page_title: Ōtsu
section_title: Notable places
hierarchical_section_title: Ōtsu / Notable places
caption_attribution_description: English: Pagoda of Ishiyama-dera Buddhist temple (Japan's national treasure), in Otsu, Shiga prefecture, Japan 日本語: 石山寺多宝塔（国宝）, 滋賀県大津市
context_page_description: Ōtsu is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Ōtsu is known as the main port of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It briefly served as the capital of Japan from 667 to 672 AD during the Asuka period. The city is home to numerous sites of historical importance, notably the temples of Mii-dera, Ishiyama-dera, and Enryaku-ji and the Hiyoshi Taisha shrine. Enryaku-ji is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto". Ōtsu was incorporated as a town on April 1, 1889. In October 1, 1898, Ōtsu-town was officially changed to Ōtsu-city.
  As of October 1, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 341,187 and a population density of 730 persons per km². The total area is 464.51 km².
context_section_description: Ōtsu is home to numerous historical sites, temples, shrines, and other buildings, many of them designated as National Treasures of Japan.
caption: Pagoda of Ishiyama-dera, a National Treasure of Japan
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