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Shiga

28 places to visit, with what each one is and notes on getting there.

Planning a trip to Shiga

How the spots group

In Ōtsu, Enryaku-ji and Mount Hiei are 0.5 km apart in a straight line, and Ishiyama-dera, Mangetsu-ji and Sakamoto Castle are in the city too, as is the Ōtsu Port of the Lake Biwa cruises. In Nagahama, Kurokabe Square is 0.6 km from Nagahama Castle, and Chikubu Island and Tsukubusuma Shrine are 0.3 km apart. Hikone Castle is in Hikone, Azuchi Castle Ruins in Ōmihachiman and Metasequoia Avenue in Takashima; Saimyō-ji and Kongōrin-ji are 2.5 km apart.

Where to start

Two routes are checked: the Ōtsu Port cruises on Lake Biwa leave near Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu Station, or by bus from JR Otsu Station; and the Lake Biwa Museum is reached by Ohmi Railway bus from the west exit of JR Kusatsu Station on the Biwako Line. Other pages name the nearest station: Hikone on the Biwako Line for Hikone Castle, Cable Enryakuji on the Sakamoto Cable for Enryaku-ji, Ishiyamadera for Ishiyama-dera, Nagahama on the Hokuriku Main Line for Kurokabe Square and Nagahama Castle, Azuchi for Azuchi Castle Ruins, and Taga Taisha-mae for Taga-taisha.

Seasons and closures

Metasequoia Avenue is lined with deciduous metasequoias, so the view changes with every season. Tsukubusuma Shrine holds its main festival every year on 15 June. At Enryaku-ji, halls may close early in storms or snow.

Written by us from the spot pages on this site. Distances are straight lines; check each spot’s page for hours and routes before you go.

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