Japan. by Japanese.Japan, judged by a Japanese
The keep of Hikone Castle seen from below: white gables with gold ornaments, black wooden boarding and a stone baseA vermilion torii standing in Lake Biwa before dawn, mountains and shore lights across the waterSmall waves on a lake shore at sunset, sun rays fanning out through dark clouds

Shiga

Shiga: Places to Visit

Food · Things to do · Where to stay

Shiga is the prefecture around Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Visitors mostly come for Hikone Castle, whose keep has been a National Treasure since 1952, the Hachiman-bori canal in Omi-Hachiman, the glass shops of Kurokabe Square in Nagahama, and Enryakuji on Mt Hiei.

From Kyoto, the JR Biwako Line (Tokaido Main Line) runs to Otsu on the south side of the lake. Maibara, on the Tokaido Shinkansen, is the hub for the east side, about two hours from Tokyo.

Places in Shiga

  • Hikone — Hikone Castle, its keep a National Treasure since 1952; the Omote-mon ticket office is the one nearest JR Hikone Station.
  • Omi-Hachiman — A town on the Hachiman-bori canal, with boat rides of about 30 minutes; about 7 minutes by Omi Railway bus from JR Omi-Hachiman Station.
  • Nagahama — Kurokabe Square, old streets known as a glass town, with glass shops, galleries and workshops.
  • Mt Hiei (Enryakuji) — Enryakuji, about 40 minutes from JR Hiezan-Sakamoto Station via the Sakamoto Cable.
  • Otsu — The city on the south side of Lake Biwa, on the JR Biwako Line from Kyoto; the Otsu Festival is held in autumn.
  • Shigaraki — One of Japan's six ancient pottery centres, with the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park.