Shiga

Otsu, Hikone

Shiga surrounds the vast and peaceful Lake Biwa. Visitors can enjoy lakeside walks, water sports, and explore historical landmarks like Hikone Castle and the old town of Nagahama. The spiritual sites of Mount Hiei and Keisokuji Temple add a serene touch. Shiga’s calm landscapes offer a refreshing escape from city life.

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Shiga

Taga Town

Taga Town, spreading at the foot of the mountains in eastern Shiga, is a temple town that has flourished around "Taga Taisha," Shiga's premier grand shrine affectionately known as "O-Taga-san." This sacred site, enshrining the parent deities of Ise Jingu, attracts many worshippers from all over Japan seeking blessings for longevity and matchmaking. The approach is lined with shops selling the specialty "Ito-kiri Mochi" and retro eateries, allowing you to experience traditional Japanese temple town culture. The town also houses "Kawachi-no-kazaana," one of Japan's leading limestone caves, for mystical underground exploration. It is an area filled with spiritual richness where...

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Shiga

Kora Town

Located in eastern Shiga, Kora Town is a quiet and beautiful town dotted with rich spring water and historic temples. Especially "Saimyo-ji Temple," a candidate for World Heritage, is known for its National Treasure main hall, three-storied pagoda, and "Fudan-zakura" cherry blossoms that bloom simultaneously with autumn leaves, spreading a landscape condensing traditional Japanese beauty. It is also the birthplace of the legendary carpenter Kora Bungo-no-kami Munehiro, who was involved in the construction of Nikko Toshogu, and the town takes pride in sophisticated wooden architecture skills. It's a hidden gem ideal for travelers wanting to quietly savor the harmony of...

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Shiga

Toyosato Town

Toyosato Town, the smallest town by area in Shiga, is a cultural town known for the "Former Toyosato Elementary School Buildings" designed by the world-famous architect William Merrell Vories. The beautiful white wooden schoolhouse, once praised as the "Greatest Elementary School in the East," is now famous as a model for a popular anime and attracts fans from all over the world. The bronze statues of the tortoise and the hare on the staircase and the retro auditorium convey the passion and aesthetic sense Japan invested in education at that time. It's a unique spot where you can enjoy both...

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Shiga

Aisho Town

Aisho Town, located in eastern Shiga, is a town of handiwork where traditional crafts and history breathe. Meticulous Japanese craftsmanship is still passed down here, including "Omi Jofu (linen weaving)" with history since the Heian period, "Lake Biwa Pearls" boasting delicate beauty, and traditional "Omi Ikkan-bari." You can feel the deep history and culture firsthand through street corners retaining the atmosphere of Nakasendo post towns and Kongorin-ji Temple with its National Treasure Buddha statues. It is an ideal place for travelers wanting to experience artisan skills or find peace in quiet temples, thoroughly experiencing Japan's rich spirituality and "skill" culture.

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Shiga

Ryuo Town

Ryuo Town, located in central Shiga, is a vibrant town where rich agricultural products and history coexist. It is bustling with many tourists due to having "Mitsui Outlet Park Shiga Ryuo," one of the prefecture's top shopping spots. On the other hand, the town is dotted with precious cultural assets, including the National Treasure main hall of "Namura Shrine," where ancient beliefs are still carefully preserved. Cattle rearing for Omi Beef is also active, and restaurants where you can enjoy the highest-grade Wagyu are popular. It is a perfect area for travelers who want to greedily enjoy both trendy shopping...

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Shiga

Hino Town

Hino Town, nestled in the mountains of eastern Shiga, is a historic town with a dignified atmosphere known as the home of the "Hino Merchants" who were active throughout Japan. Streets lined with magnificent hedges and stone walls feature mansions conveying the wisdom and wealth of the merchants, allowing for a calm, adult stroll. The "Hino Festival" held every May is a brave festival where gorgeous floats parade through the town, letting you experience deep regional traditions. Furthermore, it is ideal for travelers wanting to be healed by traditional merchant culture and rich nature, with "Hino Beef" gourmet in peaceful...

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Shiga

Konan City

Located in southern Shiga, Konan City is a city full of historical atmosphere that flourished around the former Tokaido post town "Ishibe-juku." Especially, the three ancient Tendai temples "Joraku-ji," "Choju-ji," and "Zensui-ji" are called the "Konan Sanzan," with all their main halls designated as National Treasures, making them crown jewels of Japanese Buddhist architecture. In autumn, you can enjoy stunning foliage adorning these temples, and their silence and beauty capture the hearts of visitors. It is a hidden gem recommended for authentic-minded travelers wanting to luxuriously enjoy National Treasure architecture and the changing seasons while following the footsteps of Edo-period...

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Shiga

Yasu City

Yasu City is a town where history and nature harmonize, spreading at the foot of the beautiful conical "Mt. Mikami (Omi Fuji)" soaring in the Omi Basin. Mt. Mikami is a mythical mountain with legends of "centipede extermination," making its hiking courses popular with international climbers. It is also the site where Japan's largest "Dotaku" (bronze bell) was discovered; you can touch the mysteries of ancient Japan at the archaeological museum. Dotted with precious wooden structures like the National Treasure main hall of Osasahara Shrine, it's a calm area where you can quietly trace the origins of Japanese spiritual culture...

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Shiga

Ritto City

Located in southern Shiga, Ritto City is known as the "City of Horses" due to hosting one of Japan's largest racehorse training centers. Historically, it is a quiet area embraced by the deep mountains of the Konze range, offering ancient temples with National Treasure Buddha statues and extensive hiking courses with dynamic rocky areas. Walking through the nature-rich environment, you can feel the history of Japan's mountain worship, with the summit offering a superb view extending to Lake Biwa. It is chosen by travelers wanting to escape the city hustle and enjoy Shiga's rich nature and history through horse interaction...

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Moriyama City

Located on the east bank of Lake Biwa, Moriyama City is a nature-rich city once a post town on the Nakasendo, and now known as a "Holy Land for Cycling" and "City of Fireflies." At the foot of the Biwako Ohashi Bridge, you can find the world-famous "Sagawa Art Museum," where you can enjoy beautiful architecture appearing to float on water and Japanese modern art. Additionally, the lakeside cycling road is the best course for cyclists enjoying a lap around Lake Biwa (Biwa-ichi). In winter, early-blooming rapeseeds spread like a yellow carpet, offering a spectacular contrast with the snow-capped Hira...

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Shiga

Kusatsu City

Kusatsu City, located in southwestern Shiga, is a historic city that flourished as a "post town" where the Tokaido and Nakasendo highways met during the Edo period. At the "Kusatsu-juku Honjin," one of Japan's largest scale, the luxurious buildings where daimyo and court nobles once stayed are preserved in their original state, allowing you to deeply learn about the travel culture of the Edo period. Furthermore, the lakeshore features the "Lake Biwa Museum" and the "Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden," where you can enjoy the latest exhibits and beautiful lotus flowers. With excellent access just 20 minutes by train from Kyoto,...

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Shiga

Maibara City

Maibara City, in northeastern Shiga, has a Shinkansen stop and is a key transportation hub connecting Kansai, Nagoya, and Hokoku. It features a coexistence of rich nature, like "Mt. Ibuki" (one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains) and Samegai (where rare "Baikamo" flowers bloom in clear streams), and the atmosphere of historic post towns. Because it has flourished as a transportation base since ancient times, a culture of healing travelers is rooted here, and you can feel simple but warm hospitality. It's the best gateway for travelers wanting to efficiently tour Japan's local charms, from outdoor enthusiasts to history lovers.

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Shiga

Nagahama City

Nagahama City, located in northeastern Lake Biwa, is a vibrant historical tourist city developed as a castle town where Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi first held a castle. "Kurokabe Square," a shopping area utilizing Edo-period townhouses, offers glass crafts and local gourmet food, making its modern-retro stroll extremely popular with international travelers. It's also a base for "Chikubushima Cruises" across Japan's largest lake, offering a balance of history, nature, and experience. Throughout the year, you can feel the brilliance of traditional Japanese culture and the passion of people, such as the "Bonbai Exhibition" in winter and the gorgeous "Nagahama Hikiyama Festival" in...

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Shiga

Koka City

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...

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Shiga

Hikone City

Located on the east bank of Lake Biwa, Hikone City is a historical city where the atmosphere of a beautiful castle town centered on the National Treasure "Hikone Castle" still remains strongly. Around the castle, areas like "Yume Kyobashi Castle Road," which recreates the streetscapes of the Edo period, and samurai residences are scattered, making it the best environment for enjoying historical strolls. It is also famous as the production area for "Omi Beef," one of Japan's top-class brand wagyu, where you can savor authentic tastes at famous restaurants in the city. Craft cultures such as traditional "Hikone Buddhist Altars"...

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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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Shiga

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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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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Shiga

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...

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Shiga

Shiga Prefecture

Shiga Prefecture is home to "Lake Biwa," Japan's largest lake, and is an area where rich nature and deep history coexist. Although adjacent to Kyoto, it has nurtured its own unique "Omi Culture." In addition to historical structures such as the World Heritage "Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei" and the National Treasure "Hikone Castle," it is full of attractions in food and crafts, such as Omi beef and Shigaraki ware. It is a highly satisfying tourist destination where you can experience Japan's traditional aesthetic sense and people's lives firsthand through cycling, water sports, and visiting old castles while enjoying the...

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Shiga Spots List

Shiga

Kurokabe Square

"Kurokabe Square" in Nagahama City is a popular, representative tourist area of Shiga Prefecture that utilizes old streetscapes from the Edo to Meiji periods. Centered on the iconic "Kurokabe Glass Shop," global glass crafts, workshops, stylish cafes, and galleries line the streets, allowing for a stroll where modern and retro merge. You can observe artisan skills up close or try glass-making experiences, and the time spent creating your own original work is highly popular with international travelers. This place, which continues to transmit new art and culture while carefully preserving historical buildings, is a most attractive street corner where you...

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Lake Biwa Canal

The "Lake Biwa Canal" (Biwako Sosui) is a magnificent canal constructed during the Meiji era to transport water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, serving as a symbol of Japan's modernization. The area around the intake in Otsu City features historic brick structures that harmonize beautifully with the surrounding nature, becoming a spectacular spot especially in spring when cherry blossoms bloom along the canal. In recent years, the "Biwako Sosui Boat" sightseeing vessel has been in operation, allowing visitors to enjoy a historical cruise while leisurely descending the waterway, thinking of the passion of past engineers. It is a unique tourist...

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Zensui-ji Temple

"Zensui-ji Temple" in Konan City is one of the ancient temples constituting the Konan Sanzan, a sacred site where legends of "sacred water that heals illness" remain, as its name suggests. Inside the National Treasure main hall, more than 30 Buddhist statues crafted from the Heian to Kamakura periods are enshrined, overwhelming visitors with their power and high level of artistry. Within the precincts surrounded by deep mountains, pure water still springs forth, allowing visitors to touch the origins of Japan's spiritual culture within the dignified air. Particularly, the opportunity to view Important Cultural Property statues up close is highly...

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Shiga

Choju-ji Temple

"Choju-ji Temple," one of the Konan Sanzan, is a historic temple established by Emperor Shomu during the Nara period. The main hall, designated as a National Treasure, radiates a simple yet heavy beauty, conveying the appearance of early Japanese Buddhist architecture to the present. Various flowers bloom throughout the seasons along the approach, earning it the nickname "Temple of Flowers," especially enchanting visitors with tunnels of cherry blossoms in spring and vivid red maples in autumn. It is also known for granting blessings for childbirth and longevity, allowing visitors to feel Japan's traditional culture of prayer closely. The space where...

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Shiga

Joraku-ji Temple

"Joraku-ji Temple" in Konan City is an ancient Tendai sect temple counted as one of the Konan Sanzan. The main hall and three-storied pagoda, rebuilt during the Nanboku-cho period, are both designated as "National Treasures," showcasing the essence of traditional Japanese wooden architecture with no compromise. Especially, the temple buildings arranged utilizing the mountain slope harmonize beautifully with the surrounding rich nature; among seasonal landscapes, the sight dyed in autumn leaves is overwhelming. Spending time facing National Treasure architecture in precincts enveloped in silence, away from the hustle of tourism, is a very luxurious spiritual experience that lets you feel...

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Shiga

Junibo Onsen Yurara

"Junibo Onsen Yurara," located at the foot of Mt. Junibo (Mt. Iwane) in Konan City, is a comprehensive resort facility where you can enjoy day-trip hot springs and auto-camping surrounded by rich nature. The natural hot spring features open-air baths and saunas, ideal for healing fatigue after hiking or cycling. Furthermore, the attached campsite is well-equipped, allowing visitors to experience the globally popular "Empty-handed Camping" in the Japanese mountains. Popular with families and travelers wanting to fully enjoy modern Japanese outdoor life while appreciating Shiga's rich nature with all five senses, such as gathering around a campfire under a starry...

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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...

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Konsho-ji Temple

"Konsho-ji Temple," nestled deep in the mountains of Mt. Konze in Ritto City, is a historic ancient temple opened by Emperor Shomu's imperial decree during the Nara period. It once flourished as a base for mountain Buddhism, and the precincts house heavy wooden Buddhist statues crafted during the Heian period. The surrounding deep forest and mossy stone steps offer visitors a dignified, sacred air, conveying a unique worldview merging Japan's natural worship and Buddhism. Nearby hiking courses through dynamic rocky areas provide a perfect sanctuary for active travelers wishing to enjoy both refreshment in nature and exploration of Japan's ancient...

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