Shiga Travel Guide for Japanese Learners
Wrapped around Japan's largest lake, with a stunning castle.
Shiga is defined by Lake Biwa, the country's biggest freshwater lake. Hikone Castle is one of only a handful of original castles still standing.
History & background
Shiga (滋賀) surrounds Lake Biwa (琵琶湖), a strategic heart of old Japan. Hikone Castle (彦根城), completed in 1622, is one of only twelve original keeps still standing.
What to see
- Lake Biwa
- Hikone Castle (original keep)
- Enryaku-ji temple on Mount Hiei (UNESCO)
- Miho Museum
What to eat
Ōmi beef and funazushi (an ancient fermented sushi).
Getting there & when to go
Getting there: Ōtsu/Hikone are ~10–50 min from Kyoto by train.
Best time: Any season; an easy add-on to a Kyoto trip.
When to go — season by season
Cherry blossoms frame Hikone Castle in spring; the lake and Mount Hiei (比叡山) are pleasant spring through autumn. Winter is quiet and crisp.
A suggested visit
An easy add-on to Kyoto: tour original Hikone Castle and its garden, then visit the vast Enryaku-ji (延暦寺) temple complex on Mount Hiei, reached by cablecar.
Hikone Castle is a genuine original keep — rarer than most 'castles' you'll see in Japan.
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