Visitors Guide

Hikone Castle

Kon gorinji Temple

Find the freedom to open your heart
SHIGA

Omi-Shiotsu

SHIGA
KYOTO

Omi-Imazu

TOKYO

Tokyo→NAGOYA

MaibaraOSAKA

Welcom e to Shiga Prefecture!

Kyoto Sta.
↓
Otsu Sta.
(JR Biwako Line)
10 min

The natural riches of Shiga Prefecture make itideal to enjoy the great outdoors amid stunning
scenery, including Lake Biwa, one of the world’s
most famous ancient bodies of water and Japan’slargest lake, stretching over one-sixth of the prefectural territory. Having prospered through theages as the heart of a sophisticated society andeconomy, Shiga’s deep history and culture arealso major attractions.

←

ro

sh

im

Kusatsu

Osaka Sta.
↓
Kyoto Sta.
(JR Kyoto Line)
30 minShin-Osaka
Osaka/Umeda

Shin-Kobe
Hi

Otsu

Kyoto

Itami
AirportOmihachiman

Nara

a

Kobe Airport
Kansai
Airport Sta.
↓
Kyoto Sta.
(Express HARUKA)
75 minKansai International
AirportJR Tokaido /San-yo Shinkansen
Express HARUKA
Other Railways
Expressway

Access to SHIGA
Travel time from major cities in Japan to Shiga Prefecture
Major City

Shiga Pref.

By Train

Distance

Kyoto

Otsu

10 min (Special Rapid Services)

Osaka

Otsu

40 min (Special Rapid Services)

MaibaraOtsu

45 min (Special Rapid Services)

NagoyaMaibara28 min (Shinkansen Hikari)Tokyo

Maibara134 min (Shinkansen Hikari)Kanazawa

Maibara113 min (Limited Express)

14.2 km (Kyoto Sta. → Otsu Sta.)

40.3 km (Suita → Meishin Expwy)
71.3 km (Meishin Expwy)

58.7 km (Komaki → Meishin Expwy)
402.4 km (Tomei/Meishin Expwy)

Kansai International Airport

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182.7 km (Hokuriku Expwy)

30 min(Bus)

HanedaInternational Airport

Chubu International Airport

NaritaInternational Airport

3

SHIGA
Basic Guide
Western Shiga
Kosei

Otsu, Takashima

As a rest-stop town along themain travel artery connecting
Tokyo and Osaka, the Otsu area flourished
as an inland port on Lake Biwa and today remains a place of scenic beauty, dotted withmajestic temples and shrines such as Enryakuji
Temple and Miidera Temple. Head northward towards the skyline of Hira mountains
to discover the wonders of wilderness in the
Takashima district, a great area to enjoy water
sports such as SUP, hiking, and skiing.

Northern Shiga
KohokuWestern Shiga
Takashima

MaibaraHikoneEastern Shiga
Koto

Omihachiman

Southern Shiga
Konan

Kusatsu, Koka, Shigaraki

Enjoy the atmosphere of a classic
lakeside resort at Kusatsu on theeast shore of Lake Biwa, still resplendent withechoes of past glory when it prospered as a major stop on the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads.
Attractions here include Konan Sanzan, famous for autumn leaves, and the experience of
becoming ninja in Koka. In the mountain village of Shigaraki, countless ceramic sculpturesof Japan’s beloved “tanuki” raccoon welcome
you amid an idyllic environment.

Koto

Hikone, Higashiomi, Omihachiman

Home to national treasures like Hikone Castle and the
daimyo gardens of historic nobility, a stroll through
Hikone is a trip back in time amid the scenery of this ancient castle-town. The school buildings of the former Toyosato Elementary
School are today a sacred place for anime fans of “K-ON!”. Historicalarchitecture and charming townscapes remain in Omihachiman, thefamous hometown of the wise Omi merchants.

4

SUMMER

Omihachiman Sagicho Festival

Moriyama Nagisa Park Sunflower Garden

Nagahama Nagahama Hikiyama Festival

The festival of Nagahama Hachimangu
Shrine is held from April 9 to 17 every
year. The floats, decorated with traditional
sculptures and paintings, are called a“mobile art museum.” Another highlight of
the festival is “Children’s Kabuki,” wherechildren give performances of kabuki.
(UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage)

Hikon e Hikone Castle Cherry Blossom Festival

Koka

Southern Shiga
Konan

Shigaraki

Taga Mantosai Festival at Taga Taisha Shrine

Held from August 3 to 5 at Taga Taisha
Shrine, this lantern festival is for offering
people’s gratitude for “Izanami no Mikoto,”
the progenitor goddess of the Japanesemyth. More than 10,000 lanterns are lit,
shining against the summer night sky andcreating a dreamy atmosphere.

Otsu Lake Biwa Grand Fireworks Festival

In spring, about 1,100 cherry trees in thearea around Hikone Castle start to bloom,
attracting many people with the beautiful
blossoms. The festival is held around April
1 to 20 every year, during which the cherry
blossoms along the moat are beautifully
illuminated.

About 10,000 launches of fireworks above
Lake Biwa create a colorful view of thesummer night sky and lake surface. This
festival attracts about 350,000 visitors every
year to come and enjoy the powerful, colorful
fireworks. You can enjoy the fireworks fromanywhere along the lake shores.

AUTUMNWINTER

Shigaraki Shigaraki Ceramics Festival

Nagahama Bonbai Exhibition

Shigaraki-yaki is the traditional craft productof the Shigaraki area. Beside the famous
Shigaraki statue of tanuki (Japanese raccoondog), various ceramic items, such asplateware, umbrella stands, and bathtubs,
are available. You can also join a pottery
workshop and have an opportunity to eat anddrink using Shigaraki-yaki cups and plates.

Otsu Otsu Festival

Northern Shiga
KohokuCovering the huge park of about 4,000 sq.
m., about 12,000 small sunflowers called“smile kids” bloom. The contrast between
the yellow sunflowers and Mount Hira isreally picturesque. The peak season for thesunflowers is usually mid to late July.

Higashiomi

Kusatsu
Otsu

Eastern Shiga

SPRING

A fire festival held at Himure Hachimangu Shrine. In
the afternoon of the first day of the festival, about 10
to 20 Sagicho floats, which are made with straw andcedar wood, with a height of six meters, depart theshrine. On the next day, the floats parade throughthe town from the morning and start to be torchedon the shrine grounds from about 8 p.m. (National
Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property)

Nagahama

Kosei

EventsShiga Prefecture has many notable seasonal events and aspects, such as festivals
with a unique background and/or extraordinary history, arts and crafts nurtured
through a long history, and natural landscapes with seasonal beauty.

Nagahama, Maibara

Nagahama once prospered as a major post town on
the Hokkoku Road. The townscape of Kurokabe
Square still retains the atmosphere of ages past. Visit the power spot
Chikubushima Island, climb Mount Ibuki, one of “Japan’s 100 most
famous mountains,” idyllic scenery of the Kannon Village, and take inthe view of Lake Biwa, which was chosen as one of the 100 best sunsets in Japan.

This festival at Tenson Shrine offers an
atmosphere similar to Kyoto’s Gion Festival. Itfeatures elaborate karakuri wind-up dolls oneach of the 13 hikiyama (dashi) floats. During
the parade of the floats, the dolls showcase
their karakuri performances at more than
20 sites. (National Important Tangible Folk
Cultural Property)

Takashima Colored Leaves of the Row of Metasequoia Trees

About 500 metasequoia trees stand along
the prefectural road for about 2.4 km,
creating impressively beautiful scenery. The
leaves of the metasequoia trees don’t turn tobright red but to more unique colors, which
are described as “brick color” and “brownish
color.”

About 90 bonbai, ume plum tree bonsai, arebeautifully displayed in Japanese style tatami
rooms. These bonsai include a very tall treeof close to three meters and a very old tree,
which is claimed to be 400 years old. Enjoy asophisticated technique and natural beauty
at the same time!

Otsu Omi Jingu Shrine Karuta Festival“Karuta” is Japan’s traditional card game, inwhich participants compete with each otherfor the speed of grabbing the correct card
indicated by reading out loud of a poem.
After “Karuta Opening Ceremony” with four
women in a traditional costume, the national
championship tournament of competitive
karuta is held.

Omihachiman Hina-doll exhibition

Precious hina dolls and gogatsu ningyo dolls,
which are owned by the local merchants,
are displayed. From the elaborate works on
the dolls, you can feel the spirit and attitude
of merchants in Hachiman to cherish theculture and tradition. Why not go and see theelegant dolls in the quaint old town?

5

カヌー

ga

Across theprefectureiSh

Ac t i v i t i e s

Activities

Taking advantage of the features of Lake Biwa,
you can enjoy various activities, such as water sports,
including canoeing and SUP, ferry cruise, and cycling along the lake.
Feel the blessings of the area’s rich nature through your whole body.

Canoeing
Lake Biwa is a perfect place to enjoy water activities, such as canoeing. You can get uniqueexperiences only available on Lake Biwa, such as visiting Shirahige Shrine, which features thetorii gate standing in the lake, by canoe, and touring popular spots and spots where you cansee wild animals by kayak.
Across the prefecture

Across theprefecture

Otsu

Across theprefecture

ミシガンクルーズ

Western ＆Northern Shiga

SUP

スキー場

“Biwaichi” Cycling

Michigan Cruise

SUP

Ski Areas

Cycling around Lake Biwa is called “Biwaichi.” Cycling along theblue lake while feeling a pleasant breeze, you can fully enjoy various
attractive aspects of Shiga Prefecture through your five senses, such as
the old castle and streets and mountains and plants and flowers givinga different impression for a different season.

“Michigan” is a sightseeing ship travelling around the south part ofLake Biwa. You can get a fully-satisfying cruising experience in various ways, such as a panoramic view from the top-floor deck, sightseeing guidance by the purser, music shows, and various tasty dishes.

Lake Biwa is a nice place to enjoy SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard). You
can also experience unique SUP programs, including SUP with yoga
and with your pet. Why not enjoy SUP on the beautiful lake withgood water quality?

Are you interested in enjoying skiing on a slope with a great view
looking down at Lake Biwa? Go down the slope as if you are diving
into the lake, and you will be able to feel a thrill and excitement of
the highest order. Various ski runs are available, for beginners to experienced skiers.

Around Lake Biwa

6

サイクリングビワイチ

Otsu Port : 5-1-1 Hamaotsu, Otsu City, Shiga
Hamaotsu Sta. (Keihan) → 3 min walk / JR Otsu Sta. → 15 min walk

Across the prefecture

The western / northern areas in the prefecture7

ga

比叡山延暦寺i
Sh

Otsu

Hi s t or i c al Si te s

H i s t o r i c a l Si t e s

Hieizan Enryakuji Temple
This temple with a history of 1,200 years has about 100 buildings scattered throughout thehuge grounds of 1,700 hectares on Mount Hiei. Located on the border between Shiga andKyoto prefectures, the temple offers a panoramic view of Lake Biwa below and the streets of
Kyoto in the west. It was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage sites in 1994.

Shiga Prefecture has many historical sites, where you can feel the long history of Japan.
Many of them are instagrammable spots with a great view and perfect for strolling.
As various kinds of traditional events and hands-on experience programs are offered,
you will enjoy travelling in the area without ever getting bored.

Takashima

白鬚神社

Otsu

近江神宮

Otsu

石山寺

Shirahige Shrine

Omi Jingu Shrine

Ishiyamadera Temple

Featuring the torii gate standing in Lake Biwa, this shrine is said tobe the oldest in the prefecture as it has a history of more than 2,000
years since its foundation. The god of this shrine is known as a god of
longevity. In the shrine, there is an observatory, from which you can
get a panoramic view of the torii gate and Lake Biwa.

Enshrining the Emperor Tenji, who is said to be the person who madeJapan’s first clock, this shrine has an exhibition facility with a collection of various clocks. Also holding a championship tournament ofcompetitive karuta and a yabusame demonstration, this shrine offers many opportunities to come in contact with traditional cultureof Japan.

Reportedly founded in 747, this temple is one of Japan’s most famous temples enshrining Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) in Japan, who has long been
worshipped by many people. Visiting this temple became popular among the nobility, which is said to have led to Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki), Japan’s renowned female novelist, getting the idea for the “Tale of Genji” here. The temple also has a large collection of National Treasures and Important Cultural
Properties. On the grounds of the temple, you can enjoy beautiful seasonal flowers.

215 Ukawa, Takashima City, Shiga
JR Omi-Takashima Sta. → 5 min by taxi

84220 Sakamoto-honmachi Otsu City, Shiga
JR Hieizan Sakamoto Sta. → 20 min walk → Sakamoto Cable →Cable Enryakuji Sta. → 10 min walk

1-1 Jingu-cho, Otsu City, Shiga
Omijingumae Sta. (Keihan) → 10 min walk1-1-1 Ishiyamadera, Otsu City, Shiga
Ishiyamadera Sta. (Keihan) → 10 min walk9

H i s t o r i c a l Si t e s
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HikoneHi s t or i c al Si te s

彦根城

Hikone Castle
Built in the early 17th century, this castle is a symbol of Shiga Prefecture. As it has beenwell-maintained, many buildings still remain as they were at the time of completion. In spring,cherry blossoms bloom beautifully around the castle, creating a nice contrast with the whitewalls of the castle. The castle tower has been designated a National Treasure.
Konki-cho, Hikone City, Shiga
JR Hikone Sta. → 15 min walk

Otsu

ChikubushimaIsland

Otsu

竹生島

三井寺

Ukimido (Mangetsuji Temple)

Chikubushima Island

Miidera Temple (Onjoji Temple)

This building jutting out into Lake Biwa has a unique atmosphere. It
is said to have been built about 1,000 years ago as a place of prayer forsafety on the lake and the swift rescue of people in danger. As it has
been famous as a scenic site since early times, famous literary figures
have visited this temple and created haiku poems.

Said to be the greatest “power spot” of Lake Biwa, this island ishome to buildings of high historical value, such as Hogonji Temple,
which enshrines “Dai-benzaiten,” one of Japan’s three great shrinesof Benzaiten (Benzaiten is the goddess of music, water, and wealth),and Tsukubusuma Shrine. There is a theory that the Karamon Gateof Hogonji Temple is the only architectural remains of the original
Osaka Castle (National Treasure).

With a history of more than 1,200 years, this temple has managed
to overcome difficulties no matter how many times it was involvedin wars and other strife, and therefore it has earned the nickname“Phoenix Temple.” At this temple, you can try various kinds of experiences, such as yamabushi monk training, zazen sitting meditation,and shakyo sutra copying, and you can even stay overnight. There isalso a cafe where you can enjoy local tea and tea cups.

1-16-18 Honkatata, Otsu City, Shiga
JR Katata Sta. → by bus → Demachi stop → 7 min walk

10

浮御堂

Hayazaki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga
JR Nagahama Sta. → 10 min walk → Nagahama Port → Chikubushima byboat / JR Imazu Sta. → 5 min walk → Imazu Port → Chikubushima by boat

246 Onjoji-cho, Otsu City, Shiga
Miidera Sta. (Keihan) → 7 min walk11

びわこ箱館山

Otsu

大津絵の魔除け鬼土鈴の絵付け体験

Hikone

機織り体験

Biwako Terrace

Biwako Hakodateyama

Lucky Ogre Bell Otsu-e Painting Program

Weaving Experience Program

Biwako Terrace consists of two terraces at the summit of two mountains, one of 1,180 meters and the other of 1,174 meters above sea level, from which you can look down on Lake Biwa. One of the terraces,“The Main,” offers a place where you can enjoy a great view while relaxing on the sofa on the wooden deck. It also offers a good selectionof beverages and tasty food at cafes and a restaurant.

Reaching the summit at an elevation of about 630 meters by gondola, you will be in an open space with a panoramic view of Lake Biwa.
Along with colorful seasonal flowers and plants, such as petunias, kochias, and sunflowers, this resort park has many attractive spots tosee, such as rainbow curtains consisting of local specialty fabric and asmall corridor full of colorful grass wind chimes.

Otsu-e painting is a unique folk art, which was born in Otsu City
about 400 years ago. The variety of Otsu-e painting motifs includes
gods, human persons, and ogres. In the city, there is a hands-on experience program to paint an ogre, one of the representative charactersof Otsu-e painting, on a clay bell.

Omi-jofu, a traditional craft product of Omi, is a textile that is cooland light, and therefore is perfect for the hot humid summer. Omijofu Traditional Kogei Center offers a hands-on experience to makea coaster or a book mark using hemp thread, which is rare as a material for traditional craft fabrics, and a hand-loom weaving machine.

1547-1 Kido, Otsu City, Shiga
JR Shiga Sta. → 10 min by bus → Biwako Valley stop

Koka

4201-1 Hiokimae, Imazu-cho, Takashima City, Shiga
JR Omi-Imazu Sta. → 20 min by bus → Hakodateyama stop

忍者屋敷

Koka

MIHO MUSEUM

Ichie Wado Seminar House : 4-17 Kozeki-cho, Otsu City, Shiga
Miidera Sta. (Keihan) → 8 min walk / JR Otsu Sta. → 12 min walk

Shigaraki

陶芸体験

Omi-Jofu Traditional Crafts Center : 32-2 Echigawa, Aisho-cho, Echi
County, Shiga
Echigawa Sta. (Ohmi Railway) → 10 min walk

Nagahama

海洋堂フィギュア
ミュージアム黒壁

Koka Ninja HouseMIHO MUSEUM

Pottery Experience Program

Kaiyodo Figure Museum Kurokabe

This is not a ninja house recreated for tourists but was really a house
where real ninja used to live. In this house, you can not only learn
about the history of ninja but also try various trapdoors and othercontrivances that were actually used, feeling the world of ninja more
intimately.

Located in the mountains rich in nature, this art museum has a collection of about 3,000 antiquities from Japan, ancient China, Europe,and other places, and offers a permanent exhibition of about 250 to
500 pieces from the collection. The museum restaurant serves dishes
made only with ingredients that were grown without using agricultural chemicals and chemical fertilizers.

In Shigaraki Town, which is famous for Shigaraki-yaki ceramics, you
can also enjoy a hands-on pottery experience at a pottery studio. You
can create a rice bowl, tea cup, or plate based on your own idea. It
sounds nice to create a piece of the local specialty with your own
hands, for a memento of your trip!

This is a museum of “Kaiyodo,” a world-famous figure manufacturer.
More than 4,000 items are displayed, including character figures of
popular anime series and TV and movies with special effects. Somehands-on experience programs are offered, for painting figures or
production of dioramas.

2331 Ryuboshi, Konan-cho, Koka City, Shiga
JR Konan Sta. → 20 min walk

12

Takashima

300 Tashiro Momodani, Shigaraki-cho, Koka City, Shiga
JR Ishiyama Sta. → 50 min by bus → MIHO MUSEUM stop

Ogama : 947 Nagano, Shigaraki-cho, Koka City, Shiga
Shigaraki Sta. (Shigaraki Kohgen Railway) → 15 min walk or 3 min by taxi

He al ing and E x p er i en c e s

びわ湖テラスga

Otsu

You can have many opportunities to encounter something that makes you relax and stimulates yourcuriosity, including spots on the mountain from which you can enjoy a grand panoramic view of Lake
Biwa and facilities where you can step into the world of ninja and miniature figure dolls.

i
Sh

Healing andExperiences

13−31 Motohamacho, Nagahama City, Shiga
JR Nagahama Sta. → 5 min walk

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近江牛

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Other
areas

i
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Specialty Dishes

Sp e c i al t y D i she s

Omi Beef
Omi Beef is one of Japan’s three best wagyu beef brands, along with Kobe Beef and Matsusaka
Beef. Omi Beef has a history of over 400 years, and features a good and tender quality of themeat and melt-in-the-mouth texture. There are various ways to enjoy the beef, including
steaks, sukiyaki, and shabushabu.

In Shiga Prefecture, you really cannot miss delicious local dishes.
They include a wide variety of delicious food to satisfy both your palate and soul,including famous brand wagyu beef, Japanese sake, and sweets. After having fun at a sightseeing spotor in a hands-on experience program, you should really savor delicious food and wonderful drinks.

Other
areas

14

日本酒

Other
areas

発酵食品・湖魚

Other
areas

Other
areas

和菓子とスイーツ茶SakeFermented food products and lake fish

Wagashi / Sweets

Green Tea

Shiga Prefecture with its Lake Biwa is a basin surrounded by mountains. Being rich in water resources, it is a producer of high-quality
rice that is suitable for sake brewing. The prefecture has many sakebreweries that offer a brewery tour, making it an irresistible place forsake lovers.

Fermented food products are popular among health-conscious people
as they are believed to be effective in boosting your immune system.
In Shiga Prefecture, which has been blessed with rich natural resources, the culture of fermentation, including funazushi, in which salted
fish is fermented with rice, local sake, miso, and vinegar, has a long
history and is deeply rooted in people’s lives.

A wide variety of cute pieces of mochi rice cake, yokan sweet bean
jelly, shaved ice, and delicate wagashi is available, along with many
long-established popular wagashi and sweets stores. A great selectionof sweets, including Baumkuchen, eclairs, and gelati, is also on offer.
As there are many unique cafes, it would be a good idea to stop bysome of them during your trip.

Shiga Prefecture has been a tea producer from olden times, with ahistory of more than 1,200 years of tea production. Among others,
the Asamiya area of Shigaraki Town is a producer of Asamiya tea,
one of Japan’s five most famous teas, and which has distinctive aroma
and deep astringent taste. You should savor the taste in a Shigarakiyaki tea cup.

15

Another attractive aspect of Shiga Prefecture is onsen.
By immersing yourself in the thermal water while gazing at Lake Biwa in a relaxing atmosphere,
you can relieve the fatigue of travelling and refresh yourself mentally and physically! With onsen,
which can be enjoyed both at the beginning and the end of your day,you can make more wonderful memories of your trip.

おごと温泉

Nagahama

太閤温泉

Taiko Onsen

With a history of about 1,200 years, Ogoto Onsen is famous as an
onsen where you can enjoy the sunrise. If you watch the sunrise froman open-air bath with a panoramic view of Lake Biwa, it will be an
unforgettable memory. There are also drop-in bathing facilities andfree footbaths.

Taiko Onsen with brownish-red hot spring water has its source under the ruins of Nagahama Castle. The water is characterized by its
long body-warming effects: it is said that once you immerse yourself
in the hot spring water, your body will keep warm for a long time. It
is assumed to be effective for relieving nerve pain, rheumatism, andsymptoms of gynecological disorders.

Ogoto, Otsu City, Shiga
JR Ogotoonsen Sta. → 20 min walk16

4-25 Koen-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga
JR Nagahama Sta. → 10 min walk

Other
areas

愛知川
びん細工てまりShigaraki-yaki Ceramics

Echigawa Bintemari Bottle-crafted Temari Balls

Shigaraki-yaki ceramics are produced in the Shigaraki area and they are
one of the major local specialty items of Shiga Prefecture. Beside the famous
Shigaraki statuette of tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog), various ceramic items
for various purposes, such as plateware, umbrella stands, and bathtubs, areproduced. The area has many places where you can enjoy a hands-on experience of pottery, so if you are interested in it, you really should try your hand!

This unique and cute traditional craft product is a small round glass
bottle stuffed with colorful temari thread balls. Its origin is unclear;
however, it is said to have been brought to the area in the late 19th
century. In order to keep the techniques alive, the production is ongoing even today.

Around Shigaraki Town : Shigaraki-cho, Koka City, Shiga
Shigaraki Sta. (Shigaraki Kohgen Railway)

Other
areas

Ogoto Onsen

信楽焼

琵琶湖パール

S ou venir s / L o c al I nd u s t r i e s

One of the attractive aspects of Shiga Prefecture is its having lots of unique local specialty products,
including nationally-famous Shigaraki-yaki ceramics, pearls from Lake Biwa, and Bintemari bottle-crafted temari balls, and senkotsu fan frames, among others. They all make great souvenirs. There
are also hands-on experience programs to join monozukuri (“making things”).
Shigaraki

Otsu

i
Sh

So u v e n ir s / L o c a l I n du str i e sga

On se nEchigawa Bintemari no Yakata : 1673 Ichi, Aisho-cho, Echi County, Shiga
Echigawa Sta. (Ohmi Railway) → 10 min walkTakashima

高島扇骨

Lake Biwa Pearls

Takashima Senkotsu Fan Frames

Pearls can be cultured and harvested in lakes as well as in the sea. Lake
Biwa used to be a big producer of freshwater pearls. Different from seawater pearls, freshwater pearls from Lake Biwa are unique with various
colors and shapes. Recently, the value of Lake Biwa Pearls has been positively re-evaluated and the resumption of the production is in progress.
You can also purchase pearls, and join an accessory-making program!

Senkotsu is a frame of a sensu foldable fan. About 90 percent of theframes produced in Japan are made in Takashima City. Senkotsu aremade with thin pieces of bamboo and are mostly made by hand. Mostof the frames are shipped to Kyoto, where pictured paper is pasted
onto each frame to sell as a kyo-sensu; however, recently you can findunique local sensu fans.

17

Recommended
RoutesPlan for independent travelers
FIT

Group

Western SHIGA

Coach

Car

Public Transport

Southern SHIGA

Eastern SHIGA

Tourist Information Locations

After arriving in Shiga, you might have many things to ask about to local people, such asrecommended sightseeing spots and where to eat delicious food. For such inquiries, go to
the tourist information center! At Hikone, Nagahama, Otsu, and many other places in theprefecture, tourism experts await you!

Northern SHIGA

2 Miidera Temple

3 Hikone Castle

Chikubushima Island 1 4 Omi-Jofu

Hikone City Tourist
Information Center

Nagahama Station Tourist
Information Center

Address
40-7 Furusawa-cho, Hikone City, Shiga

Address
1-5 Kitafuna-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga

Phone
0749-22-2954

Phone0749-63-7055

https://tic.jnto.go.jp/jpn/detail.php?id=1218

https://tic.jnto.go.jp/jpn/detail.php?id=3313

Otsu Station
Visitor’s Information Center

Ishiyama Station
Visitor’s Information Center

Address
1-3 Kasuga-cho, Otsu City, Shiga

Address
2-28 Awazu-cho, Otsu City, Shiga

Phone
077-522-3830

Phone
077-534-0706

https://tic.jnto.go.jp/jpn/detail.php?id=1211

https://tic.jnto.go.jp/jpn/detail.php?id=1213

Schedule
Day 1
09:15

Day 3
09:00 (Start)

JR Otsu Sta.

Miidera Temple / Yamabushi (mountain priest)
10:00 16:30 ascetic training experience

09:40

Hachimanbori Moat Traditional Boat Tour (30minutes, 1,500 yen/person), La Collina

10,000 yen per person (with boxed lunch)(Stay) WAQOO Mii-dera is recommended.
Other options: ①Inase (Important Culrual
Property) ②Hotel Koo ③Hotel style: Biwako
Hotel, Lake Biwa Otsu Prince ④Onsen
ryokan style: Ogoto Onsen Yuzanso
Plan for consecutive nights

Day 2
09:30 (Start)
10:20 12:00

Harie Shozu no Sato Inbound Guide Tour(with English/French-speaking guides)(Lunch) Shozu Restaurant (Inside Rachinehome Harie) or Kawashin, etc.

13:00

15:20
16:30

Imazu Port → Chikubushima Island

13:10 Imazu Port → 13:35 ChikubushimaIsland (75 minutes) → 14:50 ChikubushimaIsland → 15:20 Imazu Port
Imazu Port → Taxi
(Stay)

Shiga MK Taxi charter plan

Omihachiman

12:00 13:30 (Lunch) Omi Beef Restaurant "Tiffany" or Morishima
Hemp fabric weaving experience at Omi-Jofu
14:00 15:00 Dento Sangyo Kaikan (English/French available)

Omihachiman Kitaguchi (North Exit)
Tourist Information Center
Address
Takakai-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga
Phone
0748-33-6061
https://www.japan47go.travel/ja/detail/9bbd8000-32f9-41b0-bcf09b484f09a32b

Shigaraki
Tourist Association
Address1203 Nagano, Shigaraki-cho, Koka City, Shiga, (Traditional Craft
Center of Shigaraki)Phone
0748-82-2345
https://www.city.koka.lg.jp/16124.htm

Experience program: from 500 yen

15:30 16:45 Hikone Castle, Genkyu-en Garden
17:00(Stay) Acommodation options in Hikone:①Hikone Castle & Spa Resort (in front of Hikone
Castle) ②Hikone no Machiya, Honmachi Juku
③Ryotei ryokan Yasui ④Futabaso
Activity examples: Local bar-hopping tour
with staff of Omi Tourism Board
Day 4

09:30 (Start) → Sightseeing in Northen Lake Biwa

Sightseeing options:①Participating in Biwako Backroads Local Tours②Hikone Port → Take Island (uninhabited island on
Lake Biwa, landing and walking available) ③Mount
Ibuki Trekking, full of herbs, paraglider available)④Rosa & Berry Tawada (Recreating "Shaun the
Sheep" world) ⑤Blacksmithing experience (Manyo
Kajigoya): Nagahama City Tangible Cultural Property)

Biwako Takashima Tourism
Association
Address
1-10- 1 Asahi, Shinasahi-cho, Takashima City, Shiga

Biwako Visitors Bureau

Phone
0740-33-7101

T his brochure is based on the information

2023/10provided by the establishments and/or Biwako
Visitors Bureau as of September 2023. Please

https://takashima-kanko.jp/

bear in mind that details are subject to change
without prior notice. Please check each facility’s
offi cial website or SNS for the latest information.

SHIGA/BIWAKOSHIGA Tourism Official Website
https://en.biwako-visitors.jp/

JR WEST
Transportation, Economical Passes, etc.
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/

Biwako Backroads: Soy sauce brewery tour, Cycling, Visiting traditional artisans, etc.An interpreter-guide in Spanish is available among Nagahama Regional Licensed Guide Interpreter.

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