News & Events | JAPAN SHIGA Tourism Official Website

Apr. 2016

Cherry Blossom Viewing in Shiga: 【Ho Park】Early Apr. – Mid-Apr. About 600 Someiyoshino blossoms burst into bloom around Nagahama Castle Historical Museum. It’s been designated one of the “100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan”. You can see a blanket of cherry blossoms from the castle tower. Cherry blossoms are lit up at night during the season. ※Depending on the degree of blooming. Address：10-10 Koencho, Nagahama City Access：5min walk from JR Biwako Line Nagahama Sta. Contact：Nagahama City Planning Division TEL：0749-62-4111 FAX：0749-63-4111 【Kaizuosaki】Early Apr. – Mid-Apr. Designated one of the “100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan”, about 800 Someiyoshino blossoms over 70 years old create a 4 km long cherry blossom tunnel at Kaizuosaki by Lake Biwa. It’s a well-known late blooming spot in the Kinki area. Address：Kaizu, Makino-cho, Takashima City Access：Take a Makino Community Bus (Makino Kogen Line) from the JR Makino sta. (JR Kosei Line) to Kaizuosaki-guchi. The spot is a 4 min. walk from the bus stop. Contact：Biwako Takashima Tourist Association TEL：0740-33-7101 FAX：0740-33-7105 Email：biwako@takashima-kanko.jp 【Miidera　Temple(Onjoji Temple)・Lake Biwa Canal】Early Apr. – Mid-Apr. Close to Mii-dera Temple and Lake Biwa Canal, it is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Shiga. The trees are lit up at night in the beginning of April. The illuminated tunnel of cherry blossom is breathtaking. Opening Hours：8:00～17:00（Lighting　Up　18:30～21:30） Entrance Fee for Mii-dera Temple：¥600 Address：246 Onjojicho, Otsu City Access：10min. walk From Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line Miidera Sta. Contact：Onjoji Temple TEL：077-522-2238 FAX：077-522-2221 URL：http://www.shiga-miidera.or.jp/translation/eng.html 【MIHO MUSEUM】Mid-Apr. – End of Apr. About 80 weeping cherry trees are in full bloom along the pass between the Reception Pavilion and the Museum Building. Address：300 Momodani Tashiro, Shigaraki-cho, Koka City Access：Take a bus from the south exit of the JR Ishiyama station (Biwako Line), bound for MIHO MUSEUM, for about 50 min. (¥820). Contact：MIHO MUSEUM TEL：0748-82-3411 FAX：0748-82-3414 URL：http://miho.jp/

Apr. 2016

Kaizuosaki Cherry Blossom Viewing Cruise: Kaizuosaki is one of the “100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan” and known as a late blooming spot in the Kinki area. The 4km row of cherry blossoms can also be seen from the lakeside. ※The schedule may change or be canceled depending on weather conditions. ※Blossom season may not coincide with the cruise schedule. 【Sakura Uraura】Departure and Arrival: Oura Port (Approx. 40min.) Apr. 2 (Sat)～17 (Sun)　(Charter service only from 4/2 to 4/8) Adult ¥3,000 4-12years old ¥1,500 Under 3 years old Free Oura Port～Nihonmatsu～Kaizuosaki～Oura Port ①10：00～ ②10：30～ ③11：00～ ④11：30～ ⑤12：30～ ⑥13：00～ ⑦13：30～ ⑧14：00～ Access：15 min. walk from JR Kosei Line Nagahara Sta. Contact / Reservation：Lakewest Kanko　 TEL：077-572-2114 FAX：077-573-9044 【Kaizuosaki Sakura Cruise】※Reservation required 《Departure and Arrival: Nagahama Port》・High-speed Boat（2h 30min／Daytime・Round-trip） Apr. 1 (Fri)～20 (Wed) Adult ¥3,090 Elementary school student ¥1,540 Nagahama Port～Strolling Kaizuosaki (30min.)～Nagahama Port ①9：20～ ②12：15～ ③15：00～・Vessel BIANCA（2h 40min.／Daytime・Round-trip） Apr. 5 (Tue)～19 (Tue) Adult ¥3,100 Elementary school student ¥1,550 Nagahama Port(14：20)～cruising Kaizuosaki ～ Nagahama Port ※Additional 11:00 am departure on 4/17,18 and 19 Access：10 min. walk from JR Hokuriku Main Line Nagahama Sta. Contact / Reservation：Biwako Kisen Nagahama Branch TEL：0749-62-3390 【Departure and Arrival: Imazu Port】Apr. 1 (Fri)～20 (Wed) ・Landing Course【1h 45min.】(Daytime・Round-trip) Adult ¥2,880 Elementary school student ¥1,440 Imazu Port～Strolling Kaizuosaki (30min.)～ Imazu Port ①9：25～ ②14：50～・Excursion Course【1h 20min.】(Daytime・Round-trip) Adult ¥2,670 Elementary school student ¥1,340 Imazu Port ～Cruising Kaizuosaki～ Imazu Port ①11：30～ ②13：15～ ③15：30 Access：5 min. walk from JR Kosei Line Ohmi-imazu Sta. Contact / Reservation：Biwako Kisen Imazu Branch TEL：0740-22-1747 【Kaizuosaki Cherry Blossom Viewing Boat】 Departure and Arrival: Hikone Port (2h 40min.) Apr. 1 (Fri)～20 (Wed) (Round-trip) Adult ¥3,500 Under 12years old ¥1,750 Hikone port～Viewing from the boat～Strolling Kaizuosaki(30min.)～Hikone port ①10：00～ ②13：00～ ③15：15～ Access：Approx. 12 min. taxi ride from the JR Maibara sta. (Tokaido Shinkansen) Or 5 min. taxi ride from the JR Biwako Line Hikone sta. west gate Contact / Reservation：Ohmi Marine Hikone Port　 TEL：0749-22-0619 FAX：0749-24-7999

Apr. 2016

Spring Festivals in Shiga: 【Sanno Festival】Apr. 12 ～ 14 Sanno Festival, one of the three big festivals of Shiga, takes place at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine for over a month and half, beginning on March 1st. The main attraction runs from April 12 to 14. The Umanojinji ritual, in which two portable shrines, representing the marriage between two gods, are brought down from Mt. Ushio on the 12th. The Yoimiya Otoshi ritual, where portable shrines are rocked vigorously to simulate gods being born is on the 13th. The Awazu-no-Goku ritual, in which seven portable shrines are loaded onto a boat to cross a portion of Lake Biwa is on the 14th. This Shinto festival is both dynamic and spectacular. Place：Around Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine 5-1-1 Sakamoto, Otsu City Access：20 min. walk from JR Kosei Line Hieizan-sakamoto Sta. or,5 min. from Keihan Sakamoto Sta. Contact：Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine　TEL：077−578−0009 URL: http://hiyoshitaisha.jp/ 【Nagahama Hikiyama Festival】Apr 9 ～ 16 (every year) Nagahama Hikiyama Festival is one of the three largest float festivals in Japan as well as one of the three big festivals of Shiga, and has been designated one of the nation's intangible folklore cultural assets. The children’s kabuki theater, performed by 5 to 12 years old boys on the night of the 13th, morning of the 14th and throughout the days of the 15th and 16th, astounds adults and captivates entire audiences. The parade of the child actors in costume on the night of the 14th and all the four Hikiyama floats illuminated by lanterns on the night of the 15th are a sight to see. Place：Around Nagahama City 10 min. walk from JR Biwako Line Nagahama Sta. Contact：Nagahama city Tourism Promotion Division TEL：0749-65-6521 FAX：0749-64-0396 URL：http://www.nagahama-hikiyama.or.jp/ 【Kusatsu Post Town Festival】Apr 26 around 10：00～19：30 Kusatsu Post Town Festival is one of the main spring events in Shiga. It is the 48th festival this year and nearly 80,000 people visit every year. The main attraction is the Procession of the Age where people in exquisite costumes strolls through the beautiful historic town. With local gourmet foods, stage performances by local participants and more, the festival continues to expand. Place：Near 1 Kusatsu, Kusatsu City Along previous Tokaido and Nakasendo routes, and around Kusatsu City Office. Access：10 min. walk from JR Biwako Line Kusatsu Sta. Contact：Kusatsu Post Town Festival Executive Committee（Kusatsu City Tourism Association） TEL：077-566-3219 FAX：077-561-2486 Email：shoro@city.kusatsu.lg.jp URL： http://www.932matsuri.com/