Omi beef近江牛
One of Japan’s oldest wagyu brands, eaten as sukiyaki or steak around Omi-Hachiman and Hikone.
Kansai
Shiga Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
The prefecture wrapped around Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, just east of Kyoto. Highlights are Hikone Castle, the canal town of Omi-Hachiman and Enryakuji temple on Mt Hiei.
Open Shiga on the map38 places on the map · 11 local favourites
Local tips
- TipJR trains from Kyoto reach Otsu in minutes, so Shiga is easy to combine with a Kyoto stay.
- TipHikone Castle has one of Japan’s few original surviving keeps and is a short walk from Hikone Station.
- DoCycle along the lake shore; the full loop is popular, but short stretches are just as rewarding.
- Heads upThe north of the lake gets real snow in winter, unlike Kyoto; check conditions before driving.
- TipTake a boat to Chikubushima, a small sacred island in the north of the lake.
What to eat
Funazushi鮒ずし
Crucian carp fermented with rice for months — a pungent, very old form of sushi for the adventurous.
Omi champon近江ちゃんぽん
Noodles with pork and vegetables in a light, dashi-based broth, a local comfort food.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Gokasho Konpaku Old Town
五個荘金堂 まちなみ Sights & HistoryA preserved town of Omi merchant mansions with white walls and canals full of carp. Tour several houses to see how wealthy traders lived.
● Mostly localsSugatani Onsen
須賀谷温泉 Hot SpringsA secluded hot spring in the hills of Nagahama, with iron-rich reddish water. A quiet retreat.
● Mostly localsLake Yogo
余呉湖 Nature & SceneryA small, peaceful lake surrounded by mountains in northern Shiga, with a legend about a heavenly maiden. A quiet cycling spot.
● Mostly localsKusatsu Water Garden Mizu no Mori
草津市立水生植物公園みずの森 Nature & SceneryA water plant garden on the shore of Lake Biwa in Kusatsu, with water lilies and seasonal flowers. A calm local spot.
● Mostly localsUoji
魚治 Local FoodA historic Takashima maker of funazushi, the fermented crucian carp that is Shiga's famous and challenging delicacy. Taste it in the restaurant by the lake.
● Mostly localsTomita Shuzo
冨田酒造 Local FoodA long-standing sake brewery in the post town of Kinomoto, making Shichihon Yari. Taste and shop in the old brewery building.
● Mostly localsShigaraki Sotouen
信楽 宗陶苑 ExperiencesShoppingA pottery workshop in Shigaraki with a traditional climbing kiln, offering pottery classes. Shigaraki is famous for its tanuki statues.
● Mostly localsOmi-Maiko Beach
近江舞子 Nature & SceneryA white sand beach lined with pine trees on the west shore of Lake Biwa. A local swimming and camping spot in summer.
● Mostly localsUbagamochi-ya Honten
うばがもちや 本店 Local FoodThe main shop of Kusatsu's famous little rice cake, a small bean-paste mochi topped with white bean paste. A Tokaido snack for centuries.
● Mostly localsChanpon-tei Sohonten
ちゃんぽん亭総本家 彦根駅前本店 Local FoodThe original shop of Omi chanpon, a light bonito-dashi noodle soup piled with vegetables. Add vinegar halfway through, as locals do.
● Mostly localsMount Ibuki
伊吹山 Nature & SceneryShiga's highest mountain, known for its summer alpine flowers and views over Lake Biwa. Take the driveway to the summit.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Hikone Castle
彦根城 Sights & HistoryOne of only twelve castles in Japan with an original keep, overlooking Lake Biwa. Look for the mascot Hikonyan, who appears for photos.
Mangetsu-ji Temple
Temples & GoshuinchoNature & SceneryMangetsu-ji is a historic Buddhist temple on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, celebrated for its spectacular 'floating moon' reflection over the water. It…
Ogoto Onsen
Hot SpringsOne of the largest hot spring resorts in the Kinki region, Ogoto Onsen sits along the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture and has been welcoming visitors for…
Enryaku-ji
延暦寺 Temples & GoshuinchoSights & HistoryThe head temple of Tendai Buddhism, spread across the forests of Mount Hiei. The central hall has a lamp said to have burned for over a millennium.
La Collina Omihachiman
ラコリーナ近江八幡 Local FoodThe flagship of Taneya and Club Harie, with a grass-roofed main shop and fresh baumkuchen straight from the oven. The grounds are a fantasy of rice fields and green…
Shirahige Shrine
白鬚神社 Temples & GoshuinchoNature & SceneryA shrine with a vermilion torii standing in Lake Biwa. Sunrise is the best time for photos.