Enjoy Shiga’s Hidden Charms! The First Travel Guide You Should Read Before Visiting

Day 1 starts from Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu Station.
Take the train to Ishiyamadera Station, then walk 10 minutes to reach Ishiyama-dera Temple, your first destination.

This head temple of the Shingon sect stands on the banks of the Seta River, which flows out from Lake Biwa.
It is a rare temple in Japan built on a natural monument known as keikaiseki, and it was founded in 747 during the Nara period (710–794).
Its principal object of worship is the Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu, the only imperially sealed hidden Buddha of its kind in Japan.
Within the temple grounds are many impressive National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, including the main hall, the oldest wooden structure in Shiga Prefecture, Japan’s oldest tahoto pagoda, Tsukimi-tei Hall, the Higashi-mon Gate, and Miei-do Hall.
Another highlight is the breathtaking sight of towering keikaiseki rock formations and beautiful seasonal flowers.

Walk back to Ishiyamadera Station and take the train to Miidera Station.
A 7-minute walk from the station brings you to the head temple of the Tendai Jimon sect, which has a history of more than 1,200 years.
With more than 100 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, including the Kondo Hall, there is plenty to see.
The atmospheric temple grounds also feature four wonderful gardens created across three periods, the Muromachi, Momoyama, and Edo periods, allowing you to enjoy a stroll while soaking up a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Try unique experiences connected to the head temple of Shugendo, as well as zazen meditation, sutra copying, Buddha image copying, and Buddhist bracelet-making to experience Japanese Buddhist culture.

Walk to Miidera Station, take the train, and have lunch at Teuchi Soba Tsuruki, located right by Sakamoto-Hieizan-guchi Station.
This famous soba restaurant was founded 300 years ago in Sakamoto, the temple town at the foot of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei.
It is said that in this temple town, monks who had completed ascetic fasting training on Mount Hiei ate soba to ease their stomachs back into normal eating.
For a body tired from sightseeing, hand-made soba with its smooth texture is especially welcome.
After enjoying this traditional soba, head to your next destination, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, about a 10-minute walk away.

Sanno Sohon-gu Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine is a historic shrine built Approx. 2,100 years ago at the foot of Mount Hiei.
The shrine grounds are divided into two areas, the Eastern Main Shrine and the Western Main Shrine, and contain nearly 40 shrine buildings dedicated to various deities, all collectively called Hiyoshi Okami.
The symbol of Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine is the monkey, believed to be a messenger of the gods.
Because its name is associated with phrases meaning “evil departs” and “to excel,” it is said to bring blessings for warding off misfortune, protection from bad luck, victory, and success in exams.
Hidden throughout the grounds are divine monkeys said to bring blessings, so try finding them as you stroll around.

From Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, it is Approx. 5 minutes on foot to Sakamoto Station of the Hieizan Sakamoto Cable.
Ride the cable car to Enryakuji Station while enjoying spectacular views of Lake Biwa harmonizing with the surrounding nature.
Then walk 10 minutes to reach Konpon Chudo, the main hall of Enryaku-ji Temple in the main Toudou area, designated as a National Treasure.
Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei consists of three areas, Toudou, Saitou, and Yokawa, with around 100 halls and pagodas scattered across them.
Enryaku-ji is a vast temple complex in which the entire Mount Hiei itself forms the precincts.
Although the mountain halls, temple buildings, and Sakamoto temple lodgings were burned down by the warlord Oda Nobunaga, who opposed Mount Hiei, they were later restored and rebuilt by monks such as Kanshun of Kannon-ji, Zensho of Seyakuin, and the high priest Tenkai.
Because the mountain itself serves as a training ground, there are many pilgrimage and worship routes within the complex.
Take your time strolling through the grounds while feeling their religious solemnity and deep history.

After enjoying Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, take in the beautiful scenery of Lake Biwa on the Michigan Cruise by Biwako Kisen.
Return to Enryakuji Station, about a 5-minute walk away, and get off at Sakamoto Station on the Hieizan Sakamoto Cable. From there, walk Approx. 10 minutes to Keihan Sakamoto-Hieizan-guchi Station.
Take the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line and get off at Biwako-Hamaotsu Station.
Then walk Approx. 3 minutes to Otsu Port, board the Biwako Kisen cruise ship, and set off on the Michigan Cruise around the southern part of Lake Biwa.
From the sky deck, you can enjoy panoramic views of Mount Hiei, the Hira Mountains, Mount Mikami, and more.
On board, there are sightseeing announcements and live music performances, and the restaurant serves buffet-style meals (reservation required).
From late April to early May and again in summer, the Michigan Night Cruise also operates for a limited period.
Since it takes 1 hour 30 minutes to cruise Lake Biwa and enjoy the evening scenery, night views, and dinner, you may want to plan your travel schedule around it.

It is Approx. 11 minutes on foot from Otsu Port to HOTEL Kou Otsu Hyakucho.
For the first night, stay at this “shopping street hotel,” created by renovating seven machiya townhouses more than 100 years old in central Otsu City.
It is a lodging facility with a new concept, where the inn is located within a shopping street, born from the wish of a local construction company to preserve Otsu’s machiya townhouses.　　
Since the concept is to stay as if you were living in the town, room-only stays are the standard plan.
For dinner, try strolling through the shopping street and finding a delicious local gourmet restaurant.
Breakfast is also available at Omiya in the reception building (advance reservation required).

Day 2 starts from JR Otsu Station.
From Otsu Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid train and get off at Hikone Station.
It is Approx. 15 minutes on foot to the Special Historic Site of Hikone Castle Ruins.

Also known as Konkijo Castle, Hikone Castle was built by Ii Naomasa, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa, under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who won the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and established the Edo shogunate in 1603.
The keep standing atop Mount Hikone is designated a National Treasure together with its attached turret and tamon turret.
You can also tour the inside of the keep, and the view from the top floor overlooking Lake Biwa is not to be missed.
The Hikone Castle moat tour, which lets you view the castle from the moat, is also recommended.
Ride in a boat modeled after the houseboats once used by the feudal lord and enjoy the atmospheric scenery of each season.
Also not to be missed are Rakurakuen and Genkyuen inside the castle grounds, the former feudal lord’s residence and Japanese gardens designated as Places of Scenic Beauty by the national government.

After enjoying Hikone Castle, walk back to Hikone Station.
Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line and get off at Nagahama Station. From there, it is Approx. 5 minutes on foot to Kurokabe Square.
It prospered as a castle town during the Sengoku period and later as a post town and temple town, and today it is a popular sightseeing spot known for its retro streetscape.
Centered around the Kurokabe Glass Shop, a historic bank building from the Meiji period (1868–1912) that was renovated, the area is dotted with glass shops, galleries, restaurants, and more.
In addition to glass-related attractions, there are also plenty of craft experience facilities, so be sure to try one as a memory of your trip.
After enjoying the workshops and shops, have the local specialty yaki-tai somen for lunch.
This large dish of simmered whole sea bream and somen noodles, seasoned with a sweet and savory soy sauce-based flavor, is perfect for a body tired from walking around.

Walk back to Nagahama Station and take the train to Omihachiman Station.
Transfer to a bus at the station and get off at Kita-no-sho La Collina-mae to arrive at your next stop, La Collina Omihachiman.
This is the flagship facility of the Taneya Group, a confectionery company from Omihachiman that sells Japanese sweets.
Spread across the hillside extending from Mount Hachiman are the main Japanese and Western confectionery shops, along with cafes, a castella shop, food court, bread shop, and more.
In addition to standard items, limited products available only here are perfect as souvenirs.
In the glass-walled workshop, you can watch baumkuchen being baked right in front of you.
Take a break at the cafe on the second floor while enjoying freshly baked baumkuchen or dorayaki.

From Kita-no-sho La Collina-mae, take the bus for 6 minutes and get off at Obatacho Shiryokan-mae.
Once you get off the bus, you’ll find a streetscape lined with merchant houses built from the late Edo period to the Meiji period.
The area is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the buildings from that time are still carefully preserved today.
Features such as lattice doors and overhanging pine trees remain intact, allowing you to feel the area’s historical atmosphere as you stroll.
At the Omihachiman City Museum, valuable materials such as farm tools, production tools, and old documents are also on display.
Hachiman-bori Canal, built by Toyotomi Hidetsugu, the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, connected to Lake Biwa and was once used by boats carrying commercial cargo.
The Suigo Meguri boat tour along Hachiman-bori is popular and lets you slowly enjoy the atmospheric scenery of Shinmachi Street.