Manohama Beach is a beautiful sandy beach dotted with pines and has the Hira Mountains serving as its background. The water quality is high and the area’s transportation system is convenient all the way from Katata to Shiga, making it…

North central

The Seta River is the only river that flows out of Lake Biwa. The Seta River weir was constructed in 1905 in response to a disastrous 1986 flood in an effort to control the water levels of Lake Biwa, as…

Southern

Reaching a height of 30 meters and a width of 20 meters is an image of the Buddhist deity Acala and the Amitabha triad from the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) that is carved into the rock wall. Many pilgrims come to…

Southern

Located within the grounds of Chikatsuo Shrine, this is the location of the thatched hut in which the poet Matsuo Basho lived for four months during the Genroku Era (1688-1704). Basho’s time here was recorded in his famous “Genju-an Diary.”…

Southern

The shrine is considered to have first been established in 669 by the order of Emperor Tenji. The shrine has been known ever since as one location like Karasaki Shrine as a designated location for Shinto purification rituals to ward…

Southern

This shrine is linked to Fujiwara no Hidesato (Tawara no Tōda), who quelled Taira no Masakado’s rebellion. According to legend, during the Heian period, at the request of Otohime from the dragon palace at the bottom of the river beneath…

Southern

The Shiga Prefectural Museum of Modern Art exhibits modern Japanese and regional art, as well as postwar contemporary art, especially from Japan and the US. Works by Shiga-born master painter Yuki Ogura are displayed in a special corner.

Southern

This is a scenic spot located on the Seta River. The river current is fast here, despite the river’s narrowness, to the point where water rises and splashes across the rocks. The name of “Shishitobi” comes from the legend where…

Southern

This museum tells the history of zezeyaki pottery, famous as one of the seven pottery kilns favored by the tea ceremony master Kobori Enshu. Exhibitions feature tea containers, bowls, pitchers, and more. Visitors can also enjoy matcha tea from zezeyaki…

Central

The Shiga area has many beautiful sandy beaches dotted with pines and the Hira Mountains serving as their background. Lake Biwa is well known as a resort area, where the water quality is high and public transportation is convenient all…

Northern

Collecting, preserving, researching, and displaying the cultural and historical artifacts of Otsu. In addition to our permanent displays of videos and mannequins that introduce the history of Otsu in an easily accessible manner, we also regularly hold unique special exhibitions.…

Central

Imai Kanehira was the military commander of the latter half of the Heian period, and foster sibling of Yoshinaka Kiso (Minamoto). He fought together with Yoshinaka against Yoritomo Minamoto’s army in the battle of Awazu (1184), and after being defeated…

Central