan, "Lake Biwa" is the symbol of Shiga Prefecture and one of the world's few ancient lakes with a history of about 4 million years. Activities like cycling (Biwa-ichi), canoeing, and SUP are thriving along the shores, and leisure on the clear waters is extremely popular with international travelers. You can feel the dynamic power of nature with your whole body through the spectacular mountain views surrounding the lake, beautiful sunsets that change expression every season, and mystical islands floating in the lake. With historic temples and hot springs dotted around, it's a supreme area...

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Hata-no-Kami Toyomitsu Shrine

"Toyomitsu Shrine" in Aisho Town is a historic shrine whose beautiful "Shikyakumon" gate is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. As the name suggests, it's known as the "God of Banners" (Hata-no-Kami), where Sengoku warlords once came to pray for victory. Today, it also draws faith as a deity for "Beauty" and "Beautiful Legs," making it a popular power spot for visitors wishing for beauty and athletes seeking victory. Surrounded by a deep forest, the sacred precincts allow you to quietly feel Japan's natural worship and the culture of prayers passed down through the ages.

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Ohmi Railway

With a history since the Meiji era, "Ohmi Railway" is a local railway that runs slowly through eastern Shiga, full of a retro atmosphere. The yellow trains, affectionately nicknamed "Gachakon," and old wooden station buildings are the very image of good old Japan. You can look out over vast rural areas and the beautiful mountains of the Suzuka range from the window, making it perfect for a trip to experience "the authentic Japan" away from major tourist spots. Connecting historical sites like Hikone and Taga Taisha, it's a popular line for railway fans and slow travelers looking to tour Shiga's...

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Restaurant Matsukiya

Located in Otsu City, "Matsukiya" is a historic restaurant founded in the Meiji era that spread the charm of "Omi Beef," one of Japan's three major wagyu brands, to the world. You can taste high-quality Omi beef, once appointed to the Imperial Household Agency, through traditional methods like sukiyaki, steak, and shabu-shabu. The meat, with its beautiful marbling, features a melting texture and rich aroma that will surely impress from the first bite. For gourmets wanting to luxuriously experience Japan's top-tier food culture (Wagyu) in a refined space with Japanese charm, this is an unmissable establishment.

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Biwako Valley

"Biwako Valley," spreading across a summit at an altitude of 1,100 meters, is one of Shiga's leading mountain resorts offering an overwhelming panoramic view of Lake Biwa. After an aerial walk on the ropeway, you'll find "Biwako Terrace," which feels as if it's floating in the sky, where you can enjoy a world of blue where the sky and lake melt together. With outdoor activities like ziplining in summer, autumn leaves, and a ski resort in winter, you can enjoy dynamic nature year-round. Especially, the panoramic view from the terrace is of Japan's finest beauty, making it a highlight of...

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Biwako Hall

Located on the shores of Lake Biwa, "Biwako Hall" is a world-class arts theater known as a hub for opera and classical music in Japan. The building itself is beautiful, with large windows in the lobby offering a panoramic view of the vast lake, allowing for an elegant interlude. It hosts a wide range of programs from authentic opera to traditional arts and contemporary dance, showcasing the high level of Japanese cultural arts. Highly rated by music and architecture lovers, it is a luxurious space where you can enjoy both the beautiful lake view and superb arts.

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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...

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Sugaura Village

Located at the northernmost tip of Lake Biwa, sandwiched between steep mountains and the lake, "Sugaura Village" is a mystical settlement resembling a "Hidden Village" that once cut off contact with the outside and maintained its own autonomy. It strongly retains village systems from the Middle Ages, such as handing down documents designated as National Treasures, and is selected as an Important Cultural Landscape. The houses lining the lakeside and the entrance to the village protected by four gates symbolize the history of people who lived powerfully within Japan's harsh nature. While there are no flashy tourist facilities, it is...

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BOAT RACE BIWAKO

Located at the southern tip of Lake Biwa, "BOAT RACE Biwako" is an entertainment facility where you can experience boat racing, a motor sport set on the magnificent lake surface. The impact of boats exceeding speeds of 80 km/h turning corners while splashing water is overwhelming, and even foreign tourists watching for the first time are struck by the sense of speed. In recent years, the facility has been modernized, allowing you to enjoy the races from comfortable seats along with the spectacular view of Lake Biwa. It is a hidden gem where you can spend an exciting time while...

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Gokasho Town

Gokasho Town in Higashiomi City is known as the hometown of the "Omi Merchants" who were active throughout Japan, and is a town where beautiful rural landscapes remain. Carp swim in the orderly flowing waterways, and the merchant mansions with magnificent stone walls and white walls convey past prosperity to the present. By touring the interiors of the grand residences, you can learn the spirit of frugality that supported business success and the wisdom of traditional Japanese living that cherishes family. In a quiet environment that is not over-commercialized, it is a special place where you can touch Japan's traditional...

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Omihachiman City

Omihachiman City developed as a castle town built by Toyotomi Hidetsugu during the Sengoku period, and is a historical city where the wisdom and business spirit of the former "Omi Merchants" breathe. Along the "Hachiman-bori Moat" that circles the town, white-walled storehouses and old merchant houses line the banks, offering beautiful scenery that makes you feel as if you've slipped back in time to the Edo period. Furthermore, there are areas designated as Japan's first Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and historical strolls or water tours by Japanese boat are extremely popular with overseas travelers. With its...

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Onjo-ji Temple (Mii-dera)

Located in Otsu City, "Onjo-ji (Mii-dera)" is the head temple of the Tendaijimon Buddhist sect with a history of over 1,200 years. Within its vast precincts, many Important Cultural Properties stand, including the National Treasure Main Hall, exuding a solemn atmosphere that seems to collect the essence of Japanese Buddhist architecture. The large bell known as "The Evening Bell of Mii" is counted as one of Japan's three famous bells, and its beautiful tone resonates deeply in people's hearts. Furthermore, you can overlook Lake Biwa and the city of Otsu from the high ground; especially during the cherry blossom and...

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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.

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Takashima City

Located in northwestern Shiga, Takashima City is a treasure trove of natural experiences surrounded by the beautiful waters of Lake Biwa and majestic mountains. It is dotted with photogenic spots such as the mystical "Shirahige Shrine" with a torii gate standing in the lake, and the "Metasequoia Avenue" stretching for about 2.4 kilometers. Furthermore, Japan's original landscapes still breathe here, such as the long-standing fermentation culture and the lifestyle of "Shozu-no-Sato" (Home of Living Water) utilizing pure spring water. It is an area where you can luxuriously enjoy activities such as camping, canoeing, and skiing while appreciating the scenery of...

Shiga
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