We are happy to announce the launch of our "Shiga Adventure Tourism" and partnership with Ayabex Inc!

Shiga Prefecture is wonderfully located for convenient access, only nine minutes from Kyoto, and yet is the home of Lake Biwa--the largest lake in Japan--and many other highly appealing natural spots. Tourism in the big city is always enticing, but how about stepping out of your comfort zone and enjoying a spot of adventure tourism in Shiga, seeking relaxation in both body and mind.

<Experience Option> Suited to hiking beginners: explore the nature and history of the mother mountain of Japanese Buddhism

◆Hieizan(Mt. Hiei) Trekking (Vicinity of the summit of Mt. Hiei to Enryakuji Temple Sai-to & To-do areas)

Trekking that can be casually enjoyed even by novice walkers. Take the ancient pilgrimage route up Hieizan to Enryakuji Temple, looking out over the impressive Lake Biwa from between the trees along the way.

<Experience Option> Suited to experienced hikers: Trekking the ancient road from Kyoto to Miidera Temple in Otsu

◆Trekking Over Nyoi (From Reikanji to Miidera, approx. 4 hours)

A pilgrimage route from Mt. Daimonji, over Nyoigatake and Mt. Nagara, to Miidera temple. Intended for more experienced hikers.

<Experience Option> A walk around town

◆Otsu Hyakucho Hizakurige Tour (A walk around town)　

Kyu Tokaido(The old Tokaido road) is one of the five roads that connected Nihonbashi in Edo-period Tokyo with Sanjo in Kyoto. This tour will take you around Otsu, a lodging town along the road, including the atmospheric shopping district and other famous sites.

<Experience Option> Farming experience

◆Visit to a local farmer and making mochi / eating lunch

◆Sailing Lake Biwa on the Shiga made yacht "ACTUS" (approx. 3 hours)

<Experience Option> Biwaichi cycling

Free and unfettered cycling at your own pace, using the Biwaichi Cycling Navi app.

<Experience Option> Motor paragliding

◆Take to the skies with a motor paragliding experience (flight time approx. 15 min)

<Experience Option> Watersport activities

◆Experience a range of watersport activities, including the stand-up paddleboard

24th September, 2020

9:30 JR Otsu station

We arrived at Otsu Station in Shiga Prefecture at 9:30 am, which is conveniently only 9 minutes away from Kyoto Station via the JR train system.Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established. Omi was a neighbor of Nara and Kyoto, at the junction of western and eastern Japan. During the period 667 to 672, Emperor Tenji founded a palace in Otsu. Although in current times, the prefecture is known as Shiga, you can see the old province name very prevalently in location names as well as their revered Ōmi Beef, one of the most well known beef brands in Japan along with Kobe Beef.

10:00 Arrive at Marina Club Revre

MARINA CLUB RIVRE is located only 30 minutes away from Kyoto and one hour away from Osaka using the JR Kyoto line and Kosei line. Take one step further for more fun and quality time.Transfer available from JR Katata station.

10:15~12:00 Sailboat (including instruction)

At the Marina Club Rivre, you can try a multitude of water based activities including SUP (Stand Up Paddle Boarding), wind sailing and yachting. We chose the latter for our activity this time around and took off in a yacht with a very experienced captain. While riding around the lake, he pointed out various points of interest such as Omi-Fuji, the tallest mountain in the area. After a bit of instruction, passengers are also allowed to pilot the yacht around the lake.

12:00~13:00 Omi beef BBQ

The Marina Club Rivre also offers lunch packages as well. We went with the Omi Beef package but they also offer a chicken set as well.

Omigyu (Omi beef) Set Menu (locally produced)

Oumigyu is considered to be among the top-three types of Japanese "wagyu" beef, together with Kobe beef and Matsuzaka beef. It has been recognized as a type of wagyu beef for over 400-years. Please enjoy this delicate, tender, and delicious beef.

Tankai chicken Set Menu (locally produced)

If you love chicken, we recommend our locally-produced Tankai chicken. The male chickens tend to be leaner, while the females tend to be tender, well-balanced, and moist. Both have a deeply satisfying taste. Enjoy the various textures and consistencies of your chicken, perfectly complemented by our fresh vegetables.

13:20 Arrive at Moriyama Giant Rental Cycle store

Cycling around Lake Biwa is famous cycling route for beginner cyclist in Western Japan. Known as "Biwaichi", this route aims to show riders the more local side of Shiga. ne can expect to run into all sorts of temples, shrines and lovely locals who are keen to share their slice of Japan with you.

Giant Store Biwako Moriyama was opened at Marriott Hotel, so there is no lack of accomodation for those wishing to travel leisurely around the lake.

As the Biwako Ohashi Bridges, which connect Otsu City and Moriyama City in Shiga Prefecture, will mark their 50th anniversary this year, a commemorative ceremony will be held on September 28. The 1.4-kilometer-long southern bridge will be pedestrianized for the first time since its opening. The anniversary will be celebrated through events such as 1,000 people holding hands while standing in a row on the bridge and others.

The first Biwako Ohashi Bridge was opened on September 28, 1964 as a "bridge of dreams" connecting the west coast and the southern and east coasts of the lake in order to contribute to industrial development and promote tourism at Lake Biwa. In 1980, pedestrian and bicycle lanes were installed. In response to increased traffic, a new bridge was constructed on the north side in July 1994, making a total of four lanes. Currently the bridges are run by Shiga Prefectural Road Public Corporation. More than 30,000 cars per day cross the bridges.

⇒Ukimido

The Ukimido, the "floating temple hall" at Mangetsuji Temple, is famous for being featured in one of the Eight Views of Omi, "wild geese returning home at Katata." The current structure is a recreation that was erected in 1937, and then underwent repairs in 1982, yet it fully retains the atmosphere of the original construction. The Kannondo in the temple grounds also contains an Important Cultural Property in the form of a statue of Sho Kannon.

⇒Back to Moriyama Giant Rental cycle store

16;30 Depart from Moriyama

17:30 Check-in at Hotel Koo

The accommodation is very nice and modern. You feel away from the city. It can be a bit noisy during the day, but if you want to relax at night it's perfect for you. I stayed alone and it was a bit too big for me, but if I ever go to Shiga, I would definitely go with a friend or 4.

9:30 Meet at Keihan Line "Sakamoto-Hieizanguchi" station

I left my accomodation in Osaka City and traveled a little more than an hour by train to begin my day in Shiga Prefecture. Sakamoto- Hieizanguchi is located in Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture, so it is easily accessible from larger cities such as Osaka and Kyoto.

9:45 Start trekking

After meeting with my fellow hiking companions, we walked for about five minutes to arrive in front of Hiyoshi Taisha shrine. The stone steps next to the torii gate at Hiyoshi Taisha mark the entrance to the Mt. Hiei trekking Pilgrimage route.

Honzaka was once the main path used by those coming to worship at Hieizan Enryakuji, but with the opening of the cable car, the route has seen far less use and is not especially well maintained. This makes the hike a bit more rigid than most other popular hiking locations, but it is not impossible. If you choose to take part in the hike, you should allot 2 to 2.5 hours to complete it with ample breaks and photo opts.

12:00 Arrive at Hieizan-Enryakuji Temple (top of the Mt. Hiei)

Lunch at Tsurugi Soba Noodle restaurant

13:00 Tour around Hieizan Enryaku Temple

Hieizan Enryakuji Temple, with its sprawling grounds across Mt. Hieizan, is the head temple of the Tendai Sect, and was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994 and as a Japan Heritage site in 2015. Conveniently located for access by driveway, cable car and all bus routes, it is comparatively easy to make it all the way to the top of the mountain. At Enryakuji Kaikan you can also experience what it's like to train at the temple, including Zen meditation and making copies of the sutras. Please inquire to 077-578-0047 (9:00 - 17:00) for more details.

Konpon Chudo, a national treasure, is a hall that was originally created from a structure erected by Dengyo Daishi Saicho, founder of Enryakuji Temple, in 788. Meeting with destruction at the hands of various disasters over the years, with each rebuilding it also increased in scale. Its current form was completed in 1642 under orders from Iemitsu Tokugawa. The statue of the Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru) Buddha here has an eternal light placed in front of it, which has not gone out in more than 1200 years. While the building is currently undergoing major repair work, the work itself is quite a sight to see as it is being performed on a National Treasure. Don't miss this chance to see interesting restoration work underway. (The work started in 2016 and will continue for approximately 10 years)

15:30 Back to the station by Sakamoto Cable

16:00 Arrive at Keihan Line "Hieizan-Sakamotoguchi" station

The hotel located near Hieizan Enryakuji Temple offers character lattes like Medama-Oyaji (目玉おやじ or 目玉親父, Lit. "Eyeball Father"), or Medama-no-Oyaji (目玉のおやじ). This particular one is a major character in the GeGeGe no Kitarō franchise. Once a fully-formed adult ghost, he perished of a disease, only to be reborn out of his decayed body as an anthropomorphic version of his own eyeball. His primary role in the series is to support the main character Kitarō with his knowledge of all things yōkai(japanese spirits).

Author : Deontae Deuce Griggs / Kansai Tourism Bureau

À l'époque d'Edo, deux grandes routes reliaient l'ancienne capitale, Kyoto, à la nouvelle, Edo : la Tokaido et la Nakasendo. Pour éviter les montagnes, elles devaient passer par Shiga, longeant le lac Biwa au sud. Encore aujourd'hui existent des échos de leur passé, notamment à Otsu et à Kusatsu.

Nous commençons la journée dans la capitale de Shiga, où nous visitons d'abord le pont Seta no Karahashi, qui enjambe la rivière Seta. Une courte promenade nous permet d'apprécier le paysage et de faire le plein de vitamine D. Ce pont a toujours été d'une importance stratégique puisqu'il s'agissait du lien direct à Kyoto le plus sécuritaire étant donné les vents capricieux qui soufflent du mont Hiei sur lac Biwa et déroutent les bateaux. Il a donc été détruit plusieurs fois pendant ses plus de mil ans d'existence et sa forme actuelle est moderne. Encore aujourd'hui, c'est un lieu passant, à l'ombre duquel des pêcheurs se tiennent sur la berge et où le festival Senkosai a lieu tous les mois d'août.

Pendant le festival, des mikoshi (un type de grand reliquaire portable) traversent le pont et voyagent sur la rivière. Un des mikoshi provient du sanctuaire shintoïste Takebe Taisha, notre destination suivante.

On dit que ce sanctuaire est l'un des plus anciens du Japon. Sa proximité au lac Biwa lui donne un lien fort avec l'eau, qui se reflète dans ses différents types de divinations omikuji : ici, la prédiction apparaît comme un message secret au contact de l'eau, là, elle se trouve dans un petit poisson qu'il faut pêcher!

Le sanctuaire est assez grand, avec un étang et un jardin en plus des nombreux bâtiments principaux et auxiliaires.

L'un d'entre eux, juste passé le pont où les carpes se rassemblent sous nos pieds, aiderait à trouver l'amour.

L'endroit est paisible et nous prenons une autre bouffée d'air avant de retourner à Karahashi.

Là, nous continuons notre chemin vers la boutique de céramique Karahashiyaki Kamamoto.

Contrairement aux autres poteries de Shiga, celles de style Karahashi utilisent de l'argile tirée directement du lac Biwa. Cette glaise proviendrait des créatures vivantes du lac, qui insuffleraient leur énergie aux céramiques. Le style est aussi célèbre pour sa laque de couleur « bleu lac Biwa ».

Après une discussion fort intéressante avec le maître potier, nous nous dirigeons vers un atelier à part, où nous passons l'heure suivante à fabriquer nos propres tasses.

Le maître est excellent professeur et nous nous amusons tous ensemble à créer. Le produit fini doit être cuit et lacqué à plusieurs reprises pendant un mois avant d'être prêt.

Venue l'heure du midi, nous retournons sur les berges de la rivière Seta, où nous embarquons à bord du Yakatabune Shiki, un bateau-mouche exploité par Shiga Chuo Kanko Bus.

Là, nous dévorons notre thé et nos boîtes repas remplies de spécialités de Shiga avant de monter sur le pont supérieur pour profiter du paysage.

Pendant un peu plus d'une heure, la croisière remonte la rivière et fait un tour du sud du lac avant de revenir à son point de départ.

La vue est, bien entendu, merveilleuse; je serais curieuse de la voir aussi de nuit, mais ce sera pour une autre fois! Pour l'instant, nous nous dirigeons vers la ville voisine, Kusatsu, où nous passerons l'après-midi.

À suivre...

Are you looking for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the big city?Then you should definitely check out Sunainosato in Otsu, Shiga. Sunainosato is a refreshing place which combines nature and Japanese hospitality to create a truly ethereal place. It is located on the border of Kyoto and Shiga. Heavily focused on nature and tradition, the displays, menus and estetic change with the seasons and holidays. This sweet spot will serve you traditional Japanese sweets, gourmet lunches,some of the best baked goods on the planet, as well as offer scenic seasonal flower gardens with the great hospitality Japan is famous for! You can even try your hand at making traditional Japanese sweets and other traditional activities. English speaking staff is available so don't fret too much about the language barrier. If you make a reservation, you can also try it.

Feel free to roam around the complex and discover charms unlike anything else. We recommend looking for all of the small child statues. They have really cute poses!

Come and enjoy the amiable atmosphere and high class food like Omi Beef( A strong contender for the best beef in Japan... watch out Kobe!)! We recommend this spot for foreign visitors who want to take a slower pace and commune with nature and tradition. Got questions? Comment section is below!

Sunainosato

4-2-1 Oishi Ryumon, Otsu 520-2266, Shiga Prefecture

Follow them on Instagram: sunainosato_kankou

(Author : Deuce Ludas Griggs, Kansai Tourism Bureau)

The first plate of the night was this Ōmi beef-cold shabu shabu(sliced beef) with sesame sauce. As the first dish of the dinner, there was a lot of anticipation built up from this moment. Mouth watering and feeling famished, I took my first bite of the small brown part that is cut in three featured blow. An explosion of flavor set off every dopamine receptor in my brain. I am usually not a fan of cold meat dishes, but this culinary concoction may be the only exception to the rule.

The second small plate consisted of three other dishes ;marinéd miso Herring roe, beef tartare and steamed duck. The real selling point for me were the various textures of each small bite. The duck had a firm and meaty texture (I honestly thought it was beef). The tartare was body temperature and was succulent. A very delicate flavor that kept to the theme of the prior dish with the same sauce. The most interesting of all was the marinated roe. The roe had tons of little pearl-like eggs that popped playfully on my palate. In short, it was a very fun dish to eat!

Continuing on my devourment, Ōmi Beef with boiled vegetable for shabu shabu was next on my hit list. The broth had subtle flavors that did not overpower the star of the dish, the beef. I quickly finished this dish as I could see the chef beginning to prepare the steaks for the main course.

The soup for this season was actually made of flowers. I could smell a bit of the floral remnants so I expected it to have a grassy or floral flavor, however I was pleasantly surprised by the creamy texture the soup had! It was a bit heavier than I expected as well but not so heavy as to fill me up.

Ōmi beef steak. The reason to come. It did not disappoint. Order it medium rare. No spoilers on this one folks. It is one of those things that you must experience for yourself.

The rice dish of the set was beef curry over rice. Although small in terms of size, it was big on flavor. The curry itself was quite mellow and allowed me to appreciate the domestically grown rice for its high quality. It was a very simple dish that was executed very well.

The seasonal dessert was a strawberry shortcake. I am not huge into baked goods, but it was really the perfect compliment to an amazing meal. Great thanks to the chef and staff of Matsukiya.

Matsukiya in Otsu,Shiga

9 Courses of Blissful Enjoyment

Address: 14-17 Karahashicho, Otsu 520-0851, Shiga Prefecture TEL:+81 77-534-2901

(Author : Mr Deontae Deuce Griggs, Kansai Tourism Bureau)

Day 2 - 100km - Moriyama to Makino

I rose early with excitement and continued South past the city of Kusatsu. This was the first section of the trip where I could truly see the opposite side of the lake from the shore as I was in the slimmest part in the South. I crossed the Setagawa Bridge at the Southern point of the lake and pressed on up the other side through Otsu city. This was the most built-up section of the trip so was not necessarily the most attractive however, the Ukimido or 'floating temple' was a pleasant surprise and felt like a real hidden gem.

I eventually escaped the urban sprawl of Otsu city and soon found myself in the multi-coloured rice paddies scattered around Wani and Hira on the Eastern banks. This was a particularly enjoyable part of the ride as I could just get my head down and focus on the ride without worrying about traffic. The further North I went, the more impressive the scenery was.

The Shirahige shrine was my next stop, which is a red tori gate that stands in Lake Biwa about 30 metres from the coast. The gate itself attracted lots of visitors all posing for photos from the shore but I took a stroll around the area, stumbled across the Iwato-sha shrine in the foothills of the mountains, and took refuge there from a sudden downpour. It was a well-needed rest and extremely atmospheric so I would recommend anyone visiting to look around the surrounding area.

The remaining 20km to Makino largely consisted of the city of Takashima, which was home to some lovely old-style backstreets away from the main road. Upon arriving at my hotel on the lakeshore, I was so tired I headed straight to the property's private beach and lay down to enjoy the sun setting behind me and reflecting off the lake.

Read next article - Day 3 here

On February 17th, we had the opportunity to go to Otsu city, the capital of Shiga Prefecture, and visit Ogoto Onsen and Miidera temple. We got to try a few different things; at Ogoto Onsen we did a foot bath, and at Miidera temple we participated in Zazen and made our own personal Juzu!

We first went to the Ogoto Onsen, the oldest onsen in Shiga prefecture, to try a hot foot bath. We expected the water would be hot, of course, but it turned out to be so hot that we couldn't even keep our feet in it at first. Although, once we got accustomed to the heat, it really did feel fantastic. It was a very soothing experience.

After the footbath, we ate lunch at the Onsen. We both ordered some Ohmi beef Gyudon, and it was delicious. The beef was juicy and flavorful, and it was a wonderful meal.

After having lunch at Ogoto Onsen, we went to the Miidera Temple, which is one of the four largest temples in Japan.

A monk from the temple took us on a tour of the temple grounds and various temple buildings, while teaching us about the history of it.

From the main gate, which is called the Niomon Gate, we went to the bell pavillion which houses on the Japan's three famous bells.

This bell is known for having a beautiful tone, and Tom and I were both allowed to ring it. We also saw Reisyo-do, another bell that was built in the 8th Century.

We then walked around the main hall where we saw statues of many different Buddhas.

We were also able to see the Issaikyo-zo, which is a library for the temple's scriptures, and To-in, which is the mausoleum of the temple's founder.

At this time we made our way over to a building that was outside of the usual tour route. Here, we learned about Zazen meditation, and were able to try it ourselves. It was a little difficult to maintain the proper sitting posture, but we thought the experience was very interesting.

Here, we learned about Zazen meditation, and were able to try it ourselves. It was a little difficult to maintain the proper sitting posture, but we thought the experience was very interesting.

Next, we walked over to the Bimyo-ji Temple to make our own juzu, which is a bracelet of beads often used as a charm.

The juzu consist of three stone beads and 24 wooden beads. The different kinds of stone and wood represented different things. We ended up picking beads that will help us in times of stress and in our studies.

We all had trouble tying the elastic string together at the end, but all our bracelets turned out very nicely!

Lastly, we walked up to Kannon-do where we said a prayer at the temple and took a picture with our guide.

The tour of Miidera Temple was fascinating and we both enjoyed it very much. The trip to Otsu has left us excited and eager to visit more places in Shiga and to learn more about Japanese history.

(Author : Charles Hill)

Do you know how to make a Japanese kite?

Normally, no special materials are necessary, unfortunately only you need a Japanese paper called Washi "和紙".

He is a Japanese kite master who working at Sunai-no-sato, Kanou Shojuan (Otsu city, Shiga prefecture)

My little two British / Brazilian girls are tried to making her own kite, but its too complicated. Firstly, my kids draw on her kite with cute animal pattern and some lovely items.

Very difficult!!!!

But finally....

Making and flying a kite with your child is a great way to spend time together and teaches useful skills, even some basics of aerodynamics. Best of all, it's fun to take advantage of blustery and freezing days!

Thanks to all staff in Sunai-no-sato! We had a great family day out!

De bon matin, j'ai pris le train jusqu'à la gare d'Ishiyama, à Ôtsu, pour prendre la première navette du jour jusqu'à Kanô Shôjuan Sunaï-no-Sato.

Situé dans les montagnes du sud de la capitale de Shiga, ce complexe sert de maison-mère à une compagnie de pâtisseries traditionnelles japonaises, et offre une foule d'activités. Au menu du jour : fabrication de mochi et de décorations du Nouvel An, et cérémonie du thé.

C'est à l'ombre d'une ancienne chaumière que nous prenons pilon en main pour pétrir du riz encore fumant. Le mochi est fait de riz gluant, que l'on frappe répétitivement avec un maillet jusqu'à l'obtention d'une pâte légèrement collante. C'est l'un des goûters traditionnels du Nouvel An et sa fabrication est tout un rite, appelé mochitsuki. Après avoir mis l'huile de coude chacun à notre tour, nous savourons le fruit de notre labeur : du mochi bien chaud, préparé de trois façons. Aux classiques pâte de haricots rouges sucrés et poudre de soja grillé s'ajoutait du radis blanc finement râpé, piquant et juteux, une nouveauté pour mon palais. Des trois, je préfère toujours le soja, mais je ne dis pas non à une deuxième part des autres.

Après ce délicieux goûter, nous nous dirigeons vers le bâtiment central pour fabriquer des mochibana. Ces « fleurs de mochi » servent de décorations traditionnelles au Nouvel An, et les boulettes roses et blanches sont censées appeler la chance et la prospérité. La tâche est plutôt facile, voire relaxante; il suffit d'orner des branches de saule de petites boules de mochi avant qu'il ne refroidisse. Une fois durci, son poids tire les branches vers le bas; le produit final me rappelle un feu d'artifice.

Toutes les branches ainsi alourdies, nous faisons le tour des boutiques de pâtisseries traditionnelles avant de nous déplacer vers la salle de cérémonie du thé.

Espace intime, la salle s'ouvre sur le jardin pour permettre aux visiteurs d'observer la nature au rythme des saisons. En effet, la cérémonie du thé est un moment de contemplation autant qu'une expérience gustative, et chaque détail honore le temps de l'année. En ce début décembre, les dernières feuilles rouges persistent sur les branches et les décorations du tokonoma (un poème, un objet d'art et un ikebana) reflètent le temps froid. À son arrivée, la maîtresse de cérémonie nous explique le sens de chaque objet avant de commencer la préparation du thé, et nous laisse déguster une pâtisserie exclusive en laissant errer notre regard. Comme j'ai la chance d'être la première en ligne pour le thé, elle me passe une tasse spéciale, ornée de lapins... Au Japon, on dit qu'un lapin vit sur la Lune, où il fabrique du mochi. Quelle meilleure façon de couronner cette journée!

Kanô Shôjuan Sunaï-no-Sato offre une variété d'activités tout au long de l'année; la fabrication de mochibana est offerte du début décembre à la mi-décembre (réservation requise dans certains cas).

La navette gratuite part de la gare d'Ishiyama quatre fois par jour (±30 minutes, premier arrivé, premier assis).

(By Émilie Lamont-Cardinal)